Walmart customers

meh.


I can't fit into Abercrombie.


guess i am not a cool kid.

5' 11" size 12 at the moment.

besides, i like Walmart.

i get free stuff there all the time with coupons.

People on low incomes need to work hard to stretch their money every month. Foods with lots of carbs but little of any other nutrients are cheap and filling. If you were a parent of 4 young children, and you had only $25 for groceries, I bet you would be buying a lot of bread, macaroni, and other starchy foods to fill those little tummies. I agree with the poster who said that the OP knew this would be inflammatory. If the OP is too "depressed" when going to WalMart and seeing these people, I'm sure he is free to go elsewhere.

I have no sympathy for a woman who had four kids she knew she couldn't afford.

You can't say that people fall on tough times, situations change.

If someone makes the choice to have 4 kids, they are responsible to make or have saved enough money to support those kids in a healthy lifestyle.

Wow... You do realize that you can't plan for everything right? Things happen that you don't expect, haven't planned for, etc.

Maybe that woman with four kids was married. Maybe that father had a great job. Maybe that father got killed in a car accident. Maybe that woman used the money they had saved to get them by... pay the mortgage... funeral.. whatever. Maybe that woman with the four kids took in a friends children, siblings children, etc who lost a parent and she is doing the best she can with some extra people around. What if the parents had saved money but a medical issue happened to one of them or one of the children and they spent their savings to save that persons life? There are a lot of things that can happen. Stuff happens. You can't always plan life. Things happen you don't expect that can completely turn your life upside down.

Yes, This.

Yup!

In...

...while I decide which side of the argument I'm on.

I am fat and we are poor. Our family income for 4 was 15k last year. We do not get any government help either. The cheapest food IS fattening. Dollar menu at Mc donalds and every other fast food restaurant. Hated to eat there but it was cheeper than fresh vegetables and fruit to feed 4. Ramen noodles were a staple. I would add eggs to make it go further. I was and still am one of those Walmart people. I was also one that wore pajamas. Know why? Because I have not bought clothes for myself in 8 years. The PJ's were a Christmas gift (my only gift) from my husband who got them at WM for $4.50.
I am so glad that you pious wealthy, thin people are doing so well that you find entertainment in people who are less fortunate. You stand in judgment and refuse to walk in someone else's shoes. Flame me if you want

I was in a similar situation, it was much cheaper to feed my family off of the dollar menu at mcdonalds than to buy from walmart unless we were buying ramen for a few years. My situation has changed for the better now and so I am trying to get my life and weight straightened out. These people who have never had to choose between getting full off of $1 and paying for medicine or diapers or paying $3-5 for a pint of strawberries will never understand.

This must only be an American phenomena in Canada I have yet to see these "Walmart people"

I think that people set out to look for these "Walmart People" subconsciously, and then when they see someone at Walmart who fits this bill they immediately recognize it and remember it.

It's like people who say ...ummm idk of what a good example would be...they hate how immigrants to America don't know English. When in fact, they have this stereotype in their head so every time they see an immigrant who doesn't speak English they immediately remember it and it strengthens the correlation in their head and further promotes the stereotype in their own head, where as when they see an immigrant who does speak English it doesn't make as big of impact on them.

I remember reading something along these lines in a psych class...may be off but could also be part of it.

Yeah it doesn't take a lot to subconsciously recognize someone like this...
weird is weird.

This must only be an American phenomena in Canada I have yet to see these "Walmart people"

I think that people set out to look for these "Walmart People" subconsciously, and then when they see someone at Walmart who fits this bill they immediately recognize it and remember it.

It's like people who say ...ummm idk of what a good example would be...they hate how immigrants to America don't know English. When in fact, they have this stereotype in their head so every time they see an immigrant who doesn't speak English they immediately remember it and it strengthens the correlation in their head and further promotes the stereotype in their own head, where as when they see an immigrant who does speak English it doesn't make as big of impact on them.

I remember reading something along these lines in a psych class...may be off but could also be part of it.

No, the Walmart people are real. Never fails, whichever one you go to. Except Canada, apparently.

Maybe setting a good example by purchasing healthy, wholesome choices is the example you should worry about setting for children. Kids pay attention to their parents decisions more than anyone else's, so don't worry about anyone but yourself and maybe other parents will catch on when they notice that parents who make healthy choices have healthy kids.

Concerning yourself with other people's deemed "questionable" lifestyles won't do anything except make you a food/store snob.

ETA: I just reread what I wrote, and I want to clarify that I wasn't aiming that directly at you OP. Just in general think that people should just worry about themselves. People will do what they do and we will do what we do.

Wow, I am kind of surprised because of what you say. I am not American and don't live there and maybe don't quite understand, but are you saying that people should only selfishly worry about themselves and maybe their close family and not show any concern for friends, neighbors, fellow citizens or the state of health of the country they live in ?

So when I was behind a family of 5 at the grocery store and they had two shopping carts full of junk food (ramen, chips, candy, cookies, etc) and were getting candy bars and bottles of soda for each of them at the checkout line I was supposed to express my concern to them? They probably would have punched me in the face.

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Got this shirt at WalMart.

Buys same groceries at WalMart as they have at Publix.

Buys fresh produce at WalMart because it's cheaper.

Sees only normal people at WalMart (and two freaks: my high school friend's ex husband and my cousin's wife, but they shop everywhere else, too, and I've only seen them on the POWM website, not IRL, and both did it on purpose to make the website)

I shop at walmart all the time, I sometimes wear yoga pants (or my black pjs) because the trail I like to jog is right down the street from wal mart. I have to drive a good ways to get to them so why not kill two birds with one stone. I can't spend a lot on clothes to work out in, sorry if they aren't fancy enough for some of you. I assume from reading this that if some of you were to see me at walmart you think I was lazy and had just gotten out of bed. The truth is I have usually just gotten done with a 2-4 mile jog and stopped in at wal mart to pick up a few things.

I also notice people of all shapes, sizes, genders, and races at wal mart, or any other store for that matter. Maybe I just try not to be as judgmental as some of you because I know how it feels to be a big girl and I was judged all my life for it.

WOW WOW WOW, i was already expecting the post itself to be awful but to read all those judgmental,nasty, stereotypical comments was unexpected. What have we come to? You shouldn't judge people by the way they look and that is the most important thing you can teach your child! You don't know the individual person's story. You don't know if they have a medical condition, maybe they had an injury that lead to bedrest and weight gain, maybe they just gained weight as a consequence of a depression. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN THROUGH. What bothers me the most is by the way you wrote your post, that you clearly consider obese or overweight people to be worth lessf or less-than because of their size. If you think you help the situation with your judgment, well you don't.

^^ THIS!

I found the OP and most of the comments here VERY JUDGEMENTAL and full of biased stereotypes. I'm a Senior Accountant and my husband and I are BLESSED that we are still employed and are able to make ends meet in an economy where many people have lost their jobs! No way does that give us a right to be judgemental and to snub our noses at those who are not as fortunate or those who have 4 children (because as others have said, YOU dont know their situation as to how they got their and more importantly, ITS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS)!! My husband I make decent money and we CHOOSE to shop at Walmart because we prefer to be prudent with our money. In short, many of the people here being judgemental dont necessarily appear (to me) that you're in a position to judge anyone - I mean you're on MFP to lose weight yourself!!

How about worrying about teaching your children to RESPECT everyone and to have compassion for those who may not be as BLESSED as you are?? Stop being judgemental and MIND YOUR OWN FREAKIN' BUSINESS!!

If there is any chance in saving this thread, I'd love to hear ideas from people on how to SOLVE the complaint that eating healthfully is more difficult with a lower income. How would YOU feed a family of 4 on $50-$70 a week?

I had a couple ideas:
- Plant a garden, use a topsy turvy, or use a community plot. Strawberries and tomatoes grown at home could help in a pinch.
- Buy in bulk, cook in bulk, and freeze - A LOT.
- Get creative with cheap staples like brown rice and beans. Puree to add to soups and stews, mash to make "meatballs", serve whole as a side.
- Purchase produce when it's marked down and on sale only. Use immediately or chop it up and freeze to use in casseroles, smoothies, soups, and more.
- Look for sales on lean meats like chicken. Buy only when on sale - portion and freeze.
- Resist the temptation to buy packaged sweets and quick snack foods. Make a large batch of a treat (oatmeal cookies, granola bars, etc) at home when ingredients are on sale.
- Outside of this budget, purchase a big0box-store membership (CostCo, Sam's Club). While the initial $50 investment may sting, you can buy staples SO much more cheaply the membership pays for itself within a visit or 3.
- As with any eating plan, add in exercise whevever possible.

I amy very sympathetic to folks who express this as a barrier to a healthy lifestyle. I honestly don't know how some manage to do it. I look at how much I spend for my small family, and I can't imagine doing it easily for less.

Who else has good ideas?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qr8MWBa2G60 (Rascal Tipping)

Pls watch to see the risks of walmart shopping.

This must only be an American phenomena in Canada I have yet to see these "Walmart people"

I second this for BC, Canada... the Walmarts here just have more arrogant people,
I hate going to Walmart because of these rude people and try to pick early in the mornings on weekends to go
so that I don't have worry about coming out with broken hands/ankles/knees...

Everyone s a story and a reason why they have low income and it infuriates me:mad: in such a manner , when someone tries to group all people on welfare into one group.We are all not the same and our stories are not either. As child my family was on welfare till we had more money. My father divorced my mother while she was pregnant with me ,and left her with my brother and I to fend for ourselves. We had no child support in fact the only support I ever received is in fact was 75 dollars on my 18th birthday and then it stopped, I guess they finally caught up to him. She worked multiple hours , I spent a lot of my childhood with my brother and by myself as I got older,if were not for welfare and my mothers determination I would not be here today. I think welfare is truly helpful to those who really need it.

Please stop assuming its makes a n *kitten* out of u and me.
Sorry had to speak up

This is to the OP by the way and to anyone else who feels the same may be if you had to be on welfare may be you would see things a bit differently.

Maybe setting a good example by purchasing healthy, wholesome choices is the example you should worry about setting for children. Kids pay attention to their parents decisions more than anyone else's, so don't worry about anyone but yourself and maybe other parents will catch on when they notice that parents who make healthy choices have healthy kids.

Concerning yourself with other people's deemed "questionable" lifestyles won't do anything except make you a food/store snob.

ETA: I just reread what I wrote, and I want to clarify that I wasn't aiming that directly at you OP. Just in general think that people should just worry about themselves. People will do what they do and we will do what we do.

Wow, I am kind of surprised because of what you say. I am not American and don't live there and maybe don't quite understand, but are you saying that people should only selfishly worry about themselves and maybe their close family and not show any concern for friends, neighbors, fellow citizens or the state of health of the country they live in ?

My opinion is just that people shouldn't concern themselves with other people's personal life decisions. What other people do with their lives is their business not ours.