Why is it so expensive to live? (Food Edition) 

What makes me mad the most is how many hours I have to give my employer just so I can go home and sit there broke.

Telling regular families to just eat cereal for dinner is insane!!

Cereal is so expensive, I can't belive it was suggested as a way to save money. For that price you could literally make a normal dinner that is way better than cereal.

Oatmeal with raisins and a pat of butter and splash of milk is much more hearty than cornflakes. It’s cheap to make too. Soups made with dried beans, rice, lentils, or split peas and cheap veggies like carrots, cabbage, potato, or onion is also a better option. Shrinkflation seems to be hitting processed food the hardest so I just make most things from scratch, even bread and tortillas. It will be fall before we know it and that’s the time to start making budget soups 😋

It actually pisses me off how expensive cereal has gotten. Its crunchy grains with sugar. WHY IS THAT EXPENSIVE

Don't you find it funny that we're in a time where more people are struggling massively to stay above water financially but at the same time, more and more people are spending and being sold luxurious lifestyles with the intensification of celebrity culture? We're operating at the end of 2 extremes while the chasm between them deepens and widens at a rapid pace. It's manipulation and it's financially and psychologically damaging.

Ty for talking about this. We are in a silent recession, and I hate it but watching and supporting videos like these gives me some hope.

We put our faith into people with no ethics, no morals, no real emotions except greed, hubris, and hate. I fear the coming years because of that.

Back again! It's crazy how expensive things have become and how prevalent shrinkflation is, the quality of food has dramatically decreased as well.

I eat oatmeal and or shredded wheat for the fact that it is healthier and has tons of fiber that keeps me fuller.

Having cereal for dinner is like them saying it’s okay to feed your kids like cattle because times are tough and don’t worry about lack of nutrition the high sugar content will keep them up and moving.

This smells like the Gran Depression of 1930-1939... One of the factors was the decline in consumer demand, which led to a decline in production.

This is just the French Revolution all over again.

If you are struggling with food, sign up for food stamps card. Most likely you qualify now. If you still are struggling, go to food hand outs that are posted in your area. Through churches, also government and they give a lot of you can hit them all up in your area

I really feel what that lady said in the beginning about there being no housing for the youngsters. I moved out on my own in 2003. I made $9/hour (roughly equivalent to $15.50 in today's money). It was hard but doable. I don't know how anyone who is just getting started is doing it today, especially with all the sky high requirements landlords have just to consider your application. My rent was $400 and utilities were included in that. I could feed myself for less than $50 a week. Now pretty much everything has quadrupled (or more) in cost, but entry level wages haven't even come close to keeping pace. It's no wonder people are still living with parents, not having kids, working multiple jobs, and all of that. It shouldn't have to be like this.

I went to pizza hut last week and bought a personal pizza and breadsticks. The total was nearly 17 dollars. When I got home and open the box, the pizza was tiny! It was smaller than my hand! The old days the size was still good for the price but after seeing this and how small the bread sticks got smaller too. I was still hungry after eating it!😢

Add also the frequency of food recalls affecting people please

Cereal should never been eaten not for breakfast or dinner 😅😂

There's only one demographic that seriously considers cereal in the evening, but even potheads aren't going to live off of nothing but cereal.

Cereal is like a snack food more than a breakfast food even for me it does not keep me full for even an hour. Oatmeal is a cheap option and it keeps me much more full and energized

Omg, the Gran at 1:32 's words were the equivalent of ten years of therapy. I feel like I've been given a vocal hug.

I'm very much looking forward to the second part of this video, and any ensuing continuations. I cannot express how grateful I am that our generation is creating content focusing on the most important and discouraging issues of our times. Thank you for this. In years to come, historians may just look at this video, educators may play this video for students, it is a great contribution to the world and to the conversations people have been having. I was looking for brainrot to watch and eat my breakfast to this morning and found myself completely enthralled, I watched from beginning to end.

Since the pandemic I have quit smoking, quit caffeine, turned into a junk food junkie and stopped buying chips and cereals, then stopped consuming sodas all together. Now we have stopped going out to eat because the quality has gone down since I was born. I

This is insane. And considering that most US restaurants arent even pay their employee properly pushing the cost to consumers in the name of gratuitous tips.

Sad part is, I agree with the Kellogg CEO. I ate cereal for dinner as a struggle food growing up, but I'll say this; oats for dinner with fresh fruit are a much better option. Rice and seasoned ground beef is another good option. Hamburger helper isn't bad. Learning to cook with whatever tools you have is what you gotta do.. Your goal when you're struggling is to find good fortified carbs to balance with what sparse proteins and produce you can get on sale. If you have an oven, you can cook good food on a budget. If you don't, it's gonna be a struggle every day. Cereal has way too much sugar, and for a growing child your really want them to get more nutrition than that. It might keep you fed in the short term, but long term it'll trash your health and diabetes is a LOT more expensive than the benefit of saving a few pennies and hours.

"Let them eat cereal." The Marie Antoinette for our millenia. 😂 (I know Marie didn't really say this).

Milk is now the price of what gas use to be per gallon🥛

Guess I'm lucky. I have no education and work in a warehouse, but own my house, a car, and can afford to buy whatever food I want. Mostly organic.

I've noticed the people around me struggling are those who are single or have dependents (pets, kids). We are at a point in human history where you need 2 full time incomes per household, and you can't afford pets, kids, a social life or to travel. It's really sad. All work and no play. Props to that older lady who said young people have no hope. All the older folk around me just call young people lazy and don't care to look at the facts.

I have celiac disease. Not eating the cheap, crappy food because it will make me sick. I don't eat processed food at all. I eat nutricious food. Yes, the cost of healthy food is high. But staying out of restaurants and fast food joints helps me afford healthier food. But yes, the economy is making it so hard for people. Many people are not making it.

A well-feed man can't understand a hungry man (russian proverb)

Something I noticed in my area is that supermarkets are waiting as long as possible to discount things. People are trying to spend less on food, supermarkets have more expiring inventory, and it's normal now to pay full price for something expiring in a month, they only drop the price if something is a week from going bad. I've also ordered moisturizer online that came with the expiry date sanded off, foundation and health food that was all close to expiring. All merchants, big and small are just trying their luck right now.

I went to cava yesterday and I got a Greek salad and lemonade $16.50!!!! And it was HALF the portion! Never again!!!!

Frosted flakes is 1. A name brand, and 2. A "gold"-plated version of normal cornflakes. Just buy the cheapest version. Edit: wallmart's website tells me you americans can get their best value frosted flakes for less than 2 dollars. You guys should just stop buying name brands. In europe some countries have sugar taxes, making frosted flakes a more expensive alternative, funnily, adding sugar after the fact is cheaper, ad sugar it self is quite cheap compared

I'm glad people were disgusted at that guy suggested cereal for dinner. I'm surprised he un ironically was saying this and expecting the public to say "oh yeah good idea! Thanks rich CEO guy" don't get wrong I love me some granola, but Jesus Christ 😭 a damming indictment of the wealth inequality in the developed west. There was that famous line from Marianne twanette - when informed the peasants had no bread she simply said "let them eat cake". Such was her detachment from the poor masses and her luxurious life in wealth and power she did not understand that cake wasn't an option for most. The original air head rich girl 🤣 and here we are again hundreds of years later

It's a duality since the pandemic. Rich people and especially politicians are having the best time right now while the middle/poor struggle to keep the lifestyle they had before. The rich are reaping all the profits while the politicians print money and abuse tax spendings while raising taxes.

Dollar tree doesn't even live up to its name anymore...

these CEO's are out of this world. Untouchable. They are starting a war with the public and the governments, globally, don't care. Time for a change

Wait... so if we boycott food brands they'll lower the prices? Let's go one at a time

I have never used a food delivery service. I also don’t eat fast food very often because I’m vegan and most places have a very limited vegan 🌱 menu.

Since our previous parents buy cheap groceries for more foodstuffs; for now they tried to get savings money for their lives but survive on the other hand high price getting risk cause none of us can buy anything else. So if we can live, we will return money for saving wallet to buy less than few grocery per bags.

I think many of us have given up on the grocery store. I grow my own produce. I work a t a grocery store and wait for meat clearances and dairy to be loss leaders. Once I have land I hope all I need from the store is toilet paper.

I love how we are all brought onto this world against our will and forced to face the consequences for just trying to survive

What's also crazy is the amount of food that gets dumped and wasted. God forbid someone get it for cheap or free. Better throw it away. And the housing and rentals that sit unoccupied.

having pets and going on vacation are luxuries though, not essentials.

Thank you for this. I work with the piblic and i have this conversation EveryDay, we are all out here wondering what the hell is going on. But people Have to stop buying this stuff, or nothing will change. Take a break for a month or so, help your health and eat better and cheaper.. skip the oreos, the cereal, etc.. i know its super gross milk, eggs and necessities are so expensive but something has to give, right???.. right??? Ahhhhh

This is among the many reasons why I left the US. This is happening worldwide, but here in Thailand anyone can get good meals at affordable prices. I get paid more than a Thai person here because I am a native English speaker. So that's messed up, but I just can't with America right now

fast food is not the only options for 99.9% of the US population. You can cook your own meals. It sucks and is harder for some people but most people can. I hope it help people learn to cook from scratch.

Commercial cereals are sugar, grain, salt, preservatives, dye and artificial flavoring. The only nutrition in this kind of cereal is the grain, and that is questionable due to how it's processed and whether it's genetically modified and sprayed with weed killer and herbicides. On the other hand billions of people eat rice for dinner, which is also a grain. They mix it with vegetables and maybe a smattering of fish or meats. That's a cheap meal. You can do the same thing with pasta/noodles. Bread is made from grains, and if it's organic and whole grain can be a simple dinner with nut butters and fruit. In America, our customs around what constitutes a meal keeps us feeling like we cannot afford to eat. Of course we can. But we must gear it down and simplify what we are eating. Not every meal has to be a five star production with slabs of beef, potatoes and vegetables, heavy on the beef. Try thinking more like Asians or Hispanic countries with their beans and rice dishes that they adore. I often have sandwiches for dinner, with fruit or a salad and and maybe a yogurt. When I buy beef, a $9 chuck roast will get me through five meals. Sandwiches, pasta and beef, potatoes and beef with onions, chopped beef in my salad, or chopped beef in a soup. And after all that I still have the beef broth for more soup or stew.

We went grocery shopping yesterday. Entire long ass aisle of cereal. Adding milk and my husband would have to eat a huge bowl and we just do grits and salmon or something. Cheap and filing. Cereal is expensive af too. We rarely buy it. If ever.

Just some info for those of use that don't know carbs is just sugar with more steps for the body to break it down. So cearal is double the sugar that is hyper processed. Easy way to get diabetes if eaten regularly for years

Please do not complain. You can still eat lots of bean and rice. Add salt for flavor.

that lady with the 1 yr old burger should keep it. It can be worth alot in 15 years😂

Don't give away your data/privacy for a cheeseburger -- don't use the APP!!!

Your videos are just really nice to watch. Thanks for making great content!

Great video. I forwarded it to a couple of my friends. Thanks for the great reporting.

Government telling you the economy is great. Rich people get Ozempic, poor people get to eat less and lose weight. Everything is cool.

How is cereal less than $1/ serving if a small box is like $8 and a gallon of milk is $6 😭

Wow 👀 This video was mind blowing & I learnt so much! 💜

It's not because they can't afford door dash It's the fact that poor delivery service. For example if you don't tip. People are going to say but tipping is how they make their money. Yes but tipping is for good service as a reward not as a bribe to do mediocre service even threats if not tipped. The they need the tip, no they need to get paid more by the company.

That’s what happens when culture promotes over spending (living in the moment), when culture promotes comfort and convenience over long lasting, quality products, When culture promotes financial instability. We can only blame ourselves and the government for it. Can’t have the government “hands free” if society can’t pressure and police itself, when the government goes hands free in such a society, corporations will just come in and fill in the vacuum. People need to start boycotting again and abstain brands that sell overpriced goods. It needs to be a united action of as many people as possible. I don’t live in the US but where I live there are two groups - One, is very much Americanized and is very much all about “now, live in the moment” and doesn’t care about overspending for convenience and you can see how it’s taking a toll on them While the second group, a very religious one and a united one at that, is very picky, making and buying clothes that last life times, the corporations understand this difference, so they act accordingly and you can see in plain view how in the americanized areas, foods are packaged in small packages and expensive prices while if you go a few blocks to the religious area, people there know that their biggest vote is their wallet and that is clear by the prices on the shelves and the bigger packages for cheaper prices per compared weight. The reason why we can also blame the government is because when the people aren’t protecting themselves, it is the government’s responsibility to protect the average Joe from corporations using him as a naive product easily sold.

'Can't wait for the next video.

Newfoundlander here, food prices are insane it's 6.99 for 2 lts of milk here and if you get a beverage with sugar like soda or juice we have a sugar tax too /: Somethings gotta give

Thank you!! Yes, part two! 🤗

I really don’t understand how company’s can up their prices when they’re already doing amazing. The smart move would surely be to carry on the way it’s working to make more money in the long run??

Buying too expesive is always bad, even though I`m a bit better off because of my work, I still buy cheaper than thou.

New Zealand is definitely feeling the effects of the rich getter richer, poor getting poorer. The rich and powerful not in a hurry to change things.

Local Winn Dixie has name brand cereal $8.69-$9.99 for a 14 oz box. Then u gotta buy milk too. A teenager can consume 2 boxes in 1 meal.

Chicken did seem like it wanted sacrificed for the family really bad and my heart can't say no to that cute yummy face

I work with a 30 yr old aerospace engineer at chipotle……….. masters degree and barely a highschool diploma graduates work the same job…same wage…same struggles ect this shit is a joke

Gurrrrrl thank you for your effort- this is a really good video. Ive been saying this forever. Keep going.

Brand name cereals cost $5-7 USD now. What is he smoking?!?

Because of factors that effect the different incentives amoungest stakeholders

Good info!

Try surviving on a below avergae income... Im literally researching meals inspired by people in the great depression, or natives in the plains, or during famines, or people who live in dirt poor countries, how they survive. Because unfortunately thats where it's gotten.. even been thinking of getting my fishing license so i can try to catch something to help with the costs. Wouldnt be so bad if everything wasnt also more expensive, like if it was JUST food... It would be easier to manage.

TBH cereal is a good idea for food, but you'd need to get something like raisin bran or just normal bran. Way healthier than a lot of other options. Not as fun though.

I live in Poland. Back then Europe with euros was epithome of expensive stuff. Now we have higher prices of food than for example Italy, Greece, Germany etc. Coffee with piece of cake here is around 9-10 euros. I was amazed that coffee in Italy is like 1-3 euros max. Pizza here is around 11 euros if you want to order a nice one in restaurant. In Italy i think the most expensive is 8 euros. I spent almost the same amount of money on food in Greece as in Poland, but portions were so big that i could order one and split with my partner. In Poland sometimes it is hard to be satiated with small portions for the same price. The same yoghurt in Germany costs 1 euro or even less when here it costs almost 2 euros. And keep in mind we don't earn money in euros. 1 zł here is around 4,3 euro. The minimum wage here is 760 euros netto. A lot of people is earning like this. The real medium wage here is like 1000-1110 euros and obviously there are people who earn around 20000 euros but they mostly live in bigger cities so more money goes for rent. I am starting my doctorate and i will be earning 700 euros for 1,5 year and then around 1000 euros for next year. The rent here for flat for 2 people is like 600-700 euros. The rent for one person in tiny flat is around 400-500 euros. I would have never be able to live alone with prices like this. I will barely able to live spkiting rent with my bf bcs the rent will take half of my payment for a month. I can't afford the car. They would never gave us loan for many years even tho somehow the monthly price of a loan is lower than rent we pay. If we won't buy any flat up to our retirement we will most probably live on streets since the average retirement is around 800 euros but most get much less. The only hope would be to rent a small room in the apartment.

I used to eat alot of cereal because most traditional breakfast foods made me sick.. like I can't eat eggs and bacon until it was almost lunch time.. though at some point I just started skipping breakfast and perferred a bigger lunch.. 🙃 At this point, I just eat one very good meal.. and maybe a snack.. 😅

Back in the day , cereal boxes were full , also had a toy .

im so glad i found a way to make dollars and live in a country where my money is worth more. some ways i end up saving money is going to a local butcher for meat and an outdoor market for veggies and personal items. I also opt to use an e scooter or public transportation as opposed to getting a car. I also learned how make some things from scratch which ends up being cheaper than buying the ready made items. I am currently thinking of adding an outdoor veggie garden since it is cheaper to raise your own veggies and animals (if you have the space) the time and effort it takes hardly matter when the outcome is a nice chicken dinner with a side garden salad that came from your own backyard. another thing is that people need to substitute junk food for fruits and veggies instead of buying them in addition to buying junk. its about what you are willing to go through and sacrifice for yourself or your immediate family.

Beware of the newest trend of stretchflaction. For example, last year, you bought 500 tooth picks for a dollar. Or 2 boxes for 2.00. Now you think you're getting a bigger box of 800 for 2.00. Nonsense. It's government spending causes inflation.

I think it would be better if he suggested we all eat dog food. I think the pet food industry might have higher standards 😒

So what do we do about it? How do us average citizens affect change? Don’t get me wrong, this video was well produced and insightful, but it’s all just proof of what we all already know. Does anyone know what to do?!

milk is $6 in every supermarket within my 200 mile radius and no cereal is under $5, so actually cereal+milk costs MORE THAN FASTFOOD LUNCH DID 15 YEARS AGO, GET REAL!!

You should make this topic a series

10 years ago I never thought I’d be getting gaslit by Chipotle’s CEO, but here we are lol

A pack of ramen noodles is cheaper then cereal, where I live you can get a pack for 50 cents. (I live in the US) and honestly it’s what most college kids live off of for that exact reason. And though it’s not heathy it’s more heather then cereal, especially if you picked ones with the veggies in it. Though in reality a nice home cooked meal is what we all want and it sucks that it’s so expensive for a lot of us.

I am so glad I stopped buying cereal. My kids dont really eat it and i dont need it. The only way we can hit these companies where it hurts is to cut down consumption.

Well spending money on unnecessary animals That may make it more difficult to find true contentment certainly might be a factor.

“Rice cripsies” 😂

I'm on ssi/disability, ebt and recieve daily meals. I can't afford cereal and nutritious food.

inflation goes up wages stay the same.

I tried to do canned meats and and veggies , beacuse i remember it bieng around 80 cents but qhen i went to purchase canned goods are now 4-to 8 dollars

I know the is but what makes me so frustrated is how could I help to fix this?

It’s odd since cheap food is now the new expensive food. The companies get away with it.

A bowl of cereal with milk AND fruit is LESS than a DOLLAR?? Maybe a bowl of cereal served per the recommended serving size (about 100-150 calories worth) before you add the milk (forget about fruit) would be, if you bought STORE brand, but definitely not Kelloggs’ my goodness

Energy costs / west is now too scared to create their own energy(oil) even tho the way it’s done is much more environmental than other places like china

2:53 what pisses me off more than anything else is his inhuman and mechanized language. “The cereal category” gtfo

I hope everyone has stocked up on their reserves... There's going to be a huge food shortage soon and you don't want to be part of the hungry hordes in the cities...

As a european I am confused about all this delivery fees you have. Also, your tipping culture is out of control, in Europe we seldom do that.