Living On Bread Alone
Tags: food, starvation
A fox uses a lot of energy chasing a rabbit but that energy is replaced after catching and eating the rabbit. If it wasnГўпїЅпїЅt replaced the fox would starve to death. If a person works hard for a dollar that dollar must allow him to buy enough food to regain his strength, or he would never be able to return to his job. That is why all workers must receive what is called a living wage.There is no shortage of food in the world. Supermarket shelves in every country are packed with a variety of the best foods. It is true that the prices are higher but that is not the fault of the store owners. If it costs two dollars to produce a sack of rice it canГўпїЅпїЅt be sold for one. If the costs of rice production were lower it would lower the price of a sack of rice .But its costs are based on the price of oil which is going to remain high.
The expanding middle class in China and India have no problem paying higher food costs. Their stores and shopping carts are overflowing with the world best food products.
China is importing millions of tons of beef that was fed on grain. This is helping to drain world grain supplies and raise their prices. China will continue importing beef, and as long as they can pay the bill nobody can change their eating habits. The US agriculture department said that India will have to import about two million tons of wheat in 2008. Any setback in their wheat crop will see a sharp rise in wheat prices, perhaps by 50 percent.
Despite the rising cost of food the poor manage to feed themselves, if this was not true there would be no poor. They all would have starved to death. The problem of rising food prices for them is that most of their dollar is being spent on food. There is little left over for other basic needs like clothing and shelter. In many undeveloped countries poor people earn only a dollar a day. Their employers never pay less because if they did their workers would not have the energy to return to the job the next day. Many poor people work only for food. They live in the streets or under the roof of the factory that they work in. Fortunately starvation is rarely seen.
We in the US are fortunate to be able to survive without having to earn an income. There are churches, shelters and dumpsters available to everybody. Starvation is impossible here. If a person decided to sit down on the sidewalk and refused to move an ambulance would soon arrive and take him to a place where he would be sheltered and fed.
The problem is not only the high price of food, but that it takes a big part of our dollar from us. There is a saying that man canГўпїЅпїЅt live on bread alone. We need some change left over to even replace a broken shoelace.
Food prices are sure to double in the next few years, stocking up on non-perishable items is a wise investment. Keeping all your money in the bank at low interest rates is foolish when it could be invested in the food you will be eating. The space underneath your bed can hold up to one thousand cans of tuna. One hundred pound sacks of rice and pasta could fill up unused parlor space. An empty room can be loaded with boxes of cereal products. Use your imagination and your savings will run into thousands of dollars.
Heating and cooling prices will keep on rising but you can beat their higher costs by wise conservation habits. Disable your home heating system; you will not freeze to death. A little chill will not kill you. Take out some of the old sweaters that you havenГўпїЅпїЅt used in years and wear them in your home when the weather starts getting cold. It will be worth the pain when you see your low heating bill.
Never turn on your air conditioner in the summer months. If you do you will be defeating your purpose of cutting expenses in hard times. A hot apartment is preferable to high cost electric bills. Keep your windows open and enjoy the summer breeze. Windows were made to open up in the summer and close in the winter. Remember keep the window panes clean because it is important to let in sunlight. Keep the lights off when sunlight is free. All these added savings could buy you more food.
Owning an automobile is the most foolish thing in hard times. The high cost of gasoline and maintenance will destroy your budget. Sell it and use the money to invest in one hundred pound bags of rice. Those bags will double in price in the next few months. If you needed the auto to get to work, hook up with a car pool. You can pay the driver with bags of rice. Buy a used delivery boys bicycle it will help you with food shopping.
You are almost ready to survive in hard times. There are a few items that I have left out and they are the dumpsters in parking lots of fast food restaurants. In them you will find delights that will blow your mind. Dumpsters are the greatest freebie in the world, and you can have your pick. If you have compassion for your neighbors spread my words of wisdom. But never disclose the location of your favorite dumpster, keep that one for yourself.
melpol
About the Author
Author: melvin polatnick | Total views: 75
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Retired and single. Lover of the seashore and writing.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/melpol
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