Meal Kit Delivery Plans are a Scam
— Scams are why you’re broke and struggling
Every week, without fail, my mailbox is graced with offers from meal delivery kits from companies like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh. In each of these, resides a generous ‘free meals’ type of offers hoping to entice me to hop on their wagon and subscribe to their services.
Now, before I am chastised for daring to hate on seemingly genius and revolutionary startup companies on the quest of getting more people to cook and eat at home, let me proclaim that I am writing this to address those who are struggling with money and can never seem to catch a break no matter how long they’ve tried being ‘smart with money’.
By no means am I claiming that these companies are immoral and scamming the public because these companies are rightfully catering to the upper class clientele; those who have money to spare and burn.
Most of us however? We do not have that luxury. And meal kits delivery is a luxury. People who are struggling with money do not have the space in their budget to indulge in luxuries. If you aren’t somewhat upper middle class, spending your hard earned income on meal kits delivery like Blue Apron and Hello Fresh is as bad an idea as falling for a scam.
“But it is a form of convenience” you say?
Let me help you in on a secret. These convenience we’ve been so long conditioned to accept thanks to aggressive social media marketing (as if it’s a revolutionary concept in dining and home economics) has existed since before Blue Apron, Home Chef and Hello Fresh lifted the idea from traditional supermarket chains.
Peruse any notable supermarket and you will see meal kits available for purchase too. The only difference being the price point. Oh and the lack of prestige, because supermarket meal kits do not come with a side of ‘satisfied accomplishment’, since you can’t actually hashtag #blueapron #mealkits on your Instagram.
It is severely uncool to #publix unless your squad are fellow thrifty suburbanites.
What to do instead?
It seems insensitive, I know. But learn how to cook from reading and watching traditional cooking shows.
Meal kit deliveries are indulgences for upper middle class families who treat cooking dinner like it’s a ‘family game night’ activity, where the whole family gets together to create the meal together. Or highly paid professionals living alone (or as a couple) and see cooking like an enjoyable ritual after a session of yoga or pilates with their personal trainer. These are all great things to do, but the upper middle class can afford to do so.
The rest of us? We need not indulge if we can hold ourselves back from wastefully spending money in order to give us the illusion of living a lifestyle beyond our means. There is no shame in scrimping and saving and being smart with money. There is joy in living within our means.
Also, pick up a meal kit from the produce section at your local supermarket.
And, stop following influencers on your social media account. It’s pretty weird to consciously and willingly follow the lives of people who’s goal is to sell you things. It’s like following a commercial marketing mascot, similar to getting social updates from Ronald McDonald.
