Does anyone else ever feel like you have to choose between good health and saving money?? I would love to be able to buy all organic and all natural products, but they are SO expensive. I would love to buy the healthiest food but sometimes feel it is too expensive to buy on a regular basis. Same with other products like all natural toothpaste and skin care. In a perfect world we'd all be using the most natural, most "green" products. But not many of us have the money to sustain that kind of lifestyle. I suppose I could rearrange our budget to accommodate for these kinds of expenditures. I just really wish that I could buy healthier things for my family at the same price as everything else. Are the products priced higher just because they can? Because they know people will spend that kind of money? It's kind of how I feel about cleaner cars. Natural gas, hybrid and electric cars are far better for the environment (thus, far better for us) but they are priced higher. I wish car companies would stop putting money into making "cooler" cars that all look the same and start working on making engines that run cleaner and cost less. Most of you know me and know that I am no environmentalist. I'm not a fanatic when it comes to this kind of a thing, but I do care about our earth and mostly I care about my families health. It sure would be nice if companies cared a little less about making huge profits and cared a little more about making good products accessible to everyone. I guess the world just doesn't work that way. Like my mom always told me, "If wishes were fishes we'd all have a fry.".
I'll climb off my soap box now.
4 comments:
Ah, we'll make a progressive out of you someday. ;)
First, natural products, like everything else, are priced based on what the market will bear. And capitalism is a bear. Natural foods and hybrids are priced higher because people will pay more for them.
Second, natural foods, cleaner energy, and fancy efficient cars, are more expensive to make. There are some options. For example, small fuel efficient cars, such as the Toyota Fit, the Honda Civic (4 cylinder), and the Ford Focus, get good mileage wil a low cost. It's boring old technology, but it works.
Finally, improvement always has a cost, and at some point that cost will be painful. We can start moving to cleaner renewable energy now or wait until fosil fuels run out to deal with it. If we do it now it will be hard and painful, maybe even hurtful to the economy. If we wait until oil runs out it could be apocalyptically painful, but at least it will be your grand children dealing with it and you will be safely dead.
Dang it. Lee beat me to the punch. I agree with everything he said about market forces. I just wonder if some group could organize to counter the effects of the usual kind of advertising and teach those of us who are willing to live greener. The Hippy counter culture of the 70's tried to do some of that but got sidetracked on drugs and sex.There must be some group still working on ideas that you and Lee have suggested
I definitely think there's something wrong with the fact that you can pay upwards of $1 for a SINGLE grapefruit, but you can buy 2 tacos for .99 at Del Taco. (Please don't judge me because I know this piece of info. I've eaten there a few times. So sue me.) That's just terrible in my book.
I am right where you are. My good friend and neighbor is a vegitarian and doesn't eat white sugar or processed food...she gets her bread delivered, her milk delivered from a local dairy who uses no antibiotics and all that jazz...she has a box of organic fruits and veggies delivered every week...although she eats great and is healthy...she spends an absolute FORTUNE for this stuff...and I am sorry, her family is not any 'healthier' than mine is. Anyway, there are things I would like to do...small changes, but you are right, it sucks to have to pay more for something that is more natural...so dumb!
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