this post was submitted on 01 Oct 2023
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It's more than homes. Groceries have rocketed up in price. Cars are also unaffordable. Business people crowing about how great the (phantom) economy is are going to be leaping out of windows by next year. That's when "the economy" will catch up to the fact that if no one can afford to buy anything then there is no economy.
I live on social security disability, about 1100$ a month.
A combo meal at McDonald's is 12$.
2 combo meals a day from a fast food restaurant would completely wipe out my budget. No money for rent. No phone bill. No water or electric money. No money for garbage removal. The idea of a car is laughable. There wouldn't even be enough for a bus pass.
It's been a real struggle. After all the inflation hikes of 2022, they only raised my payments 50$ a month.
They simply don't care about the people voting for them more than the companies bankrolling their campaigns that earn their paychecks. It's that simple.
I feel for you.
I'm in an average family earning average wages. Maintaining our standard of living is now at least $500 more a month, and that's just from utilities, rent, and groceries (!). I've cancelled everything streaming aside from Youtube. We don't eat out any longer, because that's easily jumped at least $30 a meal for a family of four. Depending on your point of view, we were fortunate enough to have things we could cut back on that weren't essentials.
I grew up fairly poor and by all metrics my family is better off, but it certainly doesn't feel like it at times. I've had more month left at the end of my money more times than I'd care to admit.
I have no idea how those who were "just getting by" are continuing to do so.
Dang, sorry about all that. "More months left at the end of my money" really hits home for me, haven't heard that expression before.
The only reason I've just been able to get by is because of friends and family, if I had any smaller of a safety net of people that care about me I would absolutely be on the streets. I'm not sure where you live, but the number of beggars has skyrocketed around me, and it's not dirty crazy homeless people that just need help in general, it's regular people out of work that are just trying to get money to pay their kids. People are selling 10$ roses on the sides of the highways to try to get by. There's no affordable housing for anyone and the best jobs available still don't pay much more than 50K a year. My boyfriend is a fully licensed mechanic and has about as much money leftover each month as a fast food worker in the '90s. Pays $1,400 in rent a month just to have a place to live (475sq ft), which is often nearly half of his income for the month.
I didn't mental ramble so much with all those complaints, I think it's just baffling in mind blowing how bad everything is and how little politicians and even companies seems to be noticing or caring about it. Citizens need money to give companies money. Eventually if people are only buying their necessities, companies won't be able to make money. It just seems so unsustainable and I don't know why more alarm bells aren't being rang.
jesus, there aren't even studio apartments in my area for 1100 a month
I find it so dystopian that cars are one of the essential things to have when living in America.
If it weren't for my parents I couldn't afford to live in this state as I live with them. Even as a homeowner, my mom is finding it hard to cope as homeowners insurance rates keep rising and the crisis is deepening as more insurers leave the state or stop offering new policies. I financed a used car back in 2022 for $8,500. I don't think I'll ever own a home here, not that I'd want to anyway, and as for cars I'm better off buying cheap and used.
California too, huh? That or... Florida?
Florida.
Meanwhile, Florida's Republican politicians plug their ears the moment anyone mentions the numerous threats Florida faces in the here and now from climate change. How dare anyone ask me to do anything about my state being overrun by the ocean and smothered by increasing hurricanes! Shameful!
I just made the mistake of moving here....truth on never owning a home.