Question of the day:

Why are you paying more than something is worth?

Where I am atm basic food stuffs are dirt cheap. You can have rice and chicken for under a dollar. If you can't afford that there are restaurants that will feed you for free, you just ask. You can buy a new shirt for $3 and new pants for $5 or less. No brand names but you can eat and dress for around $1.50 a day. Basics are cheap. You want a sugar drink? It is about $20 a case.
Why are Americans paying $30-50 for underwear?
Why are the retailers charging that much?
Simple, because you pay it. Stop paying more than something is worth and you will see prices fall like leaves. Stop keeping up with the Jones's. That is mocking bird making you do that. No one cares what label is on your clothes, car, or food. You think they do because you do. Stop caring and start living a brand free, amazingly fulfilled life.

That's the catch Lil Iodine, the cheaper stuff is at walmart and Mcdonalds. If we support local and buy Mom and pop, there overhead is so much higher and they have to charge more. So, how to we buy cheap like John Q suggests and not support the Big Box evil stores like Walmart and McDonalds and seriously, who wants their crap. I prefer to shop local mom and pop and am okay with paying more for it. I'm going to by organic hemp cotton clothing, Furniture made in the U.S. and organic whole fresh foods and its going to cost me what it does. I like many do not want to live on junk foods and wear itchy il fitting clothing. Everything is relative. None the less, everyone I know price shops. The days of keeping price tags on things are decades old. People want value, they want a good deal and look for it.