I'm totally in agreement. Scrip is the only one I will do because it's money you will spend anyway. Everyone (here) buys gas. $100/week = $4 to us. 40 school weeks in the year. 400 families..... Everyone buys groceries (the local food co-op does scrip so we can even cater for the hippies....
)
Sg I think it's possible over here because of the bigger profit margins on consumables and the huge shopping mentality compared to there. But I have no evidence to cite. It's just how it feels. I cannot believe how much people spend over here (and it may just be here in this middle class city)