Every Time I Buy Fast Food I Feel Like It Is A Wound in My Bank Account

No,it isn't a mistery,the trick is to know how to cook😉

Yes- real food ( raw ingredients, fruit&veg, meat, dairy, rice, beans) are cheaper here because most of them are grown or raised here. That is one thing that is still made in the US- food!

I always had a theory that if I had to eat out every day, it would have to be a good consistent percentage off the wage one has earned.

Take a place like White Castle for instance. Before the 1940s, a slider was 5 cents per slider and after the 1940s, it went up to $0.10. The minimum wage was $0.25/hr. around 1940. So if someone were to live off White Castle, they would be wasting 20% of their hourly wage to get it; or rather, 20% of one hour's worth of their hourly wage for one slider.

Today, the minimum wage for one hour is $7.25 and of course, it has not kept up with inflation; however, the cost of a slider is $0.83. So that means if I worked minimum wage, I would be able to get 2 sliders for 22% of the wage.

For groceries, you have staples like bread, eggs, and milk. Right now, eggs are about $3, milk goes for about $2, and bread goes for about $1. Realistically, after you get taxed on all that, it actually goes up to the nearest $.

So in terms of eating fast food, it actually would be worse than getting groceries. Assuming you could live off bread, eggs, and milk.

Because you have no money that is why.
Convenience and time saver tricks like postmates are expensive so they are for people who are too busy working to do those things themselves, and their time is more valuable. For example if someone makes $50 an hour, then spending 30 minutes cooking is $25 they are missing out on earning, so it makes sense to pay for someone else to cook it.
If you already are not working, you have more time than you have money. Your time is not more valuable.
And with roasting a chicken, most of the cook time is in the oven so you can do other things during that time. It's not like you are actively working to cook it the whole time. It's 5-10 minutes prep time and then go do something else while it roasts.

Thanks for this Wanton, I really needed some ideas.

About how much would I have to buy assuming that it would last more than one meal?

I can usually finish a can of mixed vegetable within two sittings. :/ I have a pretty fast metabolism.

Cold cuts have a lot of sodium. Bread is a ton of leavening. :/

I am really trying Margo, it's just convenience and the fastest way to get what I need so time opens up. Beans and rice seem to be a good option right now. Additionally, it is hard NOT TO eat fast food because I like salty things.

I had a set back and I am actually better off now than I was when it happened. I actually improved upon it; however, about three things I lost in the process.

I am trying to focus on the future; however, food is a necessity. I tend to think about it more than anything else. If there is one reason I have to live, it is because of food.

In fact, part of my debts go to food. I am a materialistic person when it comes to food (if that makes any sense).

No one knows it. In fact, there are multiple people that PM me and we think you were trolling from that.

But I guess we will put our differences aside and be more friendly. :)

I am Arvin G. Nice to meet you.

Because it is not respecting the boycott. It is an never ending cycle. We support these stores that pay bad wages and put us into our places. Then we go back and buy from our oppressors? Then again, fast food is pretty bad too; however, White Castle had just recently taken a look at my Yelp post and they raised the wage from $8.50 to $10/hr. :D