Who Can Afford It?

This is not a political post.

I am just seeking answers and suggestions.

Yesterday….

Saturday is errand day, gas station, bank, CVS and grocery shopping.

Gas station stop, 6.5 gallons cost over $29.00.

Once we hit the national average of $5.01 it will cost me $75.00 to fill up my tank.  At the anticipated cost of $6.00 in August, it will go up to $90, for one tank of gas!!!

Jenn is in Orientation time at her job.  Normally, she drives the 300 mile round trip twice a week. Do the simple math, 600 = 2 tanks of gas = $150 a week = $600 per month.

The next two weeks, she has to drive up 3 times = 900 miles = 3 tanks of gas = $225 a week = $450 for the two weeks. I am lucky to work remote so I do split the gas cost with her.

AAA is saying they are doing more calls for people running out of gas.  I am not surprised as people are trying to pay for just enough gas that they “think” they can get by with and are not successful.

Groceries…..

I wanted one pound of American Cheese,  Jenn ended up getting one and a half pounds. Cost a little over $12.00!  $8 for a pound of American Cheese….insanity!

I also had a craving for a steak.  Jenn called me from Publix and said “Forget the steak Mom, there is nothing less than $30.” We ended up buying stew meat for $10.87.

I truly thought I was past the stage in life where I would pick up a package of meat and put it back and think “I can’t afford it or maybe next week”.  But those saying are once again part of my thoughts.

Packaging…..

I saw a report this morning that said not only are prices going up but the contents of packages are getting smaller. Coffee, dry soup mix, snacks and cereals are all on this list (and I am sure there are many more companies doing this same thing- decrease size and increase in price).

Even toilet paper, one company has adjusted their rolls from 420 sheets to 350.  How long will a roll last? And we all still have in the back of our heads the dreaded toilet paper shortage of 2020.

A box of name brand cereal is over $6.00.  Generic brand is $4.00.

A 8 ounce container of flavored cream cheese is over $4.00.

My shopping list has more cross outs (meaning never mind) that it used to.

I scour the weekly flyers to make meals plans and not have to mortgage the house to shop.

I cannot phathom how a family of four or more does it.

And rent for an apartment is impossible for a single person especially when you add in the utilities, groceries, insurance, cell phone  and everything else we need to get by.  If you don’t have two salaries, it is just out of reach.

Savings…..

I made the foolish mistake of looking at my 401K after several weeks. I could have cried. 25% of my balance was gone.  When I think of the hours I worked to contribute the maximum I could (included the catch up amount allowed due to my age), I was sad and angry. I am no longer in the position to think “it will recover, it always does”.  Time is running out as retirement looms out there in the future. I also have been preparing for the fact my SS income and 401K will be all I have to depend on(no spousal income to add in).  

Talk about a reality check.

Each month the water bills, gas/electric bills and more increase in cost.  I try to do fewer loads of laundry each week.  I try hard not to play with the thermostat as much and lights get turned off more often. I plan my weekly shopping trips ahead of time so I am not driving wasted miles.

It takes a lot more thought and planning but worth it if I can cut some costs.

With a current rate of inflation at 8.6%  (the highest since 1981) and no end in sight concerning how high it might go, I think we all have reason for concern.

The word RECESSION is about to be a reality.

I am not by any stretch of the imagination pleading poverty but I have always been practical about money.  Rarely frivolous and think a long time before any major expenditures which is not a bad thing. But when you have to plan travels, groceries and the normal things in life, who can really think about driving or flying somewhere on vacation.

Unless there are people not like me that can think “what the hell I am going anyway and will deal with the cost later”

Mortgage rates slowly climbing, while the stock market is falling and credit card rates increasing, we have been through this before back in the 1970’s and 1980’s. 

I am not sure where this craziness will all end 

How are you adjusting your lifestyle? I am open to suggestions.

See you next week.