With most financial media being intentionally obtuse with the Biden economic impact upon Main Street, it is refreshing to see analysis that cuts to the heart of the matter. HatTip to ZeroHedge who provides a link to a great article outlining reality for blue and white-collar working families.
The folks at NerdWallet have taken the inflation date from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) and applied the math to real life. The result is a good encapsulation of checkbook economics and how the Biden economy is painful for the working class.
In total, Joe Biden’s energy policy driven inflation has added $961/month to preexisting expenses. That’s $11,532 a year just to retain the status quo standard of living.
(NerdWallet) – […] In all of 2020, American households spent $61,300, on average. This number includes everything we spend our money on: housing, food, entertainment, clothing, transportation and everything else. In 2022, it stands to reach $72,900, a difference of more than $11,500 if consumers want to maintain the same standard of living. Keep in mind, this is an average, a number that represents an approximation across all Americans, but one that’s exact to a very few. Those who earn (and therefore spend) more will see more dramatic dollar increases. Those who earn less may see less dramatic dollar jumps, but the impact of these rising prices could be more significantly felt. (read more)
If the average household spent $61,300 and inflation is adding $11,500 to the expense, that means we now have to spend 18.7% more just to maintain the current standard of living. That average is in line with what we are seeing in the real world.
The destruction is so widespread and so deep, there is hardly enough left for you to tell … … well … … you would think it had once been something valuable and Joe Biden had been there.
Buckle up! We just contracted our cattle feed for this winter and 20% range cubes are up $100 a ton over last year and double was it was precovid. $389/ton now. Beef is going to get VERY, VERY expensive as if it is not bad enough already.
Grass fed looking like a very good option!
It is not an “option”. It is and has been normal practice since forever.
Yep, like ‘organic’ food used to just be food.
Not in northern regions with long hard winters.
You know that “grass fed” beef are fed feed in the winter too, right? And corn, oats, and wheat silage all count as “grass fed” as long as the grain isn’t harvested and fed to them separately.
Not in Florida!
Unfortunately, there is NO grass in the winter in Kansas.
Not an option.
What is hay?
Yes. We feed hay in the winter but the cows still require a source of protein to remain healthy. Hay alone is not enough to sustain them during the winter. We spring calve so all the moms are pregnant during the winter. This year we are varying our protein sources. We have a 20% liquid feed we’ve been feeding for the last month. In addition, we have 400 bushels of corn, 500 bushels of milo and sacked bean meal to grind a mix grain supplement. We also have a few alfalfa bales we got off of our alfalfa patch first cutting before the drought. We contracted half the number of range cubes we usually do this year mostly because of the cost. Plus in 2020 during the polar vortex that lasted 10 days the range cube processing plant went down due to the extreme cold and range cubes were not available for about 3 weeks. Hopefully with varied protein sources, we will be better prepared in case something like that happens again.
Don’t show how ignorant you truly are. Farm much?
Raise a lot of cattle do you?
So what share of the herds will be slaughtered this fall?
What government support or insurance payouts can you expect to cover potential losses?
paid $23.99 a lb for a small filet minon last week in the grocery store
76 cents more per pound and you can order that from SevenSons.net and get meat from cows that were grass-fed, antibiotic free, and pasture raised on a farm with regenerative farming practices.
When those prices are almost the same ..
Chicken feed for my home flock has gone from $16.00/50lb to $20.00/50lb in the last year. That’s a 25% increase. Thanks again, TRAITOR Joe!!!
The jump in feed price led to my decision to let my flock out to free range, even though it increases their vulnerability to hawks. So far, so good, no casualties. Chickens are happier and eggs are tastier.
Speaking of which, the barns will be filled with hay for the winter by end of this week. I was just calculating the cost of supplemental grain for the winter too. Expecting it to be colder than normal this year and I live in the South. I called around and finally found a young local man who gave me a decent price on good hay. States in the drought regions are not so lucky. They are paying through the nose for hay. I am grateful and thankful that I found what I needed. I wanted a new refrigerator. I need hay. Big difference. Lots of choices like that are being made I suspect. Sigh.
I haven’t eaten fresh red meat in nearly three years. Too expensive, didn’t want to play the Covid game to get at it. Comparatively, the 70’s were nothing, a nirvana, and I remember the ag recession of the early-mid 80’s as I was working in it. Never missed one burger or steak.
This is all manufactured with a purpose; I hope we won’t get lost in the weeds and forget who the enemy is and what we must do. As more and more focus on merely surviving, our power is wasting away.
Don’t need any lectures from progressives about pronouns or any other manufactured drama, too busy trying to save every dollar possible for the freaking gas tank and utilities. All the while canning and freezing as much food as we can to better survive the coming storm.
Have to wonder when the utility companies start shutting off utilities to their customers who are under water. Supposedly like 20 million HOUSEHOLDS cannot pay their utility bills. Next up will be repos on cars. Then next will be holds on credit cards as the majority of low income people are putting everything on credit. This winter will be very ugly if the weather is extremely cold as people will be spending enormous amounts of their income on heating bills.
I keep seeing reports that repo lots are already full.
Good, maybe it will lower used car prices.
Here’s a how to buy guide: https://www.trustedchoice.com/insurance-articles/wheels-wings-motors/buy-repo-cars/
Lulu … have a link or source to share?
Here’s one: https://www.barrons.com/articles/recession-cars-bank-repos-51657316562
Expect nationalizing the industry as the “solution.”
I fear you are spot on.
“it’s not a flaw it’s a feature”
Twenty million households…times however many are in each makes that number of Americans in dire straits even worse. Some no doubt are seniors and some will have children in them. And all of those households are at their wits’ends.
But never mind. What is that to those intentionally crushing this country’s citizens. With malice aforethought, I might add.
I suspect toasts are being offered in the cesspit that is DC, for a job well done. The fewer useless eaters the better (hat tip monster Yuval Noah Harari).
Its not just, or even primarily “low income” people who are resorting to credit to stay afloat.
Here’s a news flash; MOST ‘low income people’ don’t QUALIFY for credit. The only credit available to them are “quickie loans, where they put up their cars for collateral.
However, there ARE a large segment of the population, at ALL income levels, that are “hooked on credit” and depend on it to maintain their lifestyles, and are (and have been, for some time) spending slightly beyond their means, and using credit, and ‘robbing peter to pay paul’ to maintain a lifestyle beyond their means.
Apolitical surveys have consistently shown Americans at various income levels: Have NO Budget, have no “emergency fund”, and are as I say, living slightly beyond their means.
And yes, they are going to be devastated by this inflation. And, REALLY pissed that their “free ride” is over.
The sun was always going to come out tomorrow, Dutchman. It will never rain, was the perceived “wisdom”.
But it always does rain in the end. This is why I wish with every fibre of my being that financial truths and courses were taught in high schools across this nation…as a requirement for graduation, instead of indoctrination for subversive ideologies which are destroying every child forced to submit to the lunacies of godless ” educators”.
There’s a reason that is not taught. Remember who runs the govt schools. And who controls ‘higher ed’. As Sundance so often says, they have to pretend not to know things.
Correct term was government schools. Those two words tell you the purpose of school is indoctrination, not education.
Schools are the reproductive organs of the System.
Brilliant way to put it.
Neil Boortz coined that term, I believe. Hope he’s doing well.
C’mon, Betsy Jones: Get with the program already. Math, being fully based on logic, is rayciss. Rayciss ideologies are white patriarchal propaganda.
I forgot….but I’m up to speed now. How far we’ve fallen…slowly at first then all of a sudden.
As seems always the case when falling into communist regimes….
This is literally true in Oregon. Expecting an exact right answer in math is racist. Luckily, they also did away with any requirements for graduation.
All part of the plan. This is the future of engineering.
Sidewalks and foot bridges that fail due to “thought” processing.
Scary times ahead!
The VERY LAST thing “they” want our kids to know is financial responsibility! Instead, they teach kids that they can run up a bunch of debt and walk away from it with no consequences. The debt is then transferred onto the backs of the taxpayers/consumers. “They” get their money, the kids get their stuff, and WE get the bill…
Which is why parents must step up. Or grandparents. Which as one of the latter, my school runs with my captive audiences have not been for nought. We’ve been through it all…saving, debt, credit cards and interest rates on balances, needs vs wants, all being just small parts of what we’ve been hammering into them.
I hope, in all the chastizing and criticism of the average citizen, the humans who are actually responsible for these attacks on our freedom, liberty and self determination aren’t forgotten. They loom large as the reason for where we are now.
If we turn on each other, then they win. I get the impression that part of their operation is increasingly successful.
Anyone who has ever had to un-train an employee who started out working for a bad {plumber, electrician, mechanic, accountant, lawyer, etc.] knows that correcting all the bad habits and incorrect knowledge is far harder than teaching a novice.
We would be lucky if they didn’t touch on economics at all in the indoctrination centers.
You make a good point, SK, and on a specific I had overlooked. The quality of teachers and their knowledge, which in most instances seems run to the anti capitalist, Keynesian side.
But I’m talking about the practicalities of teaching facts and not theories. I’m unsure how anyone could mess up educating on what happens, for example, when one pays off only the minimum requirement each month on a credit card, the balance then which accrues a hideous amount of interest every month thereafter…interest not only what is owed on the original purchases but also on the interest which is building up.
I’ll admit I have no idea how such a class would be structured. All I know is that year after year, millions of graduates enter the adult world having not a clue about these types of things. And millions then proceed to sink themselves into unimaginable debt.
My husband before he retired sold high end motor cars. When it came time to assess the credit worthiness of professionals making 6 figure salaries…and in many cases more… it was a shock to him that their credit scores were in the 500s, or worse. And I might add, it was a shock to the clients that they, in spite of making a lot of money, could not be approved for the purchase. Nor in most cases did they have the cash either for the down payment.
So in closing, as I referenced above, in this house there are two grandparents…or “useless eaters” as we are no doubt known as to the government that wants rid of us…who have stepped up and taken every opportunity to drill our grands nearest to us about the financial facts of life.
I am convinced Almighty God placed us near these three out of nine by His mercy and by His grace. We have not shirked our duty in this regard. From what we know and what we’ve seen, I wish the opportunity we had was given to other grandparents. We’ve lived a long time and have much to offer in this regard.
Blessings, SK. I hadn’t seen you in a long time, and was very glad to see your reply to my post.
Betsy… I taught school for 35 yrs… math mostly and some science,computer courses.. one of the ways to do what you brought up was to explain how interest works .. not just simple interest but compound as well.. one example.. I would show the cost of a $ 100,000.00 house after 30 yr mortgage compared to actual original cost… the number astounded them..I would also encourage them to pay off on the principal when ever they had extra money… unfortunately not all teachers go to those practical examples.
btw I too helped my grand kids with their math work and computers🤣
🇺🇸💪😀👍
How funny, Jim you should use this example, because just tonight we did the same thing with our grands. And yes, it is phenomenal when one sits down with a piece of paper and shows just how it works.
Compound interest works with savings as well…if we had honest, sound money, which we don’t. In the end it seems the “house” always wins.
Good for you, my friend. Spread the wealth (of knowledge, that is😉). Excellent.
🇺🇸💪😀👍
I tell anyone who will listen how to use a credit card:
Never buy more than you can afford to pay off when the bill comes. That way you’re using their money, not the other way around. Save up for that month so you can pay it off.
I taught my daughter how to use a credit card before she went to college because I knew she would be prey for the credit card companies. She did great except for one time, but she learned her lesson and hasn’t had a problem since. She taught her boyfriend (now husband) how to use credit too. So, often, there is a ripple effect.
Bless you, Betsy, and your grandchildren.
Thank you, Deborah, so much. I love your analogy. Ripple effect. I almost used it myself. That one pebble in the water.
As I said to Jim above, this was the lesson with our grands we had last night. We see them so little now that their teen lives are getting busier with jobs and school. But the best part was they were listening intently. And yes, mistakes will be made.
But as with your daughter who obviously was listening to you, one mistake may be all it takes to learn the truth of what they have been told. What a wise woman and mother you are. Lord love you all.
In my day, graduated 1981, those truths were taught. No more…..
for reasons.
never expect someone else to do the heavy lifting. my wife and I taught economics, it was continuing education course started as toddlers. I could go into great detail but it would turn into a book. cornerstones…they all waited tables, kept our 4 acre property pristine and were kicked off our car insurance at 18, you are no longer a kid and now you are a liability. all and spouses are exceptional in the area of finance and parenting. we now have 5 more to mold! happy friday.
And to you, buckwheat. I agree. We did the same heavy lifting starting when they were toddlers.
Their first lesson was “Manners Maketh Man”. The most important one if the end goal is to rear civilized human beings…not adults…human beings with the ability to know the world does not resolve around them. There are others to be treated with the same respect we pray they would be treated with. That lesson took very well, as we can see as they near the time when they will be responsible for themselves in this wicked world.
And like you, I could go chapter by chapter but I suspect you and I used the same book, so you know.
You make me smile this morning. I know you will enjoy your new ” class”. And it is a privilege and a joy to be able to continue imparting what we know to the next generation of our gifts from God. Blessings, buckwheat.
….edit…revolve, not resolve
(Note to self: Coffee first, then post.)
“SLIGHTLY beyond their means”???? Sadly, I don’t think that fits most Americans!
Remember the moratorium on evictions during Covid? I bet the government does it again with rent and utilities.
Gobermnt sends Ukraine money! So why not? More stimulus checks for the people!!
Just go homeless and carless and eat out of trash cans. Problem solved.
For more helpful ideas, drop me a line.
Only in upscale neighborhoods, you might find food in the trash cans. Probably a gated community, so very limited access, just saying.
Even before Covid, I was miffed at friends throwing out mass quantities of food; the ‘I don’t eat leftovers’ refrain. Most of them are dead now so I presume others have replaced them in the upscale neighborhoods filling the trash cans.
I gave up my trash can about two years ago. Is that going ‘green’? Heh. Saved about 500 bucks a year though. Saved the gleaners from going through it on trash day too.
Eat out of trash cans!?
Youre kidding, right?
If you are homeless and jobless you can get
on EBT and supplemental in a week.
Youll be cooking your lobster and steak on your Coleman stove in no time.
Think about this when you vote! Biden should have increased Social Security instead for forgiving student loans. People with student loans have the rest of their lives to earn money. Folks on Social Security have made their contribution to society already. But, if I had China Joe’s money…no wonder he doesn’t care about people on Social Security.
The student loan people are in the Democrat base that was getting wobbly. SS recipients, not so much.
“Chicken in every pot” was Republican campaign slogan of the late 1920s. The slogan is often incorrectly attributed to Herbert Hoover; it became a means for Democrats to attack Republicans as out of touch with economic reality.
We’ve come a long way!!
Here’s the actual ad from 1928. (I grew up in Iowa. Iowans tend to be quite protective of Herbert Hoover, as he was the only president from there.)
https://iowaculture.gov/history/education/educator-resources/primary-source-sets/great-depression-and-herbert-hoover/chicken
We aren’t voting our way out of this.
No we are not . ABC knows the steal is already a sure thing in November by posting the below and then quickly deleting it.
Interesting. Even if we took majorities in both houses, R’s do not represent our interests. Under Trump we had the White House, both houses and 3 Supremes. Every single thing Trump tried to “reform” they all fought him. This will not be solved by those elected to office.
Preach it. 👍
Yes, the unelected bureaucrats and staff at all levels of government are the enemy and we can’t get at them through voting. We can merely examine who waylaid PDJT for the entirety of his Presidency and are still doing it writ large. There’s your confirmation.
Yup.
Social security is just a tax. There are no “contributions” and no earned balance. Every dollar paid out to a social security recipient is stolen from someone else, just the same as a forgiven student loan.
Yep, a purely pass-through system, started during the Great Depression to help minimally support those elderly living in poverty.
In its current form, at the basic level, it is poverty living even if one is smart about it. Articles often relate that the average benefit is about 1600 bucks a month, a bit over twice the minimum benefit.
As a senior myself, I’m living the reality of it. As a business owner for nearly 40 years, I also saw the other side, the FICA and withholding of employee wages and the employer contribution.
With the Covid operation killing off big swaths of seniors who otherwise might not have died, their benefits are now back in the pool to provide for others. There’s no asset to leave to one’s heirs like with some defined benefit pensions or individual retirements. SS only has any value while one is alive.
FICA is a tax on being employed, having employees and being self-employed. That’s all it is.
A TAX! We also have a breathing the air tax (carbon footprint taxes) and the ever popular rain on the roof tax. People really need to get their heads out of their asses.
We are talking about present “standard of living”. However, judging by the many posters on this website, there is an expectation, acceptance and willingness to lower their standard of living.
There is no outrage, but instead the planting of tomatoes on their windowsills. There is not the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) spirit. I most often see a willingness for surrender. Can you imagine what a Left-wing Liberal website must be like? They must be in hog-heaven. Yep, a lessor America and be happy for it. ‘Ole Joe Biden seems to be correct on that one.
I’m not accepting anything but I am willing to be a responsible adult and adjust what I do so I still have healthy food available, a warm home, transportation, etc.
I’m not sure the left is feeling this yet. They tend to be wealthy, on welfare, or upper middle class coastal dwellers. Prices aren’t high enough to affect them yet.
What experience I have with the Left is they are barely involuntarily body functional.
Lol.NOT. You will and November 8th! It’s yhe economy stupid!!
Honestly, you still believe we can vote ourselfs out of this?
I don’t believe voting will solve our societal problems but still encourage it as voting is at the bedrock of our great Republic. Our founders fought and died so that we might vote. I respect that.
Our votes were there last time.
There is no outrage, but instead the planting of tomatoes on their windowsills. There is not the “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) spirit.
There is a time for everything, MAGA doesn’t exclude being wise, I submit the opposite. If I am willing to lower my standard of living in order to live as comfortably as possible for as long as possible and help others along the way, is that a bad plan?
I reject the premise as presented.
I began preparing for,…THIS in earnest, 20-25 years ago.
And the changes I made to my lifestyle, moving out of the city, getting OFF credit entirely, etc. have led to a steady IMPROVEMENT in our “Quality of life”.
This is a major misperceptiin people have, that living within your means, equates with lower “Quality of life”; Ican assure you, it doesn’t.
You are free to reject the premise any way you wish. However, I surmise you make an assumption I did not indicate.
Using one’s intelligence and wisdom to live more efficiently and help others is laudable. What’s the long-term goal?
If it is to survive, like ordinary citizens in war-torn Europe did for a number of years, to rebuild, that’s a choice. If it’s to form a base of operations to mount a war effort from, that’s a choice. Or anything in between.
What’s the goal of self-imposed austerity? It’s different for everyone. Best wishes!
“If I am willing to lower my standard of living…”
Defeatist. You have already lost.
It is not defeatist in the least. I submit those who pretend everything is going to turn around may very well be those who will be asking for my help.
Go have a read of Proverbs 6:6-11
Nope. Stay the course dear friend. ✝️
At this point, outrage is a waste of my time and energy. Better spent trying to prep up and do what we can here at home. Working a part time job to pay bills and stay off the EBT Wagon (SNAP or food stamps for us old timers). If that’s surrendering, then paint me guilty.
I figure the wealthy Oregon Communists can feed our ragtag army of war vets and other zealous patriots. I have no guilt at all. Only steely eyed resolve and I encourage other local seniors similarly. This about winning the war; if we can gain resources without killing, for now, I’m good with that.
To be honest I have worked so hard for so long being frugal so that one day I might be able to live comfortably – that now seeing its been in vain opens me to the idea that the less I have the less I have to be preoccupied about. Just don’t take my family or my God. I will fight to the death to keep those.
Fangdog, I think it might be time for you to find another website.
Espousing perpetual anger without the forethought of prudent planning is not a strategy.
Disparaging people for smartly thinking in advance to protect their family from issues beyond their immediate control is not helpful.
Regards.
Adios and the best for all.
Are you fbi?
Amen. I have grown, canned and built up long term necessities in advance of the rising food prices and it now helps offset the rising costs of things like insurance and energy that can’t be avoided. It’s survival time.
Boom!
Sundance, I do see Fangdog’s point of view. I mentioned yesterday that a cousin of mine told me to just stay home because I was complaining how much premium gas cost for my car. I came from a poor back ground so I know what it is like to be hungry by Thursday night waiting for my mom to do her grocery shopping on Saturday. Thank goodness we had U pickems in South Floirida because we lived on tomato sandwiches.
My husband and I have worked all of lives like most of the folks on this website and the prospect of eating tomato sandwiches is really making me angry. I admire those who prudent and are planning wisely . I guess I just have not accepted all of this yet
Nobody is fine with this sheet, dude.
I don’t know where you are getting this acceptance feeling from.
Edit: looks like you pissed off the owner of the bar.
Dude!
I’m coming off a tough day and you just cracked me up.
Yeeeeeeehaaaaaww! ✝️
WRONG.
I just launched another business.
By the grace of God me and my family are not participating in this crap storm.
Signed,
Mad as a hornet!
🔥🙏✝️🔥
Yes! God speed and bless!
I’m sometimes lost in the ambiguities of defining “standard of living”. We chose to downsize our home and to try and waste less as a natural continuance of our faith journey – voluntary simplicity, stewardship of the Earth etc.
As a result we DO own less, spend less, drive less, maintain our 15 year-old cars, buy clothes at thrift stores, save more at every opportunity, invest carefully and many other things. However, we consider our lives to be very much ENRICHED by having more of the non-material, spiritual things we value most. We have a better view, a better diet, daily interactions with wildlife, closer relations with our neighbors and a more robust relationship with God and our extended family. Last but not least, we have more TIME, because it doesn’t require as much income to maintain a simpler lifestyle.
But on paper, our “standard of living” is definitely lower, merely for owning less house and fewer new possessions. I guess I would prefer to have more “life” and less “stuff”. I don’t think any of it is primarily dependent on who runs the government. Materialism pre-dates all republics. I have sympathy for all who struggle trying to maintain a status quo. The process of re-evaluating what matters (and what should matter) in our lives was painful for us too. It took decades, and we expect it to continue for the rest of our lives.
An army must be fed, clothed, housed and supplied. I watched this in action during the various convoys; how, mostly, ex-military put together the logistics to support the protest ‘armies’.
It’s the same for us. For some of us, it will live and die at surviving. Like in Colonial times, very few will actively fight. Survival is their fight. I hope they win.
If a more austere existence can toughen one up for a long, harsh, deadly fight, I’m good with that. It certainly has put into perspective what is valuable in life. Good lessons.
No acceptance of any of this B S, but prepared – count on it – if that means growing my own food or reloading so be it.
I’m not interested in running towards the bullets.
I’d rather hunker down and wait for them to run out, or reload.
There I have a window to return fire.
Food, Housing, Energy & Fuel alone add $6,000 Annually.
IMO, this displaces virtually
• ALL Discretionary Spending for the Working Class
• MOST Discretionary Spending for the Middle Class
… SO FAR.
I think your 6k number is about right, and basically killed my discretionary spending for sure.
I have yet to see any significant drop in my discretionary spending #’s.
Food and transportation fuel are up, sure. I notice the price increases at the grocery store, and pump.
But at the end of the month, the $ I have “left over” is the same as it was a year ago, and will actually go up soon.
I SM fortunate my electricity RATE has not gone up at all, however soon I will be off grid, hence my “leftover” $ will go up.
Good for you! But I worry about our really low income people. I live in a poor city and I have a child that teaches in the ghetto. I also taught in a low income area for years. Most of the people who live there are single moms who work at minimum paying jobs trying to raise three or four kids on their own. I do worry for them as well as myself and my family. We have definitely cut back and are trying to stock up and be prepared for what is to come. Pray hard and ask for forgiveness! I agree we can’t vote our way out of this.
Lots of beans and rice. You can store it for 20 years, it’s still cheap, and super yummy.
It’s a good thing to have several months worth, even before all this, as it is a nutritious backup for job loss or some other financial set-back. Eating beans and rice a couple of times a week could really help off-set inflation.
I want a root cellar for potatoes for the same reason.
Add a can of ROTEL “tomatoes with green chilies” when making the rice, then pair it with beans. I make a batch that yields two suppers and one lunch for only a few bucks.
“tomatoes with green chilies”
Great on tacos with verdi sauce
Red beans and rice, delicious, gar-on-tee!
I think that the Working Class and the Middle Class have become one and the same at this point.
Thanks to the magic of compound interest and inflation, Each dollar I put into my retirement fund in the 1980’s has grown to be worth about 17 cents. As a plus I get to pay income tax on what’s left. Maybe those new 81,000 armed IRS agents will help me fill out the paperwork
Really funny and depressing at the same time. You did make me laugh though.
I’m pretty sure that when they arrive you will have ‘ resisted arrest ‘.
Good math, Sundance … yes … our REAL inflation rate is 18.7%. And it is gonna get higher before it gets lower. We are being LIED TO by every g-damned economist in the world! LIED TO!!!
https://brownstone.org/articles/the-economists-self-censored-and-inflation-is-a-result/
The nations top economists … top men … really top … ALL Lied to the public, and allowed Bidinh to LOOT the Public Treasury, while crushing our economy to death.
Lied to like the medical community has and still does. Coupled with the inflation rate we are heading into unknown territory. All the plans are worthless if we find we’re in a war with Russia and China. You can’t grow or can your way out.
I would disagree. Growing your own takes pressure off of the supply chain for those who cannot.
Plus producing your own food gives you a feeling of control in an out-of-control society. At least it does for me.
In addition to being liars, If you ask ten “economists” the same question you’ll get 10 different wackadoodle answers.
This is nowhere NEAR accurate, my car insurance alone has gone up $1200/year, and that’s just my car insurance!
My supplemental medicare insurance plan just went up 10%. Taking into consideration all of the inflation-related increases that are cooked in the rates, the increase in SS due in January will (perhaps) keep me even with regard to fixed expenses, but of course, that’s not taking either gas or groceries into account.
I no longer budget for groceries. I see what’s available from month to make and that just has to be enough. Doing fine with that, though, because I’ve been stocking up since the day that Joe and Jill moved into the white house.
My grocery budget remains five dollars a day and I now have an estimated six months of advance supplies in stock on little more than a minimal Social Security income and SNAP.
BTW, SNAP isn’t some panacea. Even on the bare minimum of SS and no other income, one only qualifies for a mere fraction of the household maximum. At my daily rate, that’s about 15 days of food. How many here eat on five bucks a day per person? Likely very few. I’m happy for them. It’s been quite an experiment, having seen both sides of the money thing. I don’t mind poverty. Humans OTOH, meh. Seems we’ve got quite a batch to deal with these days.
Five dollars a day is amazing, and I congratulate you! My daily is about $7.50, but I haven’t given up a fondness for the occasional single-malt scotch, which is expensive. Getting by on very little is hard, but sometimes hardship spurs innovation and creativity.
Homeowners has jumped a lot too. If people don’t get significant cost of living raises (so not gonna happen), we are going to see more foreclosures and people diving uninsured, etc.
I’m so glad we paid off our house. I see a lot of people moving and buying houses for outrageous amounts. Foreclosure is a horrible thing. I don’t wish that on my worst enemy (unless they are a lefty! LOL!)
I really like the excuse paragraphs in the nerdwallet article.
The Fed is attempting to bring prices down gently. By raising the interest rate at which banks borrow money, it can control demand in the economy, and with cooler demand comes lower prices. However, these changes can also trigger not-so-great effects such as higher unemployment and slowing the economy too much. It’s a balancing act.
Though a recession may sound scary (and a deep one is), a downturn may be necessary to get prices under control. And as tough as it is to stomach, that part is a good thing.
Interest rates need to equal the rate of inflation to do anything significant about prices. Otherwise, it’s just pissing in the wind.
There was an interesting news report today about how retailers are starting their Christmas promotion early to get a head start on the competition. Since I read here, I was thinking reducing high priced inventory before the money crunch got worse.
I am going into retirement. I am sort of hoping that I can find a place to spend winters. If the market goes down enough, as a cash buyer I should be able to find something. Then again, maybe not. That will be fine. I have had too much practice living on nearly nothing. I can do it again. I won’t like it. Never have.
It has been said more money makes you more than what you already are. There are a lot of nice people on this website, and I would like to see all of them make more money.
My experience has been that money, as a measure of wealth and power, gives a person the freedom to be who they really are. I apply a similar maxim to intelligence/IQ/wisdom.
One lesson my Depression era parents taught young was that it wasn’t so much how much one had but rather how one used it and made the most of it. Good lesson and they lived what they preached.
Hang tough. (I know you are).
There’s room for you here in E TX. 🤟
The stores have started putting out Christmas decor for sale already. That’s earlier than I’ve ever seen it. Also, retailers that don’t have sales often are having lots of sales right now.
I think they are trying to get the Christmas dollars before the economy gets worse and get them before some other retailer gets what is out there for Christmas spending.
And yet my Leftist friends and family members REFUSE to see the connection and continue to blame “Big Business” (which is OVERWHELMINGLY run by Democrats) and “greedy Republicans” for all of the price increases! I am in Washington State, which has been TOTALLY controlled by the Democrats for decades, but still, somehow, it is ALL Donald Trump’s fault and they are still glad they voted for Biden!
I just finished reading “The Psychology of Totalitarianism” by Mattias Desmet and I now realize how many people I know are truly caught in a mass formation and are simply unable to recognize the reality that they have been lied to and completely manipulated. It is just too painful to accept so they have to continue spouting the “narrative” and hating anyone who attempts to speak the truth and break the spell they are under.
(And no, I am NOT implying that the Republicans have clean hands in any of this – the vast majority of them have been willing co-conspirators in the downfall of our country and our economy!)
Heard an interview with him a couple weeks ago. Fascinating, I’m ordering the book now.
I would love to hear what you think of the book. I am surprised, and somewhat saddened, by how many of my well-educated, supposedly well informed friends have never heard of mass formation and all the controversy that arose last year when Robert Malone mentioned Mattias Desmit on The Joe Rogan show.
None of this had to happen.
I am enraged at what these bastards are doing to my kids.
And I bet that doesn’t include all the permanent heart damage , deaths and sterilizations from the jab’s.
Yes, that is, when the totality of this period is taken into consideration, the real rub. This didn’t just happen; it was orchestrated with malice and aforethought. Treepers have posted voluminous examples going back decades as to the specifics.
It might not always seem that way but we oldsters, even if not so blessed, pray for the children. The future. Humanity. Thanks for the reminder.
No doubt we are getting swamped by the swamp.
I feel for those who are younger and have never experienced anything close to this. Most of them are not prepared. If they rent, it’s worse, not matter what their age, with increases averaging $200-300 power month around here.
I have no idea how families with kids or even just couples are handling both the financial impact and mental stress. I’m single and live alone. I can and do make adjustments and plans to weather the storm. I’m happy I don’t have to convince anyone else that they need to do that with me.
Adult children are delaying marriage and are staying home with mom and dad, often sharing space in the same house with either granny or granddad. Three or more generations under one roof will become the norm for us.
It once was. I’m hoping to avoid that. I love my daughter and son-in-law and want to continue doing so. 🤣🤣
… and they’re having dogs, not children.
Hard times makes for hard men AND women.
Hard men and women make times easy.
Easy time makes for easy men AND women.
Easy men and women make for HARD TIMES.
Welcome to HARD times!
Hard, but neccesary.
Nicely put! My only addition would be that over the course of a long life, some hard times will be inevitable. They won’t all be gubmint’s fault. Divorce can be expensive. Business partners might steal from you. And disease or accidents can come at you from nowhere. Bad things do happen to good people. Rain falls upon the just and the unjust alike.
Our Rent just went up $200/mo,,,,,my husband is active duty AF, so we are on a fixed income!
I went to the grocery store yesterday. I was shocked at the prices of the increase from just from last week/10 days ago to yesterday.
Since I read the CTH everyday, I’ve built up my pantry, freezer, overflow items for over a year (thank you Sundance), however, all I saw was a gloom on peoples faces as they pondered purchases, many in the end putting the product back on the shelf as they shopped. Many looked stunned!
*western suburbs of Chicago.
Its bad here in the south west suburbs of Chicago. I have noted a few, very few items in Wally World that have not increased. Jewel? Not so much.
Max, it is really sad.
A checker at my local grocery store said she cannot believe some of things people are still buying.
She said it’s as if they’re in total darkness as to whats going on.
When this finishes working its’ way through the system and really hits hard, it’s going to be absolutely devastating to so many.
Took my friend to touristy area in the foothills here for a birthday dinner Saturday. The shops had a ” girls night” theme with small discounts to encouarge business..I was shocked to see so many women buying all kinds of stuff, spending money like water. One shopper bought a $100 embellished sweat shirt…women buying multiple glasses of wine at $10 a pop..$15 cocktails..
Eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die seems to be the theme for many clueless folks , they are in for a rude awaking come soon..
There will always be people with money.
Always.
But as our Lord has said “The poor will always be with you.”
It makes me kinda angry that many of the poor are people who have tried to do their best but the powers that be deem them expendable and useless eaters no matter how hard they actually work to support their families.
They may have money or maybe people have decided their cash sitting in the bank is losing value everyday due to inflation.
Have done that a few times and then realize it will be more the next week and go ahead and get it. Yes, faces are stunned for the most part.
Remember when Bush had that shoe thrown at him?
Yeah, well……
Crack up!
As bad as it will be here, there are are going to be millions of poor souls watching their kids starve to death in places where they have absolutely nothing they can do about it. They weren’t blessed like us, they didn’t have forefathers that saw this very thing and gave them the means to fight back, they just get to sit and starve, while we wait for the “next” election.
You have to wonder if we are the servant that just buried the talent his master gave him. There comes a point when you have to stop blaming , the progressives, uniparty, elite or whatever and start looking in the mirror.
Well said, and bravely.
It’s a feature not a bug. I think the global elites want to reduce population in the third world. I mean they are purposely stopping food production.
Brave? Maybe. I have always considered that while I never joined our military, or dedicated my life to a soup kitchen … I did something even more valuable with my talents. I remained married to my wife for 40 years, I lovingly, and with discipline, raised 3 fantastic children who are now productive adults. Worked a job that met the specific needs of my clients. And generally witnessed Christ with an affable persona … and years volunteering with a Christian youth group. So, although most of my talents have been inwardly focused toward my family … I believe those important tasks meet the goals of Christ’s challenging parable.
And now … I come here to kvetch with like minded conservatives … to gin up both my incredulous outrage at our Communist government … cultural rot … and to sharpen my conservative apologetics. I believe Christ favors TRUTH … and I absorb oodles of that now-rare commodity here
Ominous outlook on credit card debt, from Fox Business today;
Bankrate’s latest survey found that the average credit card rate was at 17.96% as of Aug. 31, the highest level seen in decades. That is up 3.5% from the July reading and up 10.8% from the average of 16.21% in August of last year.
Despite paying higher rates, consumers are increasingly relying on credit cards as sky-high inflation drags on. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported that credit card debt held by Americans surged by 13% on an annualized basis in the second quarter to $16.15 trillion, representing the sharpest climb since 1999.
Test
A lot of households don’t know how to shop for non-processed foods in order to save on groceries and some younger generation don’t know how to cook – much less cook ‘from scratch’ make to make dollars stretch.
So true. For example, you can substitute rolled oats or barley for expensive boxed cereal. Add some walnuts or sunflower seeds, any dried fruit, whatever you can get. Use full fat milk, not this low-fat crap. This has been our breakfast for over 40 years and we must have saved a bundle over that time, and it’s better for you.
Dried beans are your friend for keeping hunger at bay. The secret is to soak them starting two days before cooking. And you can add salt to the soak water (water changed before cooking to not salt until they’re tender). Learn to season them to taste using your favorite spices and add something acidic like cedar vinegar and/or amino acids at the end to brighten them. Again, once you get recipes that work for you, this is a great hedge, especially when bought in bulk.
That’s raw rolled oats used like cold cereal, and no, I don’t use cedar vinegar but cider vinegar.
Lol, I think we understood. I would like to remind everyone that a whole grain plus a legume makes complete proteins. I like to stir a spoonful of natural peanut butter into my oatmeal. Red beans and brown rice is another good combo. Or put peas in your risotto.
I get my dried beans to cook in 1/2 an hour by soaking them overnight, drain, add to pot, stir in 1 tbsp baking powder, wait 15 minutes, add water, bring to boil, lower heat, spoon off scum, cover, simmer 30 minutes and presto! tender beans! It works with all kinds of beans. Plus, sprinkle baking soda on chicken and shrimp for 15 minutes before cooking to tenderize.
oops – baking soda not baking powder.
My daughter and her husband cook almost everything they eat They both have decent jobs, but are looking for extra work. They don’t eat out, go to the occasional movie, try to find free things to do, and still struggle to make ends meet. We talk all the time about how thankful we are to have God in our lives! What would we do without Jesus?
Sounds like you and yours are firmly planted. ✝️
You can learn to cook just about anything. Youtube exists.
.
It’s worse.
Many households are increasing credit card debt to make up shortfalls, at the same time interest rates on those cards are rising.
.
My grocery bill for AUG22 was $314.00 higher than in AUG20.
My electric bill for AUG22 was up 60% over AUG20.
An d the suck part of it all is that I was looking at every way to save a buck in AUG22, whereas in AUG21 I was pretty much buying what I wanted to buy…
Thanks, TRAITOR Joe!!!
…I’m glad I topped off my ammo supply back when I saw this coming!…
Repeat these Brandon mantras after me:
Transitory! Transitory!
The pandemic is over! The pandemic is over!
Safe and Effective! Safe and Effective!
Semi-fascists! Semi-fascists!
It is clear to me that JoeBama criminal enterprise is preparing to provide “inflation assistance” to all the poor citizens and illegals that can’t afford food, shelter, transport, etc
Then nationalize many industries to stop these greedy Capitalists in heathcare, energy, housing, autos, etc…
The vast majority of sheep have no idea what is coming, have no idea how to plan/prepare, and will gladly handover what little freedom remains in order to be coddled by big government
Every day we move closer to becoming Venezuela…
Yep, the Great Reset will be to digitally surveilled communism.
Real world prices where i live are much higher than what they or anyone admits to.
There is no way on gods green earth meat is only up 7-8% yet that is what fox news told us this past week … smh
here in ND I’m seeing prices that are practically double from a year ago, and most every day items are up around $1-$3 more . It’s hard to find anything that is under $5 at the grocery store (walmart) these days.
I’m so sick of this BullSchiff!
When (if ever) will the sleeping masses wake up and trace the true causes?
Rhetorical question really. MSM/social media exponents of the false reality do everything possible to distract and deflect. They are as much the problem as the politicians and their reset masters.
Vietnam was so egregious and reached a point where reality overwhelmed the lies. And there was a tipping point where the MSM was forced to acknowledge what the anti war movement was saying.
At present I can’t see the same dynamic occuring unless a real breaking point is reached. The Covid lockdown was an unprecedented exercise that whet the appetite for more draconian measures. Which are in lockstep with what’s happening now.
Where are these Nerds shopping for groceries??
Prices in D.C. are apparently still pretty reasonable. Who’d have thunk someone cruising the aisles of a store with a video camera would find an audience. Welcome to today.
Farmers markets. Every town of 10k or more has them. No store overhead, and it’s all fresh. On average about 1/3 less in cost than any chain. Yes, selections are seasonal. They are definitely better in places where more is grown.
This has always been the plan.
Screw the people.
Just think, if you, a private citizen, could run your budget like the US govt.
What if you could print your own money,
land run on deficits for decades?
And your credit rating doesn’t go down.
Most people figure out how wrong this is when they get their first apartment.
Been there, done that, didn’t even get a lousy t-shirt for all of the trouble trying to get situated with my first apartment, and every one following.
For reference, Maine housing has always been on the pricey side even before accounting for the more recent inflation under Obamao the 3rd.
That has worked for many decades thanks to the petro dollar established in the mid 70s when Mr. Henry Kissinger got the Saudis to agree all oil would be paid for in dollars. Nations therefore needed dollars for international trade and our federal reserve was happy to print them by the trillions. Now look whats happened in Ukraine with the sanctions. Russia, one of the worlds largest energy producers, is demanding payment in from Europe in Rubles tied to a gold standard. They have also begun selling energy to the huge economies of China and India in local currencies. What does that do to the value of all those dollars out there…
My concern is when these mid terms are over, the Communist in the house and senate are going to finish us off completely.
By December gas will be $5 to $7 dollars a gallon and Prices will rise another 20%.
Vote Communist Democrat like the fools in blue states. (and enjoy your EV)
I must be doing a lot of things right or am truly blessed. More then likely the truth is somewhere in the middle. I never ask god for anything I’m not willing to meet him half way on. I’m actually able to save money in this economy. People in this country have long lived beyond their means. It all had to come to an end at some point.
Respectfully, some people aren’t living beyond their means. They didn’t have enough money to begin with, just for the basics.
Yes, this is very true, and will become an increasing challenge. I thought the post Sundance did where everyone gave suggestions of how to save on one’s electric bill was very good. There were things I learned. The one comment that stuck with me was someone said they turn the a/c down at night (not the day), because the house cools faster, retains the coolness longer as it is fighting the daytime heat. I never would have thought of that and it made sense to me. Maybe he might consider doing one for the basics so treepers could expand on other helpful ways to safe money.
Her comment saying “she must be doing things right or am truly blessed” because she has extra money is a statement that I don’t agree with.
God is sovereign and each of us is in the place he has for us and that place is to be used to bring us closer to Him.
Sometimes people who have a lot of money, or money money then they need, often begin to think it’s based on their capabilities, and if others don’t have money – well, they screwed up by overspending. Sometimes this is true, but the bottom line is no matter where we are God allows us to be in that circumstance.
Having less should draw one closer to God and to rely on Him.
Always remember:
”It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Mk 10:25
The ‘end’ goes far beyond money. I’m reminded of the ‘Titanic’ example of someone trying to buy a seat on a lifeboat and being told ‘your money won’t help you any more than it’ll help me’.
In the totality of today’s reality, not only in the US but across the world, the Titanic example may not be as far-fetched as it seems. Most of us were socialized to believe in the USA as an immutable, everlasting superpower. It’s unsinkable.
Maybe not.
Order out of chaos: Universal Basic Income on the way!
My homeowner policy renewal with Allstate has increased 20% with no changes in value of the house for the year.
that is extremely high.
Ours too. And our car insurance is up even more.
If you are a Vet, or extended family member, compare USAA insurance. I saved a bunch after State Farm raised my rates (decades old client) intolerably.
Yeah, State Farm went up about 23%, think that they raised the value of the house. Raised on the price on “replacement costs”, what a racket.
the ONLY thing that is saving me so far is not having a real commute to work. i can walk there in 3 and a half minutes, so no gas unless it’s raining hard.
groceries? OUCH compared to Jan 2021. EVERYTHING up at least 20% since then. some items more as you all know. some beef cuts have almost doubled (not filet, mind you but regulars)
double-down, conserve and stock up on basics and essentials. rice, beans, grains, baking necessities, oils, etc. start small gardens, even container growing on the back porch can help.
on top of it all, i don’t think state or even national elections are going to change anything until people FULLY grab back control of the locals and spread it up the chain. we shall see. that has begun.
I just returned from Ashby Lumber where I purchased sheets of 3/4” Lightweight MDF. I last purchased this same MDF in May, 2022 for $72.00/sheet!! Today’s purchase … $58.00/sheet. A $14.00/sheet REDUCTION in cost. What does this tell me? Bidinh has successfully KILLED the construction industry. Enough so, that materials costs are coming down. 20% down.
Sadly, everyone still needs to eat and drive their automobiles. So the only way you can KILL-off those marketplaces is to KILL-off people. No, I don’t put that past the MONSTERS running our country into the ground.
FJB will take credit for that 20% reduction, from the all time highs he presided over.
I was going to build a treehouse for the kids last summer.
I saw the material prices and told the kids “sorry, not happening”
I scraped up enough spare materials to get it started this summer.
Got the posts in the ground, and the frame up.
But I haven’t had the extra cash to buy the plywood for the floor, walls, and roof.
Maybe next president, I’ll finish it/s
Though sheathing is up about 50% from 2018 when I put a roof on the office, the shingles, basic composition, last I checked, same brand same type, were within a dollar per bundle of 2018 prices. 15lb felt is now the 30lb price though. So much for putting down the 30lb for ‘extra’. Heh.
I’m glad I reclaimed the thousands of board feet of lumber and plywood I had on the CA place and didn’t give it away at fire sale prices, though I did try back in the beginning of Covid. No takers.
Now it’s securely tarped in various parts of the forest where I live. Need something? Go to the warehouse and pick it out. No need to waste expensive fuel to drive to town. Hence the truck has sat for nearly two months now.
In the coming, or for some of us, already existing, bad times, efficiency will be king. Health is wealth, particularly with the biological and medical-industrial incursions under color of law.. God be with us.
But, but, but … your tarped lumber will just add fuel to CA’s next uncontrolled wildfires! Aren’t you worried that Global Warming will burn all that lumber?
Just messin with you. Sounds wonderful. I hope there’s a cabin in the woods in the near future for the wife and I
Heh, normally, yes, particularly in dry California; however, in the coastal forests of Oregon it’s hard to get wood to burn, even with gas or diesel to accelerate it. Too wet. The lumber is tarped to prevent deterioration from moisture and humidity.
Here’s a cat’s eye view out the bedroom window. I’d be surprised if the forest here has burned in decades, if not centuries. Very mature trees.
I am concerned about the increasing irregularity of the logging truck operations locally though. Even during Covid, they ran like clockwork; now, it’s nuts. Some of the trucks sit for days or weeks, or operate at odd/short hours. Very concerning. I know the wood is out there. Signs of the times I guess.
There are people who think “FJB” is too crude.
Retired Magistrate here: We went to the store several days ago and found an 8 lb. package of tenderloin steak for $12.99 a lb. Bought it and cut it up and put it in the freezer. It will be a long time before we see that price again. Went to Aldi’s and purchased really good brownie mix for $1.99; makes great brownies which I can freeze. Still finding canned goods on sale along with other items.
Home heating oil is really putting a dent in our budget. Topped off our 550 gallon tank at $4.62 per gallon. When President Trump was in office we paid about $2.46 a gallon and it went as low as $1.90 per gallon. Thankfully our house is paid for along with our older cars.
Our ranch house, which was built in 1957 and added on in 1972 has not been “updated” because everything works just fine. Appliances are old but they work. Just found out that our township has an agreement with an electric company for reduced rates and the contract is locked in until the Spring of 2024 so I signed up and saved $65 on our last electric bill. We buy a lot of our clothes at estate sales and thrift shops. We have done this for years.
We are doing everything we can to keep the modest lifestyle that we have. However, even with all my efforts to save money, our monthly expenses have still gone up about $500 per month.
It will be an interesting Winter. At least this house is a lot better insulated than the old farm house we used to have. We will just keep the thermostat at 64, put on more sweaters and use the fireplaces more.
You’re a great example. Love it!
Disclaimer: this is in ‘jest’
SAVE THE PLANET;
EAT A DEMOCRAT.
Solvent Watermelon: Green on the outside, red on the inside.
A Modest Proposal – for the 21st Century.
My property taxes on my 1940s prefab home (which I purchased for $120k in 2017) went from $135k in 2019, $152k in 2020, $142k in 2021 and now $164k for 2022.
This of course means I’ll be short in escrow and then by default…my mortgage payment will go up over $1k a month now. But thank the Lord God above you and I are protected from those Mean Tweets!
Sorry to hear this.
I was smart and paid off my car and all CC debit last year when I could see where this train wreck was headed. Of course having two kids in college kind of offsets that lol but I’d rather be as prepared as possible for what we all see and know is coming. I pity those that willfully ignore what is right before their eyes.
I would strongly suggest that you challenge your assessed value with your County’s tax assessor. Go on-line and there should be a form that you can fill out yourself–provide 3 realistic comparable sales (can get sale data from the same assessor’s office and/or an appraiser). Be sure to follow the directions on the form correctly. It might even be worth your while to pay an appraiser $300 to $400 to do the appeal for you if it will save you $1,000 or more on your taxes.
Cathie, as I mentioned below, it was appraised this time last year at $297k! Granted I’ve done a lot of remodel on the inside but this is pure housing bubble driven.
If I’m reading your numbers right, where do you live that real estate taxes are higher than what the real estate cost? That’s some scary sht. IDK, maybe there’s a decimal place in there somewhere? I hope so.
I live in the wonderful world of Komrade Jay Inslee in the PNW. And yes you’re reading the numbers correctly. When I had the house appraised right around this time last year, it came back at $297k! For my dumpy 1100 sqft shack on little over .5 acre lot. And currently that’s considered “cheap” around town. We have houses twice my square footage easily going for over $400k
Yikes, glad I stopped at Astoria when looking and didn’t make it into WA.
Comparatively, the shack I live in on the OR coast sees a bit over 1200 bucks a year in property taxes. Took a lot of work and figuring out Oregon’s property tax scheme to find it though. OR also has a program for low income seniors to pay the tax and lien the property for that amount until it’s sold or the resident dies.
Beautiful state WA, had family in Redmond and out on the islands for decades; sorry it’s come to this there. Something has to give. This can’t go on.
No it can’t, especially since Inslee is now all “well we can figure out a way to take out the dams and save the salmon.” Say goodbye to cheap hydroelectric everyone! Also…beautiful city Astoria, and glad to hear you figured out that steaming pile of tax codes OR has. What a nightmare!
This is just beginning of the pain as things will start compounding next year. AB5 in CA has begun which could remove upto 70,000 independent truckers and new CA trucking regulations hit Jan ’23 possibly removing another 80,000 pre -2010 trucks from supply chain. Food shortages will anplify from fertilizer shortages. People food and livestock feed. Rising rates killing housing market. Corporations already laying off people. Walmart hiring only 40K seasonal employees, but hired 150,000 in 2021. Foreclosures will forther increase. Illegal immigration known getaways is already near 1 million. In total, Illegal immigration since Biden is approaching the population of the HOUSTON METROPOLITAN AREA…6.6 MILLION. This is totally unsustainable.
Everything is purposeful and by design as the Cloward-Piven Strategy and Great Reset have morphed together. These are just a few examples as the Conservative Treehouse probably doesn’t have enough server space to list everything.
Yes, the insidious part is that this is purposeful; all of it, and has been for quite some time now. They learned from the last crash what worked and what didn’t.
I hope that folks temper their survival plan with that reality, that the enemy is coming for us. IDK how many more examples we need.
Microsoft made their budgeting program Microsoft Money a free download decades ago and its still available for download.
It requires an easy set up of your bills known and estimated, payment dates as well as your incomes. The program advances the calendar automatically, It will notify you of due bills and project your financial condition any date well into the future, and allow for future planning. Very user friendly program. Well worth a try.
I went from one end of the spectrum, an expensive computer program for the business and personal finances starting back in the early 90’s and equally expensive filing cabinets, including those fire resistant ones to, now, a shoebox to toss receipts in.
Poverty ain’t bad. Frees me up to read the fine wisdom from folks on this forum.
There’s no reason for people to go hungry or be cold here in America. The WEF crowd and climate alarmists are certifiably insane. I believe they’re going to get what’s coming to them – either at the hands of angry men or God, whichever comes first.
At 70, I never thought I would have to work. Am on my 3rd different job in 6 months. Fortunately in sw fl. there is definitely a shotrtage of workers. At this point in my life I am trying to find the job where I don’t have to do too much physical or too much thinking. After working in custodial at Sams club for 1 month, 3 months as an asst manager at public storage, I just finished a 16 hour shift at an upscale outdoor mall. I think the security job fits the bill. It is unreal at how much wealth many in certain areas of Naples, fl. People have accumulated. I recently worked in a condo building of 85 units where more than half only live part time , with annual maintenance fees of 22,000 and the lowest priced of the 85 is 2 million plus. And I would not trade my life with anyone of them. Live your best life and try to do gods will and help others if you can.
Thank you dear Treeper
AMEN Marc; GOD BLESS YOU!
I got a new set of owners for the 4-plex apartment in which I rent.
Right after they closed on the property, they left a notice on the front door of my unit that stated that “due to market conditions” they were jacking up my rent by about 40%. Other tenants received similar increases, so I wasn’t alone.
That translated in a $650/month increase in rent – at the same time that natural gas and electricity are increasing (the unit is served by a well for domestic water and a septic tank for sewage), locally. Never mind the increases in gasoline for the commute.
At best, there’s a $50/month increase in salary mid-month next January.
I turn 64 in three weeks. And I’ve got med bills pending for treatment of my colon cancer.
S rew it. Time to take my 401a, pop it into a home back south in a 2A friendly state, and walk away from my 38 year professional career.
Fortunately, my primary vehicle just got paid-off, so it is just gas, insurance and maintenance, now.
Sounds like you have a plan and I wish you well with it. I made a similar decision after the last crash and it took a couple years to flesh out the details. No regrets and no one left to impress in life. What remains is between me and God and, yeah, I hear the sounds of freedom most days ringing throughout the forest, though it’s been quieter than normal lately. Getting ready? IDK. We’ll see.
Defending dirt is far more expedient than defending electrons in an account somewhere. The enemy is coming.
Don’t look back. Just enjoy the new life you are creating in that friendly state!
As to this side of the balance sheet, expenses, I am glad that I planned and achieved my goal of being way, way, way below average.
Twice in my life I have gone from living well to being dirt poor. The second time I decided never again. It wasn’t easy and at times I doubted I’d be able to do it, but I kept at it until I found a solution that works for me.
Friends and family tell me that I’m lucky and that may be true if three decades of planning, preparing, sacrificing, and looking for the right opportunities is luck then okay, I accept that.
Life is hard. It’s going to get harder. I pray for you all to be as lucky as I am.
Please don’t sell yourself short. Nothing to do with luck. Everything to do with patience, courage and determination.
Stolen elections have consequences.
We are being governed by criminals.
Question!? Will the 2023 Social Security increase be 18.7%? Asking for millions of concerned voters! Vote…it’s the economy stupid.
Quite the pickle when the proposed increase comes out next month, just a few short weeks before the election. Seniors account for a pretty large, and involved, voting block.
Quite a pickle. While I expect it to be nowhere near the real cost of living increase we’ve all experienced, I bet it will be historic, likely between eight and ten percent. Middle ground to not piss off too many nor break the bank any more than it’s broken already.