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I found it annoying when someone I knew complained about the cost of health insurance for themselves... about 150/month or something of the sort (I forget the precise figure) and how they decided not to pay for it.

Yet they had an iPhone and a computer and an internet connection and cable at home, and made purchases on iTunes. I explained what I saw as the obvious easily-eliminated expenses. They were angered and said that they should be allowed to enjoy nice things. I suggested drop the phone or drop the internet or drop the cable- the monthly bills alone from one of them would nearly allow them to afford health insurance with little negative effect on their quality of life.

For the record, I never owned a cellphone before last year, and I only use prepaid- 30 dollars every 3 months... more than I WANT to pay, but I no longer have a landline, so I figure it works out- if not necessarily directly in cash, then at least in added mobility.

The one splurge I allow myself is high-speed internet. Oddly it came cheaper with free cable this year, so I took that option and so for the first time in my life, I finally had cable TV... which is useless to me- all I watch are TLC, CNBC, and ESPN.

The article is dead-on right about the problem of overpriced gas station groceries though. I lack a car, so I walk 30 minutes each way to buy my groceries at a real place about once a week, just so that I can save the 10-20%. I really feel empathy for the thousands that poor people lose each year because no real cost-effective groceries can operate successfully in inner cities.

And it is even more of a pain to get to a Target or a (shudder) WalMart- I have to bum rides off acquaintances.