"Canned cat and dog food is expensive here. Pets have gourmet brands. Hamburger is cheaper".

Folks carefully check the labels for the ingredients for pet food.
Then take their kids to McDopnalds, on the way home.

I have been told that the small cans of pet food make good pate on those small crackers, for when the in-laws visit. (Then there is the chinese dollar store tooth paste, that's really hard to find, since the recall).