4 ms·

You are right that modern technology has figured out how to turn energy into soil (way oversimplified!), and that probably 80% of the nitrogen in the bodies of

by rz2k 9y ago

You are right that modern technology has figured out how to turn energy into soil (way oversimplified!), and that probably 80% of the nitrogen in the bodies of any of us reading this came from the Haber process. However, it still sounds bizarre that about 90% of their expenses was food.

Radim 9y ago
"Annual" and "a month" are mutually exclusive, so (at least) one in that sentence must be in error.
- quickthrower2 9y ago
  Might be like the modern SaaS - advertised as a monthly price but you need to pay for the entire year to get that price.
jdietrich 9y ago
It isn't totally off-base. Even today, the poorest consumers in middle-income countries spend 70-80% of their income on food. http://www.hindustantimes.com/interactives/how-do-people-in-developing-countries-spend-money/ http://www.hindustantimes.com/interactives/how-do-people-in-...
- pbhjpbhj 9y ago
  In the UK I'd be suprised if like us most of the income of other poorer people didn't go to landlords/banks through rent/mortgage payment? It may appear for those in state housing that food is their greatest outlay but that would only be if accommodation provided by welfare wasn't classed as "income". In Twain's position, and time, would food have certainly been the greatest outlay?
icebraining 9y ago
However, it still sounds bizarre that about 90% of their expenses was food. For two adults and five children? If you're working class, it'll cost a good chunk even today (barring state subsidies).
sunkensheep 9y ago
$1.50 per day is about $45 per month, $80 per month would be 175% of income, so I'd hope that there was a second income earner in the family.
- acjacobson 9y ago
  I think the error is the 'per month' part. $80 per year matches pretty well with a daily wage of $1.50, and a monthly housing cost of $6. It would work out to over 20% of their annual budget being allocated to food, which while higher than today, historically seems to match.
gnaritas 9y ago
> However, it still sounds bizarre that about 90% of their expenses was food. What do you think being poor is?
sidlls 9y ago
As someone who grew up incredibly impoverished it's not bizarre to me. Sounds a bit high, but not terribly so. Rent and food together frequently were more than 100% of my mom's income. We relied heavily on food charity.

by rz2k 9y ago

Radim 9y ago

"Annual" and "a month" are mutually exclusive, so (at least) one in that sentence must be in error.

quickthrower2 9y ago
Might be like the modern SaaS - advertised as a monthly price but you need to pay for the entire year to get that price.

jdietrich 9y ago

It isn't totally off-base. Even today, the poorest consumers in middle-income countries spend 70-80% of their income on food. http://www.hindustantimes.com/interactives/how-do-people-in-developing-countries-spend-money/ http://www.hindustantimes.com/interactives/how-do-people-in-...

pbhjpbhj 9y ago
In the UK I'd be suprised if like us most of the income of other poorer people didn't go to landlords/banks through rent/mortgage payment? It may appear for those in state housing that food is their greatest outlay but that would only be if accommodation provided by welfare wasn't classed as "income". In Twain's position, and time, would food have certainly been the greatest outlay?

icebraining 9y ago

However, it still sounds bizarre that about 90% of their expenses was food. For two adults and five children? If you're working class, it'll cost a good chunk even today (barring state subsidies).

sunkensheep 9y ago

$1.50 per day is about $45 per month, $80 per month would be 175% of income, so I'd hope that there was a second income earner in the family.

acjacobson 9y ago
I think the error is the 'per month' part. $80 per year matches pretty well with a daily wage of $1.50, and a monthly housing cost of $6. It would work out to over 20% of their annual budget being allocated to food, which while higher than today, historically seems to match.

gnaritas 9y ago

> However, it still sounds bizarre that about 90% of their expenses was food. What do you think being poor is?

sidlls 9y ago

As someone who grew up incredibly impoverished it's not bizarre to me. Sounds a bit high, but not terribly so. Rent and food together frequently were more than 100% of my mom's income. We relied heavily on food charity.