anyone feeling the pinch???

[roset]

Yes, I do know food prices going up, resturants too. Add in gas. Electric costs. Don't think it will end. Got to cut down somewhere, we are very concern about it and pay charges off every month but it's getting more & more. I notice this pinch and we got DD going off to college apt which will add more expenses too. This yr. is expensive hope next yr not bad but I think things will be worse. DH has a good 6 yrs until retirement, I really don't know if he can retire. We are lucky that we do save money, what are families doing that live paycheck to paycheck? I wonder how big families can do it. I know I feel the pinch. My in laws live soc. sec check every month & that isn't much, they don't complain so I don't even know what they are doing? Never had a 401K. I know people are feeling this pinch.

[nommie]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

I live alone, but I am definitely feeling the pinch. Adjustments at the grocery and planning errand trips.

[Cindy]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

We are feeling the pinch. Gas, groceries, etc. I have cut back on some things. We are staying close to home this summer. Thankfully we have the pool for the kids and every video game you can imagine, plus they can watch any movie they want so they don't really notice anything different which is my goal. I can go to get a pedicure every 4 weeks instead of every two weeks. I don't do manicures very often because I like doing my own nails. I can take the kids to Carl's Jr. or McDonald's and they can play for hours on the gym inside.

I don't see how folks on SS do it. My hat is off to them. I know our food pantry's are all hurting like crazy around here.

[Sabine]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

I read in the paper that the food pantry / foodbank here in SA is asking people to donate dog food. More and more people are coming in and asking for dogfood.

[AngID]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

My power bill has quadrupled! Rent just increased 100.00 per month. Health insurance premiums increased 130.00 (!) a MONTH. (I'm gonna have to cancel that) Gas went from about 60.00 a month to 120.00 a month. (And I don't really go anywhere. Just little trips to the grocery store, cleaner, etc.)
I'm 47 years old and actually seriously having to look for a second job to support (just) myself. Or get a roommate. It just makes me sick.

[Huffle]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

I honestly have been so glad that I could not drive this summer. Or I would realy be hurting. Saving on the gas has let me get more food that teen age DS has inhaled. Not quite sure I want to start driving again. Cost is too much. I don't even realy want to see this month's electric bill with as hot as it has been in Texas.

Huffle

[nommie]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

Ang, I know what you mean--I no longer run to the store when I want something--I try to figure out if I can pick it up on the way home from work.

[StephanieM]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

Since I moved out to the boondocks I have actually not been spending a great deal of money. I drive less miles than I did living in town. I was filling up 2X a week, now it is once every 10 days or so. There really isn't anywhere to shop for stuff where I live, other than Wal Mart, so I haven't been buying a ton of things. With very few restaurants in town, I have actually been doing ok.
I can't really tell if my grocery bill has gone up. I buy food oddly and at different places, I have no real idea how much I spend on groceries. I do whince when I fill up my gas tank though!

[cottun]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

I'm feeling the pinch and cutting back where ever I can. I made a vow to use up whats in my pantries and freezer before spending more at the grocery store. Seems like for the past few weeks when I go to the grocery store, its mostly to buy pet food. That's helped a lot, because I can go to the grocery store with a plan to buy a few things and come home with over $100 worth. Gas is killing me tho - I work 45 minutes from home and I estimate that I'm paying $300-400 a month just on gas to get back and forth to work.

[janabanana]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

I live alone, but I am definitely feeling the pinch. Adjustments at the grocery and planning errand trips.

Ditto here.... I can't believe how much bread went up too. And what I don't get, is that my spray butter is now over $4 a bottle.

[nommie]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

They are sneaking some of the prices on small things, like the spray butter, up

[Needers]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

Its not a "pinch" its a "BITE"

[MudderBear]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

Definately. We pay over $200.00 in diesel for our truck every week. The grocery bill is getting crazy too. Butter is $4.59 lb. milk is $4.39 for 3 litres, can't find a loaf of bread under $2.00. Very sad situation. Hubby and his buddies are having customers back out of jobs (construction). We are now cutting firewood for the winter, trying to keep our oil bill down but, we have an oil fired water heater, we will turn down the temp on that. It is getting very scary.

[MaryJo]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

Oh yeah. Considering the low return on CDs and money market account, plus losing money in the IRA, I'm stocking food. I consider spending $1,000 to really stock up more important than anything else right now and a great investment. It may seem extreme to some, but consider this - Groceries and other goods are up between 7-30% and those low interest accounts only accrue around 2.5%.

[Kaci]

Re: anyone feeling the pinch???

HI

I live on social security, I received my DH social security after I lost him, plus I get
2 checks a month from his pay, plus another check, I also have 2 IRA's in the bank and
I haven't spent a dime of the money from his life insurance and it has doubled in 3 years.
I don't use the credit card only if I have to and I pay it off the minute it comes in.

Our house has been paid for, plus the car. The only big payment I have is for the gas
company and the electric company, they ought to cut the CEO's check in 1/2 and quit
charging so much.

I am even helping relatives of mine out.

The grocery store I go to, the prices don't seem as high as yours. I drove out to the Super Wal-Mart which is out on the highway and I did notice the gas dropped down fast.
When it gets between full and 3/4 full, sometimes I catch it before even 3/4 and I fill
the gas tank back up. That way I don't have to pay for a full tank.

I don't see where people in town figure they are saving money out at Wal-Mart for
their groceries when they live only a few blocks from me, didn't they figure out the
cost of the gas driving way out there.

Bush though his stimulus check (I have forgot to cash that yet and I got it in June)
would solve the problem. He must have his head in a hole somewhere.


K