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Chef Boyardee Made Me Stimulate the Economy

Tim Parry December 2nd, 2008

So what has this recession brought us? A bunch of fat guys like me. Thanks to my new lunch budget that limits me to canned soup and Chef Boyardee mini ravioli (one heck of a buy at about $1 or less a can), I’ve expanded both my bank account and my waistline.

I had to wear a suit to a memorial service a few weeks back. From my knees to my sternum, I looked like a muffin. Just extra belly fat popping over the maximally-stretched suit pants. Maybe the fact I switched beer from Michelob Ultra to Pabst Blue Ribbon ($14.99 a 12 pack vs. $14.00 a 30 pack… which would you choose?) didn’t help me either.

Bottom line is, with NCDM coming up next week - and Direct’s Richard Levey and I planning to hit every $3.99 breakfast buffet in the Orlando area, I had to splurge for some new pants.

Even in this economy I didn’t want to spend. So I kept my local mall store choices to Target, J.C. Penney, and Old Navy. Went with Old Navy and some khakis, to keep it business casual (like I know how to dress myself in the first place). Same sale price as J.C. Penney, only Old Navy had two pair in fat guy sizes. $15 each. I can still pay the mortgage.

Very surprised that Target didn’t have anything for less than $20 a pair. Maybe I should have checked Wal-Mart the night before (heck, I was there the night before for household items). But that’s what I get for sticking to a budget.

And that’s what merchants are unfortunately getting too - budget-conscious shoppers who are stretching their dollar as far as they can.

Hopefully I’m not the only one stretching it because my pants no longer stretch over my belly.

Thanks Chef Boyardee (and Pabst).