Groceries on credit? - Page 2

poundwise · #21 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 04:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funnyvalentine

credit is appropriate for long term, large purposes, not for everyday expenses.

I disagree. I believe just the opposite. Credit is most appropriate for short-term expenses and should ideally be extended only short-term. Obviously, paying the balance in full each month is best. Getting cash back if you are able, as in Sweeps example, is a plus.

Buying a home is the exception. That's a long-term, large purpose that for the vast majority of people requires credit to purchase.

This instance with Bi-Lo is not a question of the use of credit, however. Though perhaps not as bad, it is akin to title loans and payday advances in the sense that this particular credit offering has terms that are terrible. I especially think it is terrible how they are attempting to portray this as a valuable service to the consumer. It is simply an easier way for them to collect fees and a means to generate revenue.

lrjohnson · #22 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacquelynrose

I do not have sympathy for poor people because really they got there SOMEHOW. You cannot blame your Envoirment nor the System....

Many people are born into it. They didn't get there, they started there.

If those of you who have issues with government assistance worked in the welfare business, like I do, you would know that many people have made some poor decisions, but more than that, you would develop more compassion. Not pity, not sympathy, but compassion. You would stop referring to folks who are poor or on assistance as "them."

Snoopy2645 · #23 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 08:05 PM

I agree their are good jobs out thier as long as you dont say well I am above that job I make sometime $16 an hr doing demos at walmart sometimes you get rude comments but hey they arent feeding my family are they??!!! And the people with those comments obviously have never HAD to do whatever it takes to feed thier families. BTW my friend also works at walmart as a cashier making $7 an hr a thanks but I will take the demos!!!

I have also had to buy groceries on credit but I pay the bills I paid one cc off today that was around 2k only groceries on it. I always get money but sometimes my kids are hungry before I get paid the money I am owed!!!!

jacquelynrose · #24 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 08:06 PM

lrjohnson...So was Oprah now look at her.......

Snoopy, if you had read my Posts then you would have seen where I had come from...did you read it?

lrjohnson · #25 (**permalink**) 08-24-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacquelynrose

lrjohnson...So was Oprah now look at her.......

Did you happen to see Oprah's show today that spoke about the growing class divide, and how people born into poverty are getting fewer opportunities to get out of it?

Plus, nothing about Oprah's great and warranted success at all affects my wish that more people had compassion when speaking of poverty.

Snoopy2645 · #26 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 05:25 AM

Yes I read your post I was agreeing with you thier are jobs out thier & some that pay well you just have to know you are not above them

boefixepa · #27 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 07:35 AM

Greedy and Jac, can I come to your island...I agree with you!!

PS Homemade flour torillas are one of my favorite foods!!

greedy4chips · #28 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boefixepa

Greedy and Jac, can I come to your island...I agree with you!!

We voted you onto our island. Bring your recipe for the tortillas

Quote:

Originally Posted by boefixepa

PS Homemade flour torillas are one of my favorite foods!!

Share your recipe?

boefixepa · #29 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 09:41 AM

4 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
1 tsp baking powder
dash or two of salt

Mix and cut shortening into flour...

Add hot tap water just until you think you might have added too much...I think it's between a cup and a cup and half...not sure... if you add too much just add a little more flour..no big deal..

The dough is soft, warm, a palitable.

Break off a ping pong size amount and roll out on floured surface. If you want bigger or smaller adjust the size of the ball. Also, don't roll them out too thin...you'll know if you did if they crack when you cook them. Cook until brown little bubble on one side, flip and repeat..this is on hot skillet. enjoy!!

This make about 12 -15 torillas...if you stick them between two plates or in a towel in a plastic bag as you cook them the will be soft for burritos, tacos, and whatever....pull from the middle of the pile for the best flexibility.

YUMMY!!
PS I often 1/2 this recipie for just me.

Ima saver · #30 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 10:17 AM

I just don't believe in charging food at a grocery store or in a restaurant. If I have to charge it, I want to be able to see it later. Not on something I have already eaten!! (except of course if I am going to make money on the cc and pay it right off)

disneysteve · #31 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I just don't believe in charging food at a grocery store or in a restaurant. If I have to charge it, I want to be able to see it later. Not on something I have already eaten!! (except of course if I am going to make money on the cc and pay it right off)

We charge everything we possibly can on our rewards card and pay the bill in full each month. In fact, our Marriott Visa gives double reward points on restaurant charges, so even more reason to use it there.

As for the original topic, this is just one more example of insane predatory lending practices, right along with payday loans and refund anticipation loans at tax time. The government really screwed up when they deregulated the lending industry and allowed scams like this to go on.

Ima saver · #32 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 10:25 AM

Agree, disneysteve! I don't know why I have such a hang up about charging food. I eat out all the time, I could be racking up $1 a week!!

disneysteve · #33 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ima saver

Agree, disneysteve! I don't know why I have such a hang up about charging food. I eat out all the time, I could be racking up $1 a week!!

We charge at least $2,000/month on our card. A lot of that is groceries and dining out, along with general shopping, household bills, travel, etc. So that is at least 24,000 reward points/year. Dining is double points. Hotel bills are 5x points (for Marriott properties), so we really earn upwards of 30,000 points/year. That gets added to points earned by staying in hotels (12 points/dollar spent). We easily get a free vacation week every other year at least.

Ima saver · #34 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 01:29 PM

We live out in the boondocks so there is not a lot of places to charge. My husband does charge everything at home depot and I got back $550 in cash this summer.(building materials)

disneysteve · #35 (**permalink**) 08-25-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ima saver

We live out in the boondocks so there is not a lot of places to charge.

What about bills? We charge our local, long distance and cell phone bills, our cable bill, our internet access, Netflix, ebay fees, alarm company, auto insurance, car registration, newspaper and magazine subscriptions, road tolls, gas, groceries, dining out and pretty much anything else we can.

shelbylovesmelby · #36 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 10:38 AM

I've had to buy groceries on credit when dh was short of hours or when there was a great sale but we didn't get paid for a few more days.
I hate doing it because it brings back memories of my late teens when I was working for minimum wage, lived in sect 8 housing, going to college full time & supported my mom (while she was waiting to get her disability benefits) and the credit card was all we had to keep food on the table. I remember my mom (who is exceptionally greedy when it comes to food) cuss'n me out for buying kool-aid instead of her precious soda pop as that was the extra $ I had that week & kool-aid goes further than a 12pk of soda does (especially when she could guzzle a case a day!) Eventually I couldn't afford the minimum payments on the card. Heck I remember shaking out the bottom of my purse more than once for the change on the bottom to put in my 76 nova (mind you this was in the mid 90's I had this car) and feeling so humiliated making the clerk count out all those coins... but if I didn't put gas in the tank I couldn't get to work or school.

I think like some of you had said there is a seperation between the classes that's getting bigger everyday. You've got folks that work the system because it has become a way of life in more depressed neighborhoods, You've got low-lower middle who are busting their butts for $30K or less a year to take care of their families... Then you've got folks that I've seen complaining & whaaaa'n about how their dh had to take a $40,000 pay cut! When there are alot more people in AMERICA who support families on under that a year who are grateful for every dime they have to their name.

Alot of the well paying manufacturing jobs that made up most of the communities here closed, moved south, then to Mexico & on to China. Otherwise you could always apply @ Harley Davidson one of the few well paying places still in business but the last I heard there was a 3 yr waiting list on applicants! So what is someone to do til then? Get a job that pays under $10 & hope for the best!

JMHO

Ima saver · #37 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 10:43 AM

Wow, Shelby, you really had it rough. I guess I did not know you could charge all that stuff. I only spend about $3 a month for long distance, no toll fees, no e bay, no cell phone, no newpaper, no net flix.

shelbylovesmelby · #38 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 10:55 AM

Yep lived that way for a few years. So when we did get holiday baskets from the salvation army (bless this wonderful organization!!) it was a blessing to not be eating pb&j's for a week!

: SO if we are doing well around the holidays I like to put a few extra dollars in the red kettles for their kindness.

Ima saver · #39 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 10:57 AM

I hate to hear that people are going hungry. At our bi lo, they have a big basket for donated food. It also says, if you need some food, just take it!

shelbylovesmelby · #40 (**permalink**) 08-26-2006, 11:02 AM

Nope nothing like that around here. Though there is a Second Harvest food pantry around here & I would love to go when dh is short on hours as they often are after Febuary. But I don't like the idea of them require your SSN to get a bag of groceries! Or is that just me?? & with all the idenity theft, it's not worth sharing everyone in our families SSN for a bag of groceries.

But one of the grocery stores donates some parishable items to the salvation army who then delivers it to the low income senior building my mom lives @ & if she knows were low on funds she'll snag a few extras just for me.