Lastly, people afford what they want to afford. How many of those same people who can't "afford" quality food have cable TV, a cellular phone, and fancy rims on their car? How many of them spend thousand and thousands of dollars a year on alcohol and cigarettes? Or designer clothing and shoes?
Wow! Its possible that you know a different breed of low income people, but the poor friends that I know certainly don't fit what you are describing. My friend rolls smokes (cheaper), drives a rust bucket, lives with his mom (matched pair - they both cant afford rent), never worn designer anything, no cell, saved for two years to get a tv and cable. Yea he smokes - and I don't blame him, I simply give him credit for not drinking.
If a low income person is able to quit smoking this does not automatically mean more money for food. Pay of debts, replace the junk matress on the floor for a real bed, change that oil you keep meaning to do but cant ever afford, tires are bald, clothes are ratty, and it would be nice to get a pizza instead of McDonalds for once - the list is endless. Being at the bottom can also mean not really caring anymore. You could quit smoking, but why bother?
I see it as a trap and its not easy to get out of when its generally populated by the least educated.
I am not saying you are wrong, but its much easier to provide a solution when you arent living at the bottom of the barrel.
From message 62 writes:
Clearly, they are also choosing cheap, less nutritious food to be able to afford cigarettes, not just the rent.
This is true. Much the same as you would cut back eating steak and lobster to save for that vacation. From my experience cigarettes are one of the very few expenses that are a luxury item.
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