that's why you go to food banks. or calorie count to maximize your calories per dollar. i've been there.

but things cost what they cost. whether you think they should cost that much... that's the perception. a lot of USA foodstuffs are highly subsidized and others are not. Red meat is a luxury food and is priced accordingly and if anything it's still underpriced vastly compared to it's true cost.

Pork and chicken are much cheaper. I can get a whole chicken for $2/lbs... do that's mostly what I eat for protein these days. I'd be insane if I was buying red meat at the $15-25/lb it costs. but i also thought it was insane back when it was only 10/lb.

If you are buying lobster or other high priced foods while financially struggling... that's just making bad choices.