07/05/2026
Let’s talk about something I call the “disability tax.”
Whenever I post grocery hauls, there’s almost always one or two people who comment things like “wHy dO YoU BuY xYz?”
So let’s talk about things like precut fruit, frozen vegetables, bagged salad kits, or convenience foods.
It is Disability tax.
A lot of people don’t realize that disabled people often end up paying more money simply because we need things that save time, energy, pain, or physical effort.
Not everyone has the luxury of standing in a kitchen chopping vegetables for 20 minutes. I bought a chopper to try to make it easier and it’s incredibly hard to clean making it more of a hassle.
Some people have arthritis, tremors, joint instability, chronic fatigue, nerve damage, mobility limitations, or dexterity issues. Others simply do not have the energy after working, parenting, and so on.
I remember seeing a large creator once mocking people for buying precut fruit and vegetables and calling it “lazy.” But the reality is, for many disabled people, those items mean accessibility, that means eating healthier but at a cost.
Yes, they are often more expensive than buying whole produce. But they also save time, reduce pain, conserve energy, and make it more likely that someone will actually prepare and eat it.
The “disability tax” shows up everywhere:
extra delivery fees, convenience foods, adaptive items, special transportation costs, mobility aids, and countless other things insurance either won’t cover or doesn’t fully cover.
Being disabled is expensive.
Remember, that not everyone is shopping with the same physical abilities, energy levels, or circumstances.