General Discussion

ForgedCrank

(3,124 posts)

18. The worst

Sat May 23, 2026, 02:52 PM

21 hrs ago

was the massive spike in everything during the 21-23 covid times and inflation went out of control.
It slowed down after that, but hasn't stopped. Now with gas climbing back up like it is, that cost is again starting to creep into everything else.
It has made everything a lot tighter and we had to start making choices we've never had to make before.

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How is everyone out there making it financially? [View all] LuckyCharms 23 hrs ago OP

I'm doing about the same. Haggard Celine 23 hrs ago #1

The best gift he can give - his absence lame54 23 hrs ago #2

I'm doing okay. QED 23 hrs ago #3

I'm being very conservative. Living on social security. TommieMommy 22 hrs ago #4

Had to dump homeowner's ins. here in FL. Have tried to find a company that sells allegorical oracle 19 hrs ago #48

I'm in FL too. I found an independent insurance agent that sells liability only policies. Good luck 🤞 TommieMommy 18 hrs ago #53

My credit cards were both up to the limit. I had to take money out of my now very meager retirement account. kerry-is-my-prez 19 hrs ago #49

Barely. Iggo 22 hrs ago #5

Awful, but holding on barely Catlady123 22 hrs ago #6

I believe they do. The Madcap 22 hrs ago #9

I guess I'm lucky dcbuckeye 22 hrs ago #7

We are fortunate in that we are doing OK and weathering all of this - for now. Marie Marie 22 hrs ago #8

Because other countries feel that we have made our bed, and they don't want to sleep in it DFW 10 hrs ago #78

I'm an adult grad student funding by a teaching assistantship mr715 22 hrs ago #10

Getting by. I'm retired and don't have a lot of expenses. Ocelot II 22 hrs ago #11

Revolutions are fought by those whose ribs are easily counted. Lars39 22 hrs ago #12

Reminds me of the phrase: littlemissmartypants 21 hrs ago #27

Yes, and so true! Lars39 21 hrs ago #31

We do make decent art, though. Iggo 15 hrs ago #63

Maybe not a coincidence: DFW 9 hrs ago #79

❤️ littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #80

Except for the Faux pas 22 hrs ago #13

A fictional character in a book I once read had an interesting observation DFW 22 hrs ago #14

Id love to know what character in which book, DFW. ❤️ littlemissmartypants 21 hrs ago #26

The book was called "Shibumi" DFW 12 hrs ago #71

Looks interesting! littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #81

The book was fascinating! But beware..... DFW 3 hrs ago #83

I don't read much fiction, but for this, I'll make an exception. littlemissmartypants 3 hrs ago #85

This bit of escapism is worth the exception DFW 3 hrs ago #88

Deal! 🌞 littlemissmartypants 2 hrs ago #91

73% seems high... RPM 14 hrs ago #70

My income is all US sourced DFW 11 hrs ago #73

About the same as you... MiHale 22 hrs ago #15

Living paycheck to paycheck. Social security checks. Maxed out credit cards. Trueblue1968 22 hrs ago #16

We aren't driving anywhere and we don't eat out Ritabert 21 hrs ago #17

The worst ForgedCrank 21 hrs ago #18

Housing relogic 21 hrs ago #19

well said Skittles 20 hrs ago #36

We rarely go out to dinner anymore - just too expensive and not all that good. waterwatcher123 18 hrs ago #56

That sounds wonderful! Love curries and Indian vegetarian food biophile 17 hrs ago #58

I hesitate to complain senseandsensibility 21 hrs ago #20

I'm doing OK. Retired, but SSI covers all of my monthly expenses. OAITW r.2.0 21 hrs ago #21

We're doing okay. We're people of modest means with modest taste. I'm sure glad my husband is still Vinca 21 hrs ago #22

I've reached my goals. multigraincracker 21 hrs ago #23

I'm very upset about property taxes, atm. littlemissmartypants 21 hrs ago #24

My sister and her husband live in New Jersey DFW 3 hrs ago #87

Cutting back Maninacan 21 hrs ago #25

Grocery prices are going up to the point even snacks are too expensive sakabatou 21 hrs ago #28

We are doing fine edhopper 21 hrs ago #29

Okay so far, but being mindful about expenses and spending choices. n/t TygrBright 21 hrs ago #30

Pet food. hamsterjill 21 hrs ago #32

Wyoming is doing OK bernieb 21 hrs ago #33

what is the deal with Spectrum Skittles 21 hrs ago #34

I pay $15 a month for Spectrum internet Kaleva 3 hrs ago #86

I'm Okay BeneteauBum 21 hrs ago #35

It's a little tight, but not unbearably.... lastlib 20 hrs ago #37

Check out the price on Part D now and then, just in case. nilram 11 hrs ago #75

I retired nearly 9 yrs ago. I did all of the shopping for two then and now and pay all bills. twodogsbarking 20 hrs ago #38

Trump has successfully LilElf70 20 hrs ago #39

I'm feeling it IbogaProject 20 hrs ago #40

We're doing okay Grim Chieftain 20 hrs ago #41

Yeah, that's a structural economic cost for me, too. OAITW r.2.0 16 hrs ago #59

Cheers, friend! Grim Chieftain 16 hrs ago #60

We're doing okay so far MustLoveBeagles 20 hrs ago #42

Expenses are up... but flat WarGamer 20 hrs ago #43

If it weren't for my few credit cards, we'd be out on the street by now. slightlv 20 hrs ago #44

I'm terrified... Scully 20 hrs ago #45

Every time I do something on-line I feel like a mark perdita9 20 hrs ago #46

Doing without a lot of day-to-day stuff -- have cut back on driving, eating, allegorical oracle 20 hrs ago #47

I'm retired for about 10 years now, and doing okay, probably because GoodRaisin 19 hrs ago #50

By the skin of my teeth... buzzycrumbhunger 19 hrs ago #51

Retired for 12 years and still doing OK with income Progressive dog 19 hrs ago #52

I am very "lucky" usedtobedemgurl 18 hrs ago #54

I've heard of that, even seen online ads nilram 11 hrs ago #76

I have been doing it for nearly 40 years. usedtobedemgurl 3 hrs ago #82

Thanks! nilram 40 min ago #92

I can't complain, I have been retired for 16 years. I am fortunate to have one doc03 18 hrs ago #55

I'm retired (10 years) and fortunate to get by on Golden Raisin 17 hrs ago #57

I'm Okay but I do see prices increasing LogDog75 15 hrs ago #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles 14 hrs ago #68

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles 14 hrs ago #69

Look at you using new vocabulary! choie 15 hrs ago #62

Vocabulary? LuckyCharms 15 hrs ago #64

I'm likely doing better financially than most AZProgressive 15 hrs ago #65

Ihave Spectrum and recently bundled cable, cellphone, and internet LogDog75 15 hrs ago #66

Mom and I sold our house, so better than it has been in a long time mvd 15 hrs ago #67

We're doing fine but I save less per month than I use to Tree Lady 12 hrs ago #72

Trying to shed additional costs. haele 11 hrs ago #74

We're Doing Fine DET 10 hrs ago #77

I had to go back to work part time back when Biden was president Kaleva 3 hrs ago #84

I can absorb most but I am starting to feel a crimp. And I am adjusting. boston bean 3 hrs ago #89

You can likely lower your Spectrum bill... VTderry 2 hrs ago #90