Effects Of Poverty On Food Spending

[TeaLeaf]

I grew up in poverty- food stamps, governments commodities and free lunches at school. My mother also had multiple psych disorders and one of them was being very obsessive when it came to food. If I wanted cereal or crackers for example, she counted them out to equal 1 serving or 2 servings. It wasn't related to trying to scrimp on amount of food though because we usually had enough but just lots of the cheap or free type which to a kid is isn't as yummy as say frozen pizza that other kids had. I developed weird food habits as a child, sneaking and eating spoonfuls of dry hot cocoa mix or dry noodles for example.

Now when I try to save money on groceries, I get a lot of anxiety. Thinking about spending less money on food makes me buy more food and when there is a sale on something, I basically hoard stuff. Looking at my pantry, it isn't outrageous by any means, it's probably smart to buy stuff on sale but then when I tell myself it is time to use the food I have, I just want to buy more, especially more expensive foods like frozen pizza or fancy type food. I tried indulging and letting myself buy what I wanted for awhile to see if it would eventually help but it didn't seem to help. I spend quite a bit of money on food and I would like to cut back because I have many other expenses including paying out of pocket for therapy for example.

Has anyone grown up in poverty and had issues like this? How did you overcome it?

 

[sun seeker]

Sort of. I didn't grow up in poverty, but have been poor for much of my adult life. A big thing that shaped my habits around food was living in Mexico at the time of the peso crisis, when the cost of basic foods went up 200 to 300% overnight. It was like going to the store to buy a loaf of bread and suddenly finding that it costs $10 (my apologies to people from places with other currencies, but hopefully you get the idea). We never exactly went without any food, but there were times all there was in the house was a little rice and a little sugar. Returning to Canada, there have been good times and bad. Last winter was really tight and I mostly ate from a combination of produce I'd grown and preserved, and what was available at the food bank. There was enough, but not necessarily what I would have wanted, so I can relate to your childhood longings. Also the heavy food (there is an overabundance of things like white pasta and canned soup at the food bank) ruined my digestion, which I am still coping with today.

So, in terms of your question, I haven't overcome it so I can't really answer. My financial situation is chronically precarious and that causes me lots of food-related anxiety. The peso crisis affected me in a similar way to what I see in old people who grew up during the depression: I don't trust money in the bank, I trust solid things, especially a well-stocked pantry. I buy large amounts of food in bulk when I can afford it. At night is often when the anxiety about not having enough mounts, and ironically, one of the things that calms the anxiety is eating. My situation is a little different because the financial insecurity is ongoing rather than just in the past, but I too would like to know how to lessen the anxiety around it. Hopefully someone else will have some thoughts.

 

[Smile]

I think I have food issues because of growing up in a very similar situation as you (minus the mom rationing part). I don't consciously remember feeling like I had a lack of food as a child but have bad memories of Foodstamps and that kind of stuff in general. Mom making a loud fuss in store about things that should be on sale, always embarrassing to shop in store. So many times the owner would say in a loud voice, "tell your mother she owes $xxx and we really can't keep doing this", ect.

I have bulimia so that changes things a bit. But a few months ago, after I lost my appetite, I noticed that I was spending HOURS agonizing over what to buy because I HAVE to eat something. I decided to stop thinking about food an just let my body remind me. It's definitely not the healthiest but there have been whole days go by where I totally forget to eat. Again, not healthy but it beats wasting energy worrying about it.

When Im low on money and than get se cash flow, my first response is always a feeling of freedom that I can by whatever food I want now. So I definitely get that :)

Have you thought about attending an OA meeting? They probably go over shopping rules. It's on my to do list...

 

[Fadeaway]

In a way yes. My grandmothers cooking was the dreadful sort like grease and flour, wonder bread and spam. Stuff I won't touch now with a ten foot pole.

My mother on the other hand literally starved me because she forgot to feed me since meth made her forget about food. She literally didn't think about the fact that I might be hungry since she didn't feel hunger. I had 1 jar pf peanut butter that I rationed for nearly a month until my mom found it and gave it to her friend since there hadn't been anything else in the house for days. I still haven't gotten over that.

So as for your post, I do have food issues but not like you. I do make sure I get the best prices and shop sales, but I only eat organic. I am all about getting the best quality for the cheapest price. I won't touch processed foods, they have to be the best ingredients. Don't let that fool you though because I do it for very cheap. I'll have notes on the price of an item from about 5 or 6 stores, then check sales and coupons.

 

[TeaLeaf]

Thank you everyone for posting and keep em coming :)

one of the things that calms the anxiety is eating

I understand that feeling.

I have bulimia so that changes things a bit.

I had bulimia in high school which I recovered from though I have been pretty obsessed with my weight up until a few years ago. I would weigh myself multiple times a day and if I gained a few pounds obsessing and restricting until I was back at a lower number. I thankfully am much less fixated on it these days.

So as for your post, I do have food issues but not like you. I do make sure I get the best prices and shop sales, but I only eat organic. I am all about getting the best quality for the cheapest price. I won't touch processed foods, they have to be the best ingredients. Don't let that fool you though because I do it for very cheap. I'll have notes on the price of an item from about 5 or 6 stores, then check sales and coupons.

This sounds a lot like me as well. I eat mostly organic and like stuff with the best ingredients too, I try to shop sales and we have a discount grocery store near me that has a large amount of natural and organic foods. I get so excited when I find something for a good price.

 

[macca]

I so identify with this! We never had any money growing up, and though Mum & Dad always managed to feed us, it was touch and go sometimes. I remember my brother and I used to snack on uncooked spaghetti, you know, the hard stuff in the packets from the supermarket. We didn't think anything of it, and liked it. But I get really anxious when money is tight (which it almost always is), and the tighter money is, the worse my anxiety is, and I am more and more tempted to buy more food. It can feel very distressing. I haven't overcome it either, so don't have any advice unfortunately, but wanted to answer since it resonated so much, and so you knew you weren't the only one!