There is a familiar scene that I am starting to become-unfortunately-too familiar with at grocery stores of late, and it both saddens and angers me.
I call them “zombies,” but that may not be a fair way to describe the type of people I see. These are people who go to the grocery store, virtually never using a shopping cart and relying on a hand basket, or more often, just one small bag in hand. They move slowly at times, quickly at others, going from one aisle to the next, trying to find any deal they can.
Not to be nosy, but more out of curiosity, my eyes will sometimes fall on one of these “grocery zombies,” and I will notice that, more often than not, they leave without buying a single thing. That is sad to see.
I even overheard a couple saying to each other, in an almost upset way, “There is absolutely nothing on sale this week,” clearly noticing that their bag was still empty as they approached the checkout lane.
You feel bad for them-not only because they seem unable to buy much, if anything, but also because of all the time they have spent walking around the store trying to find something affordable enough to take home.
It is borderline poverty, although I don’t know the personal circumstances of these people. Some may genuinely be struggling financially, while others may simply be trying to be extremely careful with their money in these difficult times.
The government has tried to play its part by sending a cheque here and there, but a payment that barely covers one trip to the grocery store can only do so much.
This is a collective issue, and it will only truly get resolved when the cost of living becomes more manageable and Canadians no longer have to walk through grocery store aisles looking for something-anything-they can afford.
For now, unfortunately, the grocery-store zombies seem to be becoming a more familiar sight.