The DU Lounge

nuxvomica

(14,070 posts)

16. I remember my mom had this small plastic adding machine

Mon May 8, 2023, 01:59 PM

May 2023

It had three plungers, one each for dollars, dimes and cents. She'd use that to keep track of her running total while grocery shopping. I recall her constantly complaining about the price of bread or milk going up. I helped her out on the milk part because I only liked skim milk so I was happy with the far less expensive powdered milk.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

47 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

One of the joys of my adult life is never going hungry and having food in the pantry and fridge. [View all] Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 OP

Poverty can scar you. I worry about food alot since I went hungry and stole food as a kid. 58Sunliner May 2023 #1

As a frequent visitor to the cloak room to ponder my transgressions, I occasionally liberated a Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #4

I grew up in a family of four, raised by a single mom bhikkhu May 2023 #21

Take it back to Goodwill housecat May 2023 #23

You are a rich guy Joinfortmill May 2023 #31

LOL. I was the youngest of three sisters, I know hand me downs well. 58Sunliner May 2023 #46

I hear ya. Eko May 2023 #2

Remember well commodity food. Cheese, butter, spam in a can.😋 Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #5

Powdered milk was horrible though. Eko May 2023 #7

Oh! And the powdered eggs! 😬 Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #8

Never had those. Eko May 2023 #11

The most expensive (relatively) breakfast Mblaze May 2023 #15

Another good child - worth so much more than money. Joinfortmill May 2023 #33

I am in an area where 30 percent are below the poverty line Tetrachloride May 2023 #3

When I was in college Unwind Your Mind May 2023 #44

I remember those times... Bayard May 2023 #6

Your Dad was a great person! Duppers May 2023 #19

Lately, those totals add up fast after just a few items SouthernDem4ever May 2023 #9

I'd get up early to pop popcorn for our lunch bags. I'd often trade for bags of Fritos, etc. AnotherMother4Peace May 2023 #10

Not to forget those that might have had a good life erronis May 2023 #12

I spent many adult years going a day or two without food. Tom Yossarian Joad May 2023 #13

I agree. hay rick May 2023 #17

Yes empathy for others and opportunities for ourselves. Some, perhaps many, people with wealth and housecat May 2023 #28

Glad it's over... Joinfortmill May 2023 #34

been there done that. barbtries May 2023 #14

I have never lost that fear. I am trying to put it into perspective. 58Sunliner May 2023 #47

I remember my mom had this small plastic adding machine nuxvomica May 2023 #16

A horrible thing and I'm sorry that you had to suffer this. It should never happen. SWBTATTReg May 2023 #18

I'm on on my way to the center of my city in a distant land. Tetrachloride May 2023 #20

My wife had the same experience as you did growing up, still cringes about it. Canoe52 May 2023 #22

Stamp out hunger, Saturday, May 13 (National Association of Letter Carriers) thatcrowwoman May 2023 #24

My thanks! Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #40

My mother grew up in poverty. It turned her into a hoarder and foodaholic. Earth-shine May 2023 #25

I was 1 of 5 orphaned at age 8... Grins May 2023 #26

don't know what it was but this month lots of friends were really broke dembotoz May 2023 #27

you were a good son. Joinfortmill May 2023 #29

Thank you. Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #41

I remember very well moniss May 2023 #30

My brother and I would collect coal from the rail yard for our furnace in our wagon. It took a lot Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #42

I donate regularly to a food bank. Niagara May 2023 #32

It gets worse every year for us. EVERYTHING is way more expensive than it is worth. onecaliberal May 2023 #35

I wonder if my kids think like this Tree Lady May 2023 #36

Oh Floyd, you are a great person. I look forward to your posts everyday. You are talented, kind and debm55 May 2023 #37

You are so kind. Thank you. Floyd R. Turbo May 2023 #43

I've never experienced any of this IbogaProject May 2023 #38

Seriously, I'd like to know who decided to abandon the 50 Tetrachloride May 2023 #45

Anybody beemerphill May 2023 #39