For a woman who has pretty much always been content to just be at home, and never really go anywhere, I seem to be pushing myself further and farther out of my comfort zone. I recently took a trip to San Francisco, because I was named a Top 30 Deal Pro. That experience is one that I won’t soon forget. While it was a VERY short trip, it was enough to throw me face to face with the “real” world; so to speak. Walking in downtown San Francisco was a real eye opener for me.
For one, it was heartbreaking seeing people sitting homeless on corners and all the people that pass by not noticing. When I walked up and handed my drink to one of these people, I heard the city whisper “She’ll soon get over that.” As if I would soon become numb and complacent to the fact that there are people starving and shivering in the cold on the streets of San Francisco.
My trip to Opryland this past weekend was a completely different experience. I didn’t have much of a chance to leave the hotel area, because I was so busy. The wealth of the place and the people there was a startling contrast to the poverty that I have witnessed first-hand. But one thing remained in common. Both places were filled with wealth and expense. The cost of a bottle of water was $1.50, and that was the cheap one! That’s enough to feed five starving people in Haiti.
The exorbitant prices set by corporate America are more than ridiculous, I would venture to say. Extreme price gouging may be a more fitting term. But as long as We The People continue to pay such prices, we support these companies and tell them we approve of what they are doing.
It’s time that we determine what we are willing to pay for something. It’s time we send our extra money to those in need. There is no need for one bottle of water to take the place of five meals for those starving around the world. It’s a senseless waste that can cost lives.
Ready for a change in your life so that you can give more to those in need? Check out my Coupon Basics for Newbies post and start saving money. There are items every week that end up being free or nearly free at stores. Those items can be donated, and you can also donate the money you save. See my Help for Haiti post here for some worthy charities.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
Excellent post! I heartily agree!
I agree with a lot of what you say in this post. I just wanted to make a comment about your “price gouging” statement. $1.50 for a bottle of water doesn’t just buy the water. It buys the packaging, the brand name, the advertising, the shipping, and so much more. I feel like the biggest issue is that our lives have become so COMPLICATED. To continue with your example…. Why do we need to buy water? What did people used to do when they couldn’t buy water? Who would be affected if everyone stopped buying water? This example could be extrapolated out to other items that we buy, for sure.
$1.50 will feed 5 people in Haiti – but what will they be eating? It probably won’t be organic, natural, or free of HFCS. It will probably be subsidized by that company that sold the $1.50 bottle of water, in fact.
“Cost”, “Value” and even just the concept of what money can get you are all so relative. Individually and as a society we need to decide what our money (and therefore our time and resources) is worth.
Great post! I love it when you stray from the deals and give us this type of thought-provoking stuff.
Love this! Great feedback and perspective!
Every month we as a family do something to give back (volunteer) an example this month is that we are collecting blankets and towels to pass out to the homeless and then we are going to spend time with seniors we are taking them to a place to cook and learn new recipes and then we are going to come back to our house to cook, eat and play games.
I am very new to couponing (3 weeks to be exact) and that is what I think each time. If I can get something for free. I get it and we will put a box together and when full we will decide what to do with it. Last month we shipped 2 boxes to soldiers. We do not know any soldier personally but there are soldiers out there fighting for our freedom and do not have anyone to send them stuff. Thank you for your post:O) Our budget for the 4 of us is $350.00 (counts food, hygene, and paper good) think what I will be able to do with the money I can save that you are teaching me.
Crystal, very interesting post.
I have a slightly different perspective…
I grew up in one of the largest cities in America (Los Angeles) and many of the “homeless” there and in San Francisco are not really homeless. There are many scam artists in both of these cities (they run news stories all the time exposing these scams). This is why many Californians just walk by panhandlers; we know that many are making a living by exploiting people. Vagrants flock to both of these cities because the weather is mild in both areas and they can live how they want to; this is why you will not find “homeless” people asking for handouts in other large “cold” cities. My point is that you will encounter all kinds of people in CA and most of the truly homeless are staying in shelters or are working to get help at the local missions. Many people actually choose to live on the streets. I spent 10 years of my life working around/talking to/ and serving the homeless.
There are always two sides to every coin.
I think Catherine makes several good points in her post. Spending $1.50 for water is not really the issue. This is just a choice that consumers can make. $1.50 for a bottle of water is considered a small price by someone in NY while someone in the heartland would have a heart attack paying that price. Still the companies that make the water see a demand and they are just a business turning a profit (which is the American way and is not evil in itself).
I have to agree with Starbucksgirl–I live in Las Vegas, which is full of homeless people as well. Many of them actually make a good living off of the handouts of others. Passing them by isn’t a matter of being hardhearted necessarily, but it’s a matter of being wise with our money. Of course, each case is different and there are definitely some people who are truly in need.
I also agree with Starbucksgirl about the whole bottled water thing. We as consumers have the right to spend our money on what we choose and water companies are simply supplying a demand that our culture has–it’s totally the American dream!
I grew up in Detroit, one of the worst cities in the country for poverty and violence, that once stood with Windsor, ON, Canada as a shining becon of American/Canadian industry and power.
I grew up during the era of Murder Capital of the World. My father grew up in Detroit and it was a different world there. Things are so expensive I remember statistics coming out that the average wedding in Detroit Metro costed $38,000 for 150 guests. When I got married I realized how much more expensive things were then in Clinton, IA where my mothers family is from. I grew up both in the country and in the city. I realized very early on the extreme differences these two styles have. Although Detroit has the highest unemployment rate in the country and while we are supposedly out of the recession… well Michigan itself is only falling further faster. There was a time when I paid $4 for a bottle of water downtown (working as a cop) during Super Bowl 40, that same bottle was normally $2.50. Now though the ranks of law enforcement have been cut and construction (my husbands profession) have fallen. The days of the unstoppable UAW are basically gone, and for the most part there own faults. The thing is most people panhandling in Detroit are scamming (there was a Simpsons episode based off the idea). People in Detroit will do nearly anything to get by, a resilient breed really in the city and burbs. But when you drive down the street I was raised on its a horrifying thing that I played here as a child and now driving down the block to my uncles… I worry I’ll get shot getting out of my old car for the gallon of milk, loaf of bread, and cookies I bought him. I think people who live and are raised in the strangle hold of America Companies have come to rely on the idea. I am dirt poor now, I dont have a home that is large or we couldn’t afford, infact after I was laid off we were fine. However… now we are the pinnacle of losing our home, I cannot find work… supply and demand seems to not really be working where I live. I think to some extent there is still the thought that people need the best of the best to survive. Yes we don’t eat organic every night (unless I can get it cheap)… but we are alive. I believe there is a whole generation raised on the belief that we need what we see on TV and must one up all our neighbors. We have been lead to believe we required certain things to live that we do not. Yes life might not be as easy or happy go lucky…. but I would rather fight with a cashier over a coupon… then sit there and spend money on something I dont need to.
PS – No one is starving and shivering on the streets of San Francisco. There are many shelters to house people if they want a warm place to stay; scam artists will take advantage of people who are visiting San Francisco because they are naive.
I do see everyone’s points, and I have seen a lot of these stories on scammers. However, I worry that these stories of scammers and danger have caused most of us to numb ourselves to what is really happening. And I’m pretty sure there are people starving in America’s cities.
Now that I think about it. I guess I shouldn’t say that “no one” is starving and shivering on the streets of San Francisco. My main point is that most of the people that you encounter in the main tourist areas of San Francisco are waiting to take advantage of you.
lol, I was hoping you would clarify
I do see what you are saying and i was well aware of this when i was there. I just worry that the people truly in need are getting passed over because everyone is so worried about getting scammed.
Wow. There are definitely a lot of different perspectives here. And I can see all the viewpoints. The most important aspect I believe is that we should not be self-absorbed. There are always people out there that are worse off than we are. My experience is that the people who need the most help are not the ones asking for a handout. I, generally, do not give handouts to the people on the streets. However, I don’t ignore the problems either. I usually help the people I know first. If a friend or neighbor is struggling, help them out. Don’t wait for them to ask for help, because they probably won’t. Next, if you want to help more, give to the organizations in place that can help the people that need it. You can help with either time, money or donations. These organizations know the people they are helping the best and have the knowledge and structure to provide the best overall help. My two cents worth.
Well said!
ashlynsmom, I couldn’t have said it better myself (as evidenced by my poor responses). LOL. Thanks for your two cents. Very eloquent.
Crystal, (wink) love you girl. Thanks for the great post. Great discussion.
Definitely! I love that we can all chat like this! Open and honest
Totally agree and very well said. Money speaks in America – if a company isn’t getting it, they’ll change their ways. Enough said.