Comments on: You Paid $9.60 a Gallon for WHAT?!? http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/ Talking about money, without being boring. Sat, 05 Jul 2008 10:05:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Diane http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-50573 Diane Tue, 06 May 2008 19:42:49 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-50573 First, let me mention something that happened to me. I ignored the need to drink good water - we lived in California, and I was used to my good old Michigan well-water which was good; clear, and full of minerals. It cost me over $3,000 for one hospital stay; the doctors had to run tests to determine what had put me there - it was 'bad water'. I started buying bottled water; hated the cost. I didn't like tossing those bottles - that bothered me a lot. We invested into a reverse-osmosis system; now we have the clean drinking water we need. We do keep 24 bottles of bottled water 'on hand', as emergency if anything goes wrong (as it has this week for the 3rd time in 2 years). The water is off; we can't wash our clothes; last year, it was a water-main break as the year before. We do keep large gallons of water (4) in our car when we travel in case the car over-heats and/or we need water. We pay 25 cents to fill those bottles at our local market (we walk there). My dear friend of 50 years is now suffering kidney problems (life-threatening); thousands are being spent to treat her, and since she's never had a drop of alcohol, they had to 'trace it down' - conclusion: Bad tap water. My mother suffers from repeated bladder infections; the doctors keep recommending 'bottled water' - this past month, she relented because it was more costly to pay the doctor bills, than to drink the bottled water (she buys in gallon sizes for 99 cents on sale; $1.59 when it's not). All-in-all, each has to decide what is right; various geographical locations suggest bottled water is mandatory - learn to know if you're in that high-risk are because illness and doctor bills/hospital bills turn that choice of bottled water into a viable one. Thank you. First, let me mention something that happened to me. I ignored the need to drink good water - we lived in California, and I was used to my good old Michigan well-water which was good; clear, and full of minerals.

It cost me over $3,000 for one hospital stay; the doctors had to run tests to determine what had put me there - it was ‘bad water’.

I started buying bottled water; hated the cost.

I didn’t like tossing those bottles - that bothered me a lot.

We invested into a reverse-osmosis system; now we have the clean drinking water we need.

We do keep 24 bottles of bottled water ‘on hand’, as emergency if anything goes wrong (as it has this week for the 3rd time in 2 years). The water is off; we can’t wash our clothes; last year, it was a water-main break as the year before.

We do keep large gallons of water (4) in our car when we travel in case the car over-heats and/or we need water. We pay 25 cents to fill those bottles at our local market (we walk there).

My dear friend of 50 years is now suffering kidney problems (life-threatening); thousands are being spent to treat her, and since she’s never had a drop of alcohol, they had to ‘trace it down’ - conclusion: Bad tap water.

My mother suffers from repeated bladder infections; the doctors keep recommending ‘bottled water’ - this past month, she relented because it was more costly to pay the doctor bills, than to drink the bottled water (she buys in gallon sizes for 99 cents on sale; $1.59 when it’s not).

All-in-all, each has to decide what is right; various geographical locations suggest bottled water is mandatory - learn to know if you’re in that high-risk are because illness and doctor bills/hospital bills turn that choice of bottled water into a viable one.

Thank you.

]]> By: John Peden http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49725 John Peden Thu, 01 May 2008 17:10:42 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49725 @Bob "it’s cloudy. But what ever is in the water slowly dissipates out like it’s a gas of some kind" That's because it is a gas - its air dissolved in water. Bottled water is also a lesser evil than soda; very true. I read an article not so long ago regarding bottled water. The journalist said that he thought it was a joke when he first heard about it. The article also highlighted the fact that it was more expensive than fuel. Bottled water is extortionate, but though I tend to carry a flask with me I'll happily buy it if I forget. I think the UK is pretty good in terms of drinking water tastes, I've tasted some pretty funky continental and American water! @Bob “it’s cloudy. But what ever is in the water slowly dissipates out like it’s a gas of some kind”

That’s because it is a gas - its air dissolved in water. Bottled water is also a lesser evil than soda; very true.

I read an article not so long ago regarding bottled water. The journalist said that he thought it was a joke when he first heard about it. The article also highlighted the fact that it was more expensive than fuel. Bottled water is extortionate, but though I tend to carry a flask with me I’ll happily buy it if I forget.

I think the UK is pretty good in terms of drinking water tastes, I’ve tasted some pretty funky continental and American water!

]]> By: bob http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49155 bob Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:40:18 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49155 There's a lot of talk about bottled water these days but what about soda? Many of us can agree that soda isn't healthy, especially w/ the corn syrup. Now I don't drink soda but when I drink bottled (or well) water, I'll drink @least 8 glasses a day. But the tapwater is terrible in my town. If I don't let the water run at full blast for a min. it's cloudy. But what ever is in the water slowly dissipates out like it's a gas of some kind. In the last place I lived, my animals wouldn't even drink the water! That's when I really started going for bottled water. There have been parasite scares, etc. and the taste and cloudieness of the water really bothers me. So if you have quality tap water, don't take it for granted and look down on those who choose bottled water. There’s a lot of talk about bottled water these days but what about soda? Many of us can agree that soda isn’t healthy, especially w/ the corn syrup. Now I don’t drink soda but when I drink bottled (or well) water, I’ll drink @least 8 glasses a day. But the tapwater is terrible in my town. If I don’t let the water run at full blast for a min. it’s cloudy. But what ever is in the water slowly dissipates out like it’s a gas of some kind. In the last place I lived, my animals wouldn’t even drink the water! That’s when I really started going for bottled water. There have been parasite scares, etc. and the taste and cloudieness of the water really bothers me. So if you have quality tap water, don’t take it for granted and look down on those who choose bottled water.

]]> By: Mary http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49126 Mary Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:22:15 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49126 Thank you, Stephanie! Thank you, Stephanie!

]]> By: Stephanie http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49125 Stephanie Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:08:06 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49125 @ Mary - Yes, a filter system is probably the way to go. You might want to just try the regular Brita pitcher first. Those filter for a lot of different things, and the cost isn't very high compared to buying two cases of bottled water a week! @ Mary -

Yes, a filter system is probably the way to go. You might want to just try the regular Brita pitcher first. Those filter for a lot of different things, and the cost isn’t very high compared to buying two cases of bottled water a week!

]]> By: Mary http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49123 Mary Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:58:06 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49123 I completely agree that buying bottled water is stupid. However, I am one of the stupid people who buys two cases of it every week. Sam's Choice brand, no less, so I'm sure it probably is just rebottled tap. I have only drank bottled water for the last 9 years and I am increasingly sickened at the thought of my environmental impact and the money out of my pocket for it when obviously I could just get it out of my faucet for much less. Anyway....any tips on how to "wean" off bottled water?? My city's tap water isn't that great tasting...a lot of times it tastes like chlorine. Do you think getting one of those faucet water filters would help? Thanks! I completely agree that buying bottled water is stupid. However, I am one of the stupid people who buys two cases of it every week. Sam’s Choice brand, no less, so I’m sure it probably is just rebottled tap. I have only drank bottled water for the last 9 years and I am increasingly sickened at the thought of my environmental impact and the money out of my pocket for it when obviously I could just get it out of my faucet for much less. Anyway….any tips on how to “wean” off bottled water?? My city’s tap water isn’t that great tasting…a lot of times it tastes like chlorine. Do you think getting one of those faucet water filters would help? Thanks!

]]> By: Steve http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49081 Steve Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:35:50 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49081 I drink nothing but tap water, and I feel terrific. I agree - bottled water is a big rip-off. I drink nothing but tap water, and I feel terrific. I agree - bottled water is a big rip-off.

]]> By: Lise http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49074 Lise Wed, 23 Apr 2008 15:17:59 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49074 Amen. Have you seen the Penn & Teller: BS episode on bottled water? I can taste a difference with some tap water, but not my own - but then, I have a well. Amen. Have you seen the Penn & Teller: BS episode on bottled water?

I can taste a difference with some tap water, but not my own - but then, I have a well.

]]> By: clevelis http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49071 clevelis Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:53:02 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49071 Awesome video! For more about those who really need water, check out www.charitywater.org. They have a great PSA video on the homepage. Awesome video! For more about those who really need water, check out http://www.charitywater.org. They have a great PSA video on the homepage.

]]> By: The Simple Dollar » The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Book Deal Edition http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49069 The Simple Dollar » The Simple Dollar Weekly Roundup: Book Deal Edition Wed, 23 Apr 2008 14:01:07 +0000 http://poorerthanyou.com/2008/04/18/you-paid-960-a-gallon-for-what/#comment-49069 [...] You Paid $9.60 a Gallon for What? The embedded video is a bit over the top, but the point is right - bottled water is drastically overpriced for what you get compared to what you get out of the tap. (@ poorer than you) [...] [...] You Paid $9.60 a Gallon for What? The embedded video is a bit over the top, but the point is right - bottled water is drastically overpriced for what you get compared to what you get out of the tap. (@ poorer than you) [...]

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