become burdensome. Especially, when they happen at the same time. Those costs are higher too.

That's been true in my case.

Things always seem to go wrong when you're on your last dime. My electric bill doubled last month. I cooked Thanksgiving at my house, so maybe that's why it's so high.

But if it wasn't my electric bill, it'd be a vet bill or a flat tire.

Are frequently allowed to use surge pricing. A kin to price gouging, surge pricing is an increase in price of an item that goes up when there is a bigger demand or emergency requiring it. It's why bottled water cost so much here in TN, when our water was turned off and not clean enough to drink for almost a month, because of the hurricane.

But now Republicons and Trump humpers have turned it around on consumers and allow corporations to raise their price of electricity in the hottest and coldest times of the year. Because when the temperature reaches over 100 or when it drops to -5 degrees you will die without running your AC or furnace. So the corporations jack up their prices during specific times of the year when statistics show more use of electricity. This allows CEOs and the filthy-rich to make even more profit. It's not that your furnace used more electricity, it's because they are using surge pricing.

This is a result of privatizing our utility services. Privatization always, always costs more. Thank your local free trader and Republicon.

How do the appliances know when we are broke?

Cars especially are very skilled at knowing when we are broke. Talk about kicking you when you're down.

Jesus wasn't Caucasian. He was middle-eastern dark.
Jesus was born in a barn. His parents were homeless.
His parents were immigrants.
His father was jobless.
Sounds like people ICE would round up.

He taught: Love your neighbor; NOT deport them.
He taught: Feed the hungry; NOT cut off their food supply.
He taught: Heal the sick; NOT make health care too expensive.

When your pastor/minister/priest WON'T defend the teachings of Jesus, why bother going to church on Sundays?
The number of people who attend churches weekly has decreased.
https://news.gallup.com/poll/642548/church-attendance-declined-religious-groups.aspx#:~:text=Bottom%20Line,Americans'%20weaker%20attachments%20to%20religion.

A long-term look at America: https://www.churchtrac.com/articles/the-state-of-church-attendance-trends-and-statistics-2023

I used to go to church. I haven't been in over a decade.

And for many women, being told they are less than men simply because they have the potential to give birth, and therefore being wife and mother must and should be their only focus in life.

Whether they are Christian Nationalists or simply materialists using religion to make connections and appear respectable, they seem to have little to do with Jesus.

On the other hand, there are still plenty that are full of humble people who try to follow the way of Jesus. They draw meaning and purpose from doing so and from trying to be the hands and feet of Christ in a broken and hurting world. They are places where we can laugh and cry together and help each other on the road home. Many are like my denomination which welcomes everyone regardless of gender and refuses to throw anyone away.

The average amount will be 2.4 percent. Whoa! 2.4 percent? When everything is increasing like a runaway horse
in the Kentucky Derby. I mean, talk about Scrooge. My finances are doing OK but a lot of elders are falling into the debt hole.
2.4? Chicken feed in this economy.

and take up most of that 2.4%.

We end up with a whopping $8.00 real monthly increase. 😮‍💨

sounds good. I cut costs constantly, like saving $40/mo by eliminating personal medical from car insurance, make dog food from boiled chicken carcass, make apple butter, jelly, mushroom soup from scraps, to the point it's become a game for me.

When I never use it. I use my local VA 99% of the time and never use Medicare. But they take it from my Social Security anyway.

I am also disabled and they take my disability amounts out of my retirement pay amounts. So, if I get $300 a month in disability, they take away $300 a month from my retirement pay. They do this to all retirees.

Talk about junk fees. That's what these automatic charges on your money are. Nothing more than junk fees. Corporations always did it now the government has gotten in on the scam.

again, you might need Medicare since they're firing or "readjusting" so many VA workers.

I've always owned cats and dogs (or been owned by them.) But now I just can't afford that any more.

I've wondered how people are managing to keep and feed them as the prices to do so keep rising.

Out by a corporation. Her bill for 1 day , bloodwork, exam and 3 meds was $1000. And tge diagnosis was wrong.

Now I go to another non corporate clinic that handles lots of rescues. My bill was $350 and that included an x-ray.

It's really criminal. It's extortion. People are spending their life savings to save their dogs abd cats.

...for the last few years, especially after covid. With pet ownership rising and the associated costs being generally obligatory, it's another place they can squeeze out big profits. Pet insurance is another new thing and is proceeding along the same lines as human health care in the US - raise the costs and profit margins so high that people can't afford it and need to buy insurance, then all the prices and profits can be manipulated out of sight by a few big entrenched players in growing layers of complexity. I wouldn't mind having a pet myself, but I couldn't afford it.

https://stateline.org/2024/03/29/vets-fret-as-private-equity-snaps-up-clinics-pet-care-companies/

pay upfront and then be reimbursed. Some of these bills are thousands of dollars.

For those of us on social security, like me, have choices to make. Can we afford the dentist? Can we afford anti-depressants? Can we afford to socialize? Can we afford a phone? Can we afford the internet? Having a pet, while healthy, isn't free.

All of the items listed can be beneficial, but their benefit depends heavily on context and usage.

The Dentist, Socialize, and Pet are nearly universally beneficial for health and well-being.

Antidepressants are highly beneficial and necessary for the right person.

The Phone and Internet are beneficial as tools that provide access and utility. However, the elderly are more often targeted for scams and negative "influencers" can be detrimental (fake health benefits, cyberbullying, religious, political and misinformation), so their benefit relies on responsible use.

As we get older, the storm clouds gather. We can see them; we know they're approaching. Our older friends were swallowed by them, one by one.

It's no longer a matter of IF; it's WHEN.

Republicans want us to go away and not bother them. If they take away the option to vote by mail, it gets much more difficult to vote. THAT'S THE POINT!

Or seem like it…I am a cat scratching post all the way 😺..
Maybe those really small dogs are about the same..

An appliance department manager confirmed that household appliances are designed to last 3-5 years. Their prices are higher than their quality, and of course financing is made available. Fridge, stove, microwave, washer and dryer, and so on. It seems that every year one of these things is needing replacing. Cars are good to 100 miles and cost what houses used to. Every five to six years we need to buy a new one or lose the warranty. Owning our home also means something needs repairs all the time.
Food, electric, and gas/oil prices are nuts right now and if we need to pay more to keep up our healthcare our savings will disappear. Thank goodness we have a couple meager pensions plus SS and VA disability for my husband. Most of these things are constantly on the chopping block threat though. Trying to live daily lives with the stress level tuned to constant orange is not fun, either.
We have pets, too. Our younger standard poodle has a vet appointment the day after tomorrow for an ear infection. I do groom them myself, but even replacement blades for my clippers are expensive and so are all the other things and meds we need to keep them fed well, healthy and happy.
We must get Democrats back in power.

it gives out. Cars are just so expensive, including used cars, I don't know what I would do. I live in a rural area and would be up the creek as far as doctors visits, PT visits, etc. I'm 76 and can't just rush out and get a part time job to help out. Prices have become just plain ridiculous. It's scary.

I looked into SSI for her when she became an adult. At that time, I couldn't see how anyone could survive on SSI where I live and figured she would be living with me indefinitely as an adult. Fortunately, she did recover sufficiently that she got an AS degree, almost got a BS degree before having a mental health setback, got married to a now well-paid computer engineer, and has two children. I feel for you, leftladyfrommo.

Slightly different expenses but the same net result. I am very senior and S.S. is my only income. Cut down on everything. All utilities have gone thru the roof and my house taxes are killing me.
Half bagel for breakfast and a very simple early dinner. Health issues are a real problem, arthritis, bursitis, torn rotator cuff and a few other things. I have Medicare and Medicaid.
If I lose them, I have no place to go. Rents for an apartment fit to live in are averaging $4000 a month.

I notice that much is made of the problems of those who make large salaries...wish there was some real attention to those of us who live on a very limited income.
If I need medical attention, I am sunk. Hope my 2014 Subaru holds on because there is no money to pay local mechanics. $145 an hour! Stove has problems, both that and refrig. are over 30 years old. THey owe me nothing but there is no way to buy new.
It keeps me awake at night.
Best to you, I understand.

Not quite inflation for this past year, and I'm really worried about next year being worse than this -- a lot of #rump's path of destruction is about to send us the bill. The COLA will help a little with staples, but not with those unplanned expenses. I wish us all some luck!

It's a lot more than 2% inflation

While prices continue to rise.

Last edited Mon Dec 15, 2025, 02:02 PM - Edit history (1)

And yes, it is sinking real fast for many.

Hang in there.

& recommend.

I figure I’ll be working, at least part time, till the day I die.

If not, maybe this is a good time to line that up.

That's Area Agency on Aging. When nursing homes are on the horizon they will do an evaluation, but really, the glide path begins years or even more than a decade before. Or maybe the public is on their own.

I'm not really complaining. I was able to stay afloat until I got SSI.

If you're savings got you over the gap, that's something.

SSI is not likely to keep up with expenses... that's part of their plan.

I really hope we can change that... I wish you the best.

many women's.

On top if everything else I just got called for jury duty. I can get disqualified. I'm 77 and deaf.