Anyone else going broke besides me?

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mbeezie
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Anyone else going broke besides me?

Post by mbeezie »

I just all got back from the grocery store. After buying all natural meats, organic fruits and veggies, natural cleaning products, natural personal care products, vitamins, probiotics and gluten free dog food, I have spent an OBSCENE amount of money.

Why does living green and eating the right foods cost so much??????????

Mary Beth
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Post by JLH »

YES, from shopping at the health food store.....
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Joan
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tex
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Post by tex »

Mary Beth wrote:Why does living green and eating the right foods cost so much??????????
Because the manufacturers and the stores know that people will pay more for such products, and they spend money on reports from research organizations, that show how much more money people will pay, before they switch. :roll: Most organic foods do cost significantly more to produce, but a lot of other "green" products don't, in fact, some of them probably cost less to produce. There's a lot of difference in the markups on various types of products, at the retail level. In many cases, it's based on what the competition is charging. Sad, but true. :sigh:

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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angy
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Post by angy »

Costs the consumer a fortune to try to protect the ozone layer....sad but true... :sad: And it's a disgrace that people with diet issues also have to pay the price for foods that keep them stable whilst everyone else can junk out on burgers for cheap.
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teagirl
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Post by teagirl »

angy wrote:Costs the consumer a fortune to try to protect the ozone layer....sad but true... :sad: And it's a disgrace that people with diet issues also have to pay the price for foods that keep them stable whilst everyone else can junk out on burgers for cheap.
So true! I am horrified at the cost of gf foods. I've always cooked from scratch but now it's even more important, to keep costs down. Things seem at least twice the cost of 'normal' foods. I found a granola bar I really liked, almost like a normal one (Bakery on Main brand) and it was $7.49 a box. Ouch.

I've found health stores to be the most expensive, to be expected I guess. There are a couple of larger stores (Ambrosia; Healthy Planet) that give better prices but it's all still v expensive.

Slowly but surely I'm working out what I need and how to get it as cheaply as possible. Chinese stores usually have tapioca flour and rice flour at really good prices.

I did find out that the Canadian tax laws allow celiacs to claim the difference between paying for a normal product and the gf product (quite how you work it out, I don't know). Unfortunately the same laws say you must have celiac disease to qualify. I'm trying to get them to understand not all gf buyers are celiacs.
Maxine
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Post by JLH »

DISCLAIMER: I am not a doctor and don't play one on TV.

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tex
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Post by tex »

Maxine,

The Internal Revenue Service in this country allows the same thing, but the detailed record-keeping that's required takes so much time, that it's hardly worth it for anyone, which the government surely realizes, but they don't care. Taxpayer time and effort means nothing to them.

Tex
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It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
ant
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Post by ant »

Here is what I assume an economist would say....

The food industry can charge high prices for GF and any other special foods because consumers who have food intolerances have inelastic demand for food that does not make them sick, while the majority of customers have relatively elastic demand for any type of food :twisted: ......bit like if you need a drug like Entocort the demand is inelastic (you need it - come what may). :sad: And if you do not need the drug its zero demand.

Of course, in paleolithic times there were no economists and no food industry :smile: but, then again, life was "nasty, brutish, and short". :shrug: No easy answers..

Best, Ant
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angy
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Post by angy »

Fortunately for me I am able to get a small amount of gf food on prescription . I mainly get White bread approximately 8 loaves at a time and freeze them. This is due to my understanding gp and not through my gi doc who wasn't interested in hearing me out about asking for a prescription .I was told that due to non celiac diagnosis I am not entitled to a full 14 units of gf foods,which is ludicrous considering I pay for my prescriptions and I cannot tolerate gluten. The good thing is though I am able to buy a 3 month certificate for £13 which covers everything I need for this and my meds too. So I tend to take advantage of that and get as much as possible. Not as much pentasa as that comes in bulk with one order but I do make sure I get lots of bread,sometimes crackers and pizza bases too. But not that often. I'm still waiting to see a dietician and the reason I have asked for this is to get a better prescription for gf food. So fingers crossed I get it. I guess u guys have to pay for everything with insurance where as in uk we have nhs.Now if I Wasnt working full time And claimed social security benefits I would get all of my scripts free .
Thanks for sharing that link joan..
Angy ;)
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mbeezie
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Post by mbeezie »

I'm actually not buying too many gf products, except a few for my son. I am really going more paleo, so for me the cost is from produce and meat.

To ease my pain in the checkout line I have to remind myself that I don't spend money eating out, getting my hair dyed or fake nails, and I use very few cosmetics. I don't take any meds for chronc illness and I'm hoping to keep it that way. There is a personal payoff for healthy eating.

Mary Beth
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