I agree with Vizco on this one. Coming from a large family, there are ways of taking simple things and making them stretch. The problem is that people have forgotten how to make a big pot of stew, rice and beans, goulash, jumbalaya, etc. You can still get good food at cheaper prices; rising costs of gas and household maintenance have hit Ellh and I hard this summer, so my food budget is limited but we are still eating meat, carbs, and vegies- even good quality- for under our budget (beer has been a problem lately though since it has been so hot and we just love that dehydrated feeling in the morning).

There was a contest recently about making a meal for under $10. I can make a number of meals for under $10, without packaged food, and have leftovers. The problem is that you need to buy what is in season, and look for sales on meat. For example, corn is abundant right now in CT (as is squash and zuccini's)-- buy 6 ears for $2 and a whole chicken, bake the chicken (or even lightly fry it in butter) and with the butter, you have spent under $10 for a meal that should be able to feed two people. I prefer to grill but then you have to pay for charcoal, etc. so I am just using a more urbane approach.

Everything about that article is so wrong and even the person as liberal as myself has no pity. There are ways to get ahead. It involves getting off your ass and doing something about it. To me, this was just an article of whining.