That's the real problem here. You can only go cheaper brands once.

There's other ways to tighten the belt - cheaper cuts of meat, more meatless meals, fewer veggies that tend to be a little pricey for the calories (nevermind great for nutrients) and more rice-and-beans that are cheaper calories.

There's plenty of room for a downward spiral… but what about those already lower down on that spiral who already had to make those choices? They definitely will reach food insecurity quicker.