People of all income groups in the US seem to have problems living within their means.
My co-worker and I were talking about how much we spend on groceries per week, and it turns out they spend about twice as much as we do (and we could cut some corners). I'm sure my mother spent half of what we spend.
She buys the big container of store brand oatmeal, we buy "better oats". My co-worker buys the cups of individually portioned servings.
My mother buys the store brand chocolate milk, we buy fairlife, my co-worker buys individual fairlifes.
$8 bottles of salad dressing, more expansive cuts of meat, $15 bags of frozen shrimp, it all adds up. And this is just groceries.
I think the article is speaking more about it being expensive to be poor due to options that are not available.
The "living within their means" examples you give sound like a person having the option of spending less money, but choosing not to (or not being aware they had an option that they did).
The article is not about folk tales of "living within your means". It is about paying more for the same thing because of various factors like whether you can afford to transport yourself to a better store, whether you have the space to transport and store bulk goods, or the working funds to afford bulk purchases, and whether your dwelling even has a kitchen or refrigerator.
A large chain grocery store will usually have better prices than a corner grocer / convenient / liquor store. Some people have to do some grocery shopping there because they can't commute to a Jewel, Safeway, etc.
people are not poor because they spend too much on groceries. There's already a non-trivial amount of effort spent on making groceries more affordable for those with limited budgets (e.g. food stamps, coupons, offers, etc). Were it simply a case of buying cheaper food then we would have already solved that problem. Rather; it is more complex and opportunity is a more significant factor.
Regardless the article discusses many grocery issues that poorer people suffer such as more expensive supply (along with limited access to superior supplies), less choice, inability to buy in bulk as well as restrictions on cooking or being time-poor.
My co-worker and I were talking about how much we spend on groceries per week, and it turns out they spend about twice as much as we do (and we could cut some corners). I'm sure my mother spent half of what we spend.
She buys the big container of store brand oatmeal, we buy "better oats". My co-worker buys the cups of individually portioned servings.
My mother buys the store brand chocolate milk, we buy fairlife, my co-worker buys individual fairlifes.
$8 bottles of salad dressing, more expansive cuts of meat, $15 bags of frozen shrimp, it all adds up. And this is just groceries.
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