I love a good deal or bargain. But I have learned that there are a few things I don't want to bargain or compromise anymore, and that starts with learning when to be cheap and when to splurge. Upon conducting research for a client with my social enterprise, Ordinary x Influence, I found that while being cheap in America seems savvy on the outside, it can cause significant financial and health problems, costing you and me thousands in health & maintenance expenses in the long run. The "savvy" is actually an euphemism I don't think many of us are aware that we are using for survival.
Many individuals will never understand what it is like to be affected by chronic poverty; thus, they will never understand why someone would willing spend money on crappy food and at low-end shops. Let me explain.
It is often the case that individuals purchase cheap food that is pleasing to the tongue but poor for the functioning of the body and clothing with low quality that rips and tears within weeks and has little to no-fabric, as well as risks relying on the inconsistency of U.S. public system to get to a job that pays little to nothing because that is financially and geographically accessible to them. When you all you have is what is right in front of you, and all you can afford is whatever you need to simply SURVIVE, not thrive, cheap items become your best friend, supposedly. BUT NO. Cheap goods in America, generally speaking, are like people who call themselves your friend and looks to be so on the outside but is actually toxic and is planning your demise. Essentially, cheap goods in America, especially food, is like slow poison. The reason people living in chronic poverty purchase this poison so enthusiastically is because 1) they are ignorant to what the food and goods are actually doing to them and their health, thus their wallets over time, 2) they are trying to preserve culture (i.e. Southern delicacies like chittlerings and fried everything), 3) what they purchase is all that is financially and geographically accesible to them. or 4) they are so busy trying to simply survive, they have no time or energy to stop and think about how to truly THRIVE outside of materialistic gain. Many times, it is all of the above.
Unfortunately, the social system in the United States, is set up for these exact results. If you don't have time to think about bettering yourself, only survive, then if what is accessible to you is made unhealthy and essentially, slow poison, then that leads to health problems which leads to profit for the healthcare system. While you're spending hundreds on supplements that are supposed to cure your problems, they actually are only treating them temporarily and then you have to go back for more. Now let's add poor-shaming to the mix and the glorification of materialistic gain and "perfection" (beauty, body and recognition) in entertainment and media (heavily used by poor individuals as an escape), then the systems began to profit from providing the escapes through false illusions that poor individuals are willing to pay for and the products that promise to help poor individuals reach the "realities" being glorified.
*Note: 'Poor' and 'Poverty' are being defined as lacking access to the basic necessities to survive, as well as the adequate resources to thrive as a productive and fulfilled steward or citizen *
But if we only spent time developing our mental and physical health, including diet, much of our illnesses and diseases could be prevented or more effectively cured. But those living in poverty do not have time to think about these things. All of their time is dedicated to survival. The U.S. social systems are taking advantage of this, making what is necessary for those in poverty to THRIVE and PROSPER less and less accessible, for many reasons with the most prominent being: the preservation of cultural superiority and profit.
Thus, if we really stop to think about being cheap and purchasing low-quality food and goods in America, we will see that being cheap in this country is more often not a 100% voluntary choice; it is a direct result of circumstance and a necessity to survive within social systems in place. What unfortunately is not recognized by those affected by #poverty is that they are essentially financially supporting and indirectly glorifying the social systems is a major factor in the existence of poverty. But, unfortunately, many of us don't have the luxury of thinking too deep into this. We are "just tryna survive", keep a roof over our heads, and keep enough food on the table to get through the next day.
Excerpts taken from my book: Being Cheap in America: Savvy or Survival (now available for pre-order!).
¡VIVA TU VIDA MEJOR (Live your best life)!
Until next time,
Shatoyia, La Princessa de La Paz
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