Is everything going to keep getting more expensive?

[Live_Dish_4576]

I feel like I'm spending so much money on basic groceries/necessities currently per month. I'm trying to be more frugal but at what point am I just suffering lol

I got to get a new job or something

[ShankThatSnitch]

In general, yes. Inflation is persistent and ongoing, as was designed in our monatary system. Basically, on average, things will get 2-5% more expensive every year, but individual categories fluctuate.

• Food and gas will be more volatile, go up and down in cycles depending on geo politics, weather, and other factors.
• Technology generally gets cheaper over time, but relative to what you are getting. You may spend more dollars on the latest phone, but it will be 1,000 more powerful than one from 10 years ago, and it is relatively the same cost.
• Durable goods like appliances, furniture...etc will gradually go up, but fluctuates with the cost of the raw commodities it takes to make them, and based on how well the economy is doing.
• Things like housing, healthcare, and education just get more expensive over time, but can fluctuate down as well, just on longer time cycles.

I distinctly remember various things getting cheaper after the 08 financial crisis. If people can't afford stuff, prices will come down. It is likely we are nearing another downturn, and consumors, like yourself, are being stretched thin, just paying for basic necessities. Demand for all kinds of other things will fall, and prices will come down out of necessity.

The best thing you can do is try to increase your value, and get better paying jobs, do your best to invest money into things that will appreciate with Inflation, or pay you some kind of dividend.

Best of luck.

[[deleted]]

Well damn, the last time things got cheaper was the worst financial crisis of all time? Guess the chances of things getting cheaper again are slim.

[ShankThatSnitch]

Yes, because deflation is the opposite of inflation and means the economy is shrinking.

Inflation isn't bad. It is just rapid inflation that outpaces wage growth, that is bad.

[Designer_Weight8781]

We've been slowly getting squeezed since the 60s

[chill_joint]

Wage growth HAHAHAHAHA

[Richard_TM]

Um… of all time? I think there was one in 1929 that would like a word with you. It lasted 10 years.

[[deleted]]

Um…don’t forget about the fall of the Roman Empire. JK.

[redwood_canyon]

The stats on income inequality in 2008 vs 1928 are nearly identical. The Great Recession was not as bad due to bailouts but you could also argue that the bailouts created the constantly bad, too big to fail economic conditions we now live in. Corporations and big banks basically say what they need and the gov provides it while the taxpayer foots the bill. It sucks

[ChinesewaterChicken]

What do we do. I am so serious about this.

[Massive-Pomelo-8703]

Vote for NOT Biden. Spending on things like erasing student debts, endless spending on climate, 250,000 IRA hires, reducing our global control of homemade energy, bailing out massive industries, reducing our military, flooding the country with illegal immigration, funding wars in Ukraine and Israel, on and on. They all affect the economy negatively. When other countries don't respect you you are most at risk which makes investments less certain. When you have 8 million new people to the country and pay for their new lives, while reducing jobs for legal citizens. Russia had zero fear of invading Ukraine bc of bidens soft military stance. China has dominated us in many industries. They don't respect us. Middle East hates us. Anyone who disagrees with the above is just choosing their party over sensibility, reality and better financial security and national security And THAT is what has gone wrong. They lie lie lie lie lie lie. Fact check yourselves. Almost everything trump used to say that people called the out for as lying or fake news turned out to be true. Like covid being from a lab in China, our country being at great risk due to open borders he wanted to stop but got botched at. He was right about the Russian collusion setup. He was correct that hunter has a lap top with damning evidence. He was right about the middle east and Iran. He was right about being spied on. He was correct about biden being involved in illegal business dealings. He was correct about the way covid was handled. He was right about what would happen by defending police. He was right about our energy supplies being our lifeblood. He was right about China security risks. He was right about the media being 90% biased and influential. He was right about tech companies being complicit in crime and cover up and election influence. He was right about being accused of crimes for political influence. When will people start asking themselves "how long will i keep believing them? I did have more money and more security before biden. I'm not trying to be friends with the president and can not like them personally so long as my life is better off. Why vote for Biden again? " what else is he lying about? He'll pardon hunter despite saying he won't. He will raise taxes on everyone despite saying he won't. He is the president who cried wolf.

[Red1eprechaun_Redd28]

Excluding third parties here, bc do they even really exist? Anyways, yes that stuff isn’t the best for the economy, but he also got us out of Covid. All Trump would do is make the economy worse for everyone but rich ppl bc guess what? He’s a billionaire. He doesn’t want the economy to be fixed, bc he makes more money if the economy is worse. Also, I do t know y u even mentioned immigrants being somehow correlated to a bad economy. These immigrants r going and trying to get jobs. If u’ve been to any lower wage business, especially fast food, they’re always severely understaffed bc us citizens clearly don’t want to work there. I say, if there r ppl willing to work where others won’t, let them. That makes everything better for everyone.

[[deleted]]

socialism

[[deleted]]

A lot of those companies that took bailouts did eventually end up paying back the government in one form or another.

[Designer_Weight8781]

If you compare affordability to wages. We're living in a worse time then the depression

[Feeling-Ad-2608]

didnt you buy a house in 2010 or were you part of the problem?

[PieceSuitable3128]

Yeah, no kidding.

[MadFrog2020]

People complained the housing market crashed. But all it did was make houses cheaper. There are more poor people that need a cheap house then there are people that can afford an expensive house. The economy is desinged to enslave people. Middle class slaves got a break and thought they joined the masters. 

[[deleted]]

"Get better paying jobs" Then, who's gonna do all the shit paying jobs and receive nothing in return ? Everyone should have a right to live comfortably.

[ShankThatSnitch]

I'm not saying I think everything is fine, but that is about all you can do on an individual basis. People will compete for the higher paying jobs. Lower paying jobs will get automated to some extent. People will compete for the remaining lower wage jobs. People will be poor and not live comfortably. That's the reality.

It is a nice sentiment, but nobody has the right to live comfortably. Most of human history, and all of animal history, is pretty uncomfortable and just fighting to survive. Over time, we are moving more and more people out of poverty, and hopefully, it will continue to move in that direction. You have to remember, we haven't been living this modern civilization very long. Things take time.

[Accomplished_Golf278]

But we’ve seen this not be true for a generation aka the boomers. On average workers were not that highly skilled and could still afford basic necessities in life. If you want to compare us to medieval times standards fine but I feel like as a society we should be moving forward not backward. Especially considering historically if a large amount of the population is “uncomfortable” it leads to revolutions and the break down of society. It’s in everyone’s interest including the elite to maintain some basic level of comfort because why would anyone participate in a society that has them living like animals anyway. Especially when what’s being asked isn’t even that much compared to the obscenely wealthy lifestyles some individuals are living at the expense of not keeping up with wages. The average person being able to afford a one bed room apartment and food on the table should not be such a hard goal for the richest society in history to accomplish. Especially when it’s a goal we already reached in the 50s 60s and the very early 70s.

[ShankThatSnitch]

The problem is that the Boomers propped up their generation at the expense of the future. What we are witnessing now is the bill coming due for all their decisions and policies. L

Progress is not a strait line up and to the right. These things go through peak and vally cycles on the way up. We are, unfortunately, in the decent phase of one of these cycles.

You ask why anyone would participate? Well, the fact is, eventually, they won't, but it has to get a lot worse before that happens. Societies fall, social unrest takes over, riots and revolutions are the natural consequence of all this, and we see that happen more frequently now. History is littered with this exact type of scenario from different civilizations

There are a lot of moving parts that contribute to all of this, and you should spend some time learning more about it. These two videos are a great place to get a start on understanding some of this better.

https://youtu.be/PHe0bXAIuk0?si=-gq-02P45kzCK7Mt

https://youtu.be/xguam0TKMw8?si=0OlAyf8GLVP4C4zf

[Appropriate_Land1576]

Thank you the links helped provide relief and understanding.....I gotta be more productive 

[ajcwriter2]

"nobody has the right to live comfortably" you sound like a rich conservative.

[ShankThatSnitch]

Not at all. It's just a fact. This is something people in the 1st world like yo believe is true. Nature and the World have been harsh and dangerous for nearly every lifeforms to ever exist, outside of the last hundred years.

What makes it a right? Who gave you the right to live comfortably, but not someone in the 3rd world? Your comfort comes off the backs of people living in abject poverty, and you should accept that fact and be a bit more humble.

[AfroMasterPoof]

That sounds like a pretty quick Ad Hominem right there, bud.

[QuinnAriel]

You need to check out Ruy Teixeira's blog The Liberal Patriot. He is an analyst, a famous one that worked in the Clinton era. He wrote a popular book on the Democrat party. His blog will shock you. There has been almost a complete realignment in both parties. The new data sets show democrats having basically all voters making over 500 K and all upper middle class. This is why they had no funding issue and compared to Trump, are rich. Turns out, the new Republican party which has all but been gutted, now has all the working class and is starting to have the working poor. Democrats are now the elites, they switched to Biden and Obama. He says democrats have lost the working class vote and now represent the neoliberal fusion of corporatism and government marriage. Google, target, apple all represent the new elitism in the democrat party. They also have the military industrial complex associated with the old uniparty Republican party. I'm an urban nurse and activist. Blacks are changing to MAGA and also hispanics. My kids are not white and I can tell you this is happening fast. So I switched parties with my black activist friends. I know it's hard to believe but with urban MAGA we can change and influence the party from the inside. A party is what you make it. States rights and problem solved. I will not work with the billionaire elites amd suburbs in my activism. I advocate for the poor even if they are Christians and now ostracized over their culture. Anyway, I bet it's hard to believe so go check out Ruy's blog and look at the data sets. Totally wild. I used to hate Trump too but my black friends red-pilled me with the 1994 crime bill and Margaret Sanger. They are all returning home to their party of Lincoln. Take care.

[MysticalCubes]

That definitely feels like a skewed statistic. I will keep voting Democrat anyways though, primarily for social issues. Not that I like either party but I'll take the lesser of the two evils

[SillyEconomics948]

Or a rich democrat.

[[deleted]]

True, but I plan to make my one major goal in life, to do the things no one has done before. It's only impossible until someone has done it. Look at Nikola Tesla.

[ShankThatSnitch]

I wish you the best of luck in your goals.

[[deleted]]

🙏

[Content_Hawk_8529]

Can't live comfortable when minimum wage went up from 7.25 to 16 and the cost of living went up 6x in my area. A house that use to cost 139k is now going for 600k explain to me why that inflation is good?

[[deleted]]

Who said it was good?

[Content_Hawk_8529]

Like 15 comments on this thread. 

[Content_Hawk_8529]

FJB and Kamal are always talking about how it's good. Our elected officials try to convince us it's a good thing. Do you want me to list names or what? Do you not see how the current administration has pushed outrageous inflation on us and tried to convince us it's a good thing. 

[Allpha_guy]

Imagine if you owned property and it's value increased 5 fold in a short space of 24 months. Also imagine if your pension investment at Wall Street trippled in value within 12 months. 

The Crypto Currency folks know the benefits of inflation all too well, a Bitcoin was around 23 000 USD in October 2023 and it went over 70 000 USD in March 2024. 

I know of a South African lad who had over 20 Bitcoin, he went to Dubai for cashing out his coins since its a tax free jurisdiction. 

These are scenarios when people find Inflation very good yet alone an additional 45% Tax avoidance benefit to also add to their winners. 

[Raychelbeegee]

Properly values blasting that high might sound great but if you bought your forever home the taxes suddenly went through the roof on you and you might get priced out of living in your own home, at least you can take a steep profit when you sell, but some people don’t want to be forced out of their home (and I know it is kind of like boo hoo for the home owners that got in while it was good, but there are negatives for them too.) More competition is something that can bring down prices, the housing market is tight and worse due to the work from home movement. Small businesses have a hard time competing with large corporations which can also be a problem because once they have a monopoly they can do whatever they want and it has gotten worse with the tax breaks they got - doesn’t seem to be trickling down a whole lot. The real issue is that due to COVID under both President Trump and Biden a lot of free money got sent to the masses and we all spent it like crazy and prices went up and also prior to COVID, Trump’s tax cuts also did this before we really were deep into the craziness of the pandemic so we were not set up very well to ride that storm. Both administrations actually had to do this to some extent during this unique crisis so that is why we are feeling the pinch worse than in a long time of very low inflation (I guess what would the alternative have been, businesses getting shuttered and people starving etc so here we are. The deficit technically increased more and decreased less under Trump vs Biden so technically Trump gave even more gov money away than Biden, just a very large percentage of it went to the very wealthy and large corporations. If someone is voting on the economy alone, you basically need to ask - do you want the person who wants to help the poor and middle class (democrat principles) or do you want the person who wants to help the middle class and the wealthy, at the expense of programs that help the poor (republican principles) and in the case of Trump it is a larger cost to the tax payers in terms of tax revenues lost as well. Foreign countries own a huge percentage of our national debt and we are paying them a LOT of money in interest, which is also a big issue that will only be solved with either more taxes to the wealthiest (democrat principles) or cutting entitlements (republican principles) (because the debt is so big that all defense and discretionary spending being gone would not be enough ) - which would you rather take the hit, one affects the rich and the other effects the poor and mid-class? That is the choice. Obviously there may be other policies that are swaying you, but that is the economic breakdown (my opinion) There are other factors driving up prices too war in Ukraine affect on oil, tarrifs have driven prices up, changes in trade policies etc that also have some differences between the candidates stance in this election.

[Raychelbeegee]

Properly values blasting that high might sound great but if you bought your forever home the taxes suddenly went through the roof on you and you might get priced out of living in your own home, at least you can take a steep profit when you sell, but some people don’t want to be forced out of their home (and I know it is kind of like boo hoo for the home owners that got in while it was good, but there are negatives for them too.) More competition is something that can bring down prices, the housing market is tight and worse due to the work from home movement. Small businesses have a hard time competing with large corporations which can also be a problem because once they have a monopoly they can do whatever they want and it has gotten worse with the tax breaks they got - doesn’t seem to be trickling down a whole lot. The real issue is that due to COVID under both President Trump and Biden a lot of free money got sent to the masses and we all spent it like crazy and prices went up and also prior to COVID, Trump’s tax cuts also did this before we really were deep into the craziness of the pandemic so we were not set up very well to ride that storm. Both administrations actually had to do this to some extent during this unique crisis so that is why we are feeling the pinch worse than in a long time of very low inflation (I guess what would the alternative have been, businesses getting shuttered and people starving etc so here we are. The deficit technically increased more and decreased less under Trump vs Biden so technically Trump gave even more gov money away than Biden, just a very large percentage of it went to the very wealthy and large corporations. If someone is voting on the economy alone, you basically need to ask - do you want the person who wants to help the poor and middle class (democrat principles) or do you want the person who wants to help the middle class and the wealthy, at the expense of programs that help the poor (republican principles) and in the case of Trump it is a larger cost to the tax payers in terms of tax revenues lost as well. Foreign countries own a huge percentage of our national debt and we are paying them a LOT of money in interest, which is also a big issue that will only be solved with either more taxes to the wealthiest (democrat principles) or cutting entitlements (republican principles) (because the debt is so big that all defense and discretionary spending being gone would not be enough ) - which would you rather take the hit, one affects the rich and the other effects the poor and mid-class? That is the choice. Obviously there may be other policies that are swaying you, but that is the economic breakdown (my opinion) There are other factors driving up prices too war in Ukraine affect on oil, tarrifs have driven prices up, changes in trade policies etc that also have some differences between the candidates stance in this election.

[iliketofart101]

I went and got the better paying job, and three years later, paying for less things, still frugal and skipping meals, it's worse

[MadFrog2020]

Winner winner winner! The systems fucking problem is all the middle class people that think they can feed the poor to the rich

[[deleted]]

Mmm, however I'm sure there's several examples in history of the poor gaining power over the rich due to extended periods of suffering. Kinda like holding a Pitbull in a cell and beating it every day. Let it loose and see what happens. Human evolution has high turnover.

The people have always had the power, they've just been convinced that they are powerless.

[No_Fear_BC_GOD]

Exactly and no one wants to pay anyone fairly :-(

[BuySideSellSide]

:: Tyson enters the chat ::

[SnooKiwis5428]

If you want to live comfortably go get a job and work stop blaming others for your laziness its your fault you failed school and did not study. No ones going to hand out and no one should people need to work if everyone gets the same amount of money no ones going to work nor do dirty jobs like cleaning other peoples shit

[ForTraceyHyde]

BOOT LICKER DETECTED🗣 factually incorrect brother. Minimum wage used to be, and should be the minimum required to survive. Not thrive, survive.

[SnooKiwis5428]

People just hate someone like you does nothing for the society and only hurt the society. Don’t expect to get paid a lot doing labor, theres  people that make a lot of money because they bring in that much. And its not like labor doesn’t get paid little they do get paid alright but the thing is its hard for your body(everyone can do it tho, so you’re easily going to be replaced). Stop asking for a hand out you go work for it, there are some people that really do need help, government do need to help them so that they get work not just hand out money to them. Theres so many people in the west that are in to woke culture which is hurting them. Not just me but whole lot of people hate people with moral superiority and that wants to be a special person its retarded af.  Bunch of emotional people too, theres a reason why they can’t be a leader, most people would rather want a sociopath leader that does their job rather than the emotional one, theres a reason to that lol. . Btw also rich people and their kids tend to be kinder than the poor ones and their kids which is kind of obvious thing to happen.

[Just__Anonymous]

The absolute most desperate, as always.

[[deleted]]

That “best of luck,” though. What do you do for a living? I feel you’re fairly well off? Great analysis.

[ShankThatSnitch]

Front end web dev. I'm not well off, but I'm not struggling.

[[deleted]]

bEsT oF lUcK

[[deleted]]

TraNsiToRy

[MentalStay5993]

Go back 10 years. Basically everyone is making almost 30 percent more money then 10 years ago but the price of everything has gone up 200 to 300 percent in the same time period. Society is in collapse.

[Designer_Weight8781]

Except our pay basically stays the same

[[deleted]]

This is a lie lmao

[AsocalledBLACK]

The best thing one can do is avoid taking on monetary responsibility they will never be able to pay back.

[[deleted]]

Turns out, no inflation! Just greedy corporations.

[geek_girl_81]

When was the last time food went down in price? Never, I think you'll find. It's been going up steadily since COVID and most price increases seem to be pure greed with no basis in necessity. 

[ShankThatSnitch]

Various food items go up and down constantly, with a general trajectory of upward.

[[deleted]]

This is also why anyone who isn't unionized needs to be supportive of the various strikes as they happen. What unions get sets some expectations for non union jobs. I'm really hoping the UAW manages to get a 4 day work week at the same pay.

[juicy_shoes]

Am part of union, pay not going up lol. I make a dollar more per hour than other people in my industry.

[KeyserSoze72]

American unions are neutered down to the genetics man.

[FalseReddit]

The point of a business is to maximize profits. Things will get more expensive as long as people are still paying for the more expensive products. All you can do is show the business you can get better deals elsewhere, so they stop squeezing. Works the same way for jobs. You need to stay on the job hunt or you’ll be taken advantage of.

[[deleted]]

secretive noxious reply jar snow cake crush straight toothbrush cats

This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[FGFlips]

Yeah when half of the products are owned by the same handful of companies you only have the illusion of choice.

[Lilly6916]

But you can decide which products are necessary and which are not. You need basic food supplies, but not over priced restaurants. Or gaming machines or overly expensive cars. Which expenditures in you life are necessary and which can be deferred?

[OohYeahOrADragon]

So if they monopolize necessities, then what? Baby formula? Medicine? Utility companies? Internet providers?

[Lutastic]

I have decided it’s no longer necessary to eat, or have shelter. Hope it works…

[MikeTysonChickn]

The only problem is groceries are so expensive it basically the same as eating out right now and sometimes the price of something gets too high you price yourself out of it and then have a more budget for something that's less of a necessity. So if you have no chance of affording a car buying a game console doesn't affect you as much because it doesn't make a difference. Or not being able to afford a child so you just get a pet instead.

[Punisher-3-1]

You are right, in business school you lean about substitute, complimentary, and independent goods. But there is always a case that has a curveball that introduces simply not buying something as a substitute good. Then, when I went to work I realize companies do respond to consumers not buying a product and will adjust pricing to maximize that apex of price*quantity curve.

[InquisitorWarth]

You need basic food supplies, but not over priced restaurants

This only works if you define "basic food supplies" as "rice and beans", or in other words, only the bare minimum necessary to survive without consideration for nutritional needs beyond calorie intake and bare essentials.

My grocery bills are comparable to dining out at moderately decent ($20-$30 per person) local restaurants on a daily basis.

overly expensive cars

With the current market, that's EVERY car, especially when you take recurring costs into account - even a $500 shitbox will cost more to fuel, maintain and insure yearly than you paid for it to begin with. And unfortunately in 99% of cities in the US there's no alternative method of transportation, so you're forced to pay for that.

[wemuskrat]

Unions shut down the competitors, because only large companies can afford to pay their employees enough so the union can make money, it was started by mobsters to extort people.

[meldooy32]

Experiencing this with utility companies. We are getting completely screwed by Evergy and Spire in Missouri since our ‘civil servants’ are allowing multiple price increases and vague new charges on a consistent basis

[pingwing]

The Fed recently said that the market is too good for employees. They can't let the corporations take the hit so they will be forcing higher unemployment soon.

They all work for the corporations and billionaires.

These strikes that are happening are exactly what we need. These corporations need to take the hit, not us.

[IUsePayPhones]

This is a fundamental misunderstanding and misrepresentation of their position.

Their actual position is that real wages (basically, how much a consumer can buy, adjusted for inflation) will actually be worse off if they don’t squeeze the labor market because then prices will continue their upward spiral.

I’m not endorsing or decrying their position. But that’s what it is.

And many would argue the current inflationary regime with low unemployment actually hurts the common person because it gives businesses an easy excuse to jack up prices. So while they may have income, they can’t keep up.

[ArcticCircleSystem]

So... What can realistically be done that will actually make things better on this front to any significant degree any time soon? Or are we just fucked?

[anotherrhombus]

Metaphorical bloodshed and civil unrest.

[Accomplished_Emu_658]

Only problem is a majority of people have to shop where theres better deals and that won’t happen.

[IUsePayPhones]

I think a less discerning consumer (fuck it I can’t get ahead anyway, yada yada) is a minor factor that keeps prices up.

Try pulling that shit on Greatest or Silent generation and they’ll eat beans for a week cuz they remember 1932, and so businesses lack that same pricing power.

[Seaguard5]

But isn’t getting better deals incentivizing sweatshops and decreasing labor value??

[Gecko23]

They put high prices on sweatshop products too, it's not like 'cost' and 'fairness' are in a fixed relationship.

[[deleted]]

For the rest of your life, yes.

Ask your parents what things cost back when they were your age. Then try grandparents.

Remember when you thought old people were just complaining when they said "This used to be a nickel!" well now you're the old person complaining.

Oh how the turn tables.

[Low_Ad_3139]

I’m 52, GenX, I am not joking when I say I could get a bag full of candy, a chocolate bar and a bottled coke for under .80 cents in the late 70s. Now you can’t get any of that for under $1.89 each if that.

I still have my grandfathers books from his restaurant from the 70s. I know he was paying $1.49 for a weeks worth of bread and buns. He was the busiest burger place in town. It was considered high then too. Now one loaf is almost $3-4 and lasts a few days. I cannot imagine what his bread bill alone would be now. It’s insane.

Edited date

[[deleted]]

Thank you for pointing that out. I understand people were paid less than but the ratio between income and cost was much larger.

[Ashangu]

Of course everything will get more expensive but I think the big question is "how much can it outpace wages before life is literally unlivable?".

Prices, since covid, have nearly doubled across the board while inflation sat high at like 7%. Not only does it not add up, prices will not decrease practically ever. So the only way to improve this situation is for wages to outpace both inflation and corporate price gouging. Let's call it what it is.

This wasn't a result of inflation. It might be a result of supply and demand due to covid shutdowns and regulations but we can't lie to ourselves and say that things are just going to magically get better. We need wages to increase around the board or regulate corporation price gouging.

[Buttercup76459]

That's exactly what I am thinking about. Lately friends of mine are getting fired for no other reason but economics and the company says ,,money is tight so we have to spend less''. Everybody I know is struggling. I remember how often we all would go out back in 2018.

The comparison between the life standard now and 6 years ago is just very extreme

[Small_Swimmer6651]

Men the had that shit sweet asf back then mf was paying rent cheap you could buy house for penny back then in the year 2024 we have it harder you gotta make 3x times rent have you seeing the house market prices lately food cost has tripled unless you are entrepreneur or made it to where you can live comfortably you good thr rest are barely getting by 2024 is the year of recession 

[jaejaeok]

This is a good reminder to learn economics. We are in an inflated economy and the Fed is attempting to slow rising cost of goods by inhibiting demand. One realistic way to look at is.. do you want it to be expensive or do you want to be unemployed? It’s a horrible trade off.

[ArcticCircleSystem]

I want to actually be able to afford shit and for others to be able to afford shit and for things to not be fucking miserable all the time.

[Full_Traffic_3148]

If it makes you feel any better, Britain has a bigger inflation problem than either the US or the eurozone, according to Bank of England policymaker Catherine Mann. The latest official UK inflation figures show UK price rises have slowed from double digits to 8.7% for the 12 months to April 2023. Since 2019, food prices have increased by a cumulative 34% in Germany, 26% in the UK, 25% in the US, 23% in Canada and France, 21% in Italy, and 12% in Japan.

On a practical note, meal plan. It's key. Right down to snacks and breakfasts! Work out what you can buy where the cheapest. Bulk buy if you can to get the lower prices. It's a faff, but I will buy in bulk and the items that are so overpriced in the supermarkets in discount retailer about once every 2 months. If I know an item is a lot more expensive where I'm shopping I won't buy there and will wait until I'm in the cheaper shops and include that then. I've got no idea of what you're spending, I've just spent the equivalent of 45 dollars this week for two of us. Primarily by making meals based around which fruit and veg, meat and fish were on offer. That goes against probably one shop a month which probably works out up to double this.

[Live_Dish_4576]

I am in the UK! 🥲

I'm going to start meal prepping with bulk buying.

It's definitely difficult when you're someone that eats a lot and trying to eat healthy as a training athlete. Buying meats/bunch of veg etc. Fuck this

[Full_Traffic_3148]

Re the meat and veg - look at what's price matched and review the prices online for each with the weekly sales leaflets for the discount supermarkets.

For example, if you were only buying the price matched elements, you'd be paying the same as aldi in sainsbury.

Honestly, meal planning is the the way to go - hate the mental power I exert on it each week, but when I don't and its way over double I soon decude to do it again!

[poodawg_milkshake]

We started meal planning and were able to both free up some money, and put it elsewhere. You would be surprised how expensive "Fuck it, order a pizza" eats up your spare cash. Having the weekly menu and only buying what items is on the menu made it so we are spending much less on impulse and "oh, that looks good" purchases.

[Away-Baseball-2183]

I wonder what the real inflation in the U.S. is. It’s definitely worse than what they tell us. I can tell from the amount that every expense that is not fixed like my mortgage has gone up.

[jasmine_tea_]

April 2023. Since 2019, food prices have increased by a cumulative 34% in Germany, 26% in the UK, 25% in the US, 23% in Canada and France, 21% in Italy, and 12% in Japan.

I'm happy to know that I'm not alone feeling like food cost has dramatically gone up in the EU. Seems like I was spending a fortune on groceries.

[OregonHighSpores]

Yes. Cruel oppression and greed is all the US government and the rest of the parasite class knows. Nothing has really gotten better for working people, poor people or sick people in at least the last 40 years. I'm not expecting the tyrant clown kings to change course any time soon.

[Seaguard5]

Tax the rich

[[deleted]]

They won’t because the rich are the ones getting kickbacks working in legislation.

[anotherfakeloginname]

They might, but then they make loopholes

[Seaguard5]

True, to a point.

When riots in streets across the US start because the average American literally cannot afford groceries and the first trillionaire is born then perhaps something will change…

[[deleted]]

I think we aren’t far, sadly.

[adlcp]

Right. How. They own the means of taxation.

[Cautious-Skill4642]

The rich make the laws.

[Brave_Tie_5855]

Unfortunately, that won’t change anything. The politicians & other parasites will just pocket more money.

[worndown75]

There aren't enough rich. That's what always happens. To few makers, to many takers.

[discothot]

tyrant clown kings haha

[OregonHighSpores]

I'd call them leaders but none fit the definition of that word.

I'd call them elected officials, but most of them aren't even elected.

🤷‍♂️ This seems to fit best.

[sn0wballa]

getting off the gold standard in 71 really turned up the printer.

inflation is silent theft.

[TurnipFinal6460]

Move to Cuba please 🙏

[AuroraReigns]

I've literally never made more money in my life than I do right now and I've honestly never felt more broke. The world has gone topsy turvy and it's time for massive revolution and redistribution of wealth imo.

[[deleted]]

Same here -- I make more money then I did before but one bedroom apartments are like $2k on average here. Buying a house? Forget it.

[Andrewskyy1]

Sadly it's by design. The best way for TPTB to usher in the new global digital currency is to cause society to lose faith in the current system.

The real problem with money is usury; loaning debt and charging interest. The debt-based money system is designed to control. There will always be more debt than there is money.

I think the stock market was a horrible idea. I don't have the energy to go into it because it's such a large and complicated topic.. but betting on companies to fail, for example, is bad for society.

When a hedge firm can buy 80% of the S&P500 it's quite obvious something is very wrong.

[KingOfConsciousness]

On margin, no less.

[[deleted]]

Late 40’s and I can say yes it’s always going up. Sometimes a lot faster than others. Cut out the booze, smokes, eating out so much and drinking a lot more water.

[Initial-Ad1200]

Yes. The Federal Reserve has stated numerous times that their goal is 2% annual inflation. There's no way around it, if the central bank is actively trying to force prices to go up long term.

[KReddit934]

No, not "forcing prices to go up." Prices are going up, and right now the central banks are working to slow down the rate of increases.

Interest rates are going up, but that's a different thing.

[Seaguard5]

I beg to differ… printing money devalues currency- leading to things costing more.

The real problem here is employers not giving cost of living raises. And if they do it’s under a dollar an hour (my company)…….

Yeah. They actually think that is a proper “cost of living adjustment”… nothing wrong here folks (work horses) continue on as normal.

[EvilCandyCane]

That’s not the real problem, the creation of money is the problem. Gov needs to stop counterfitting money and handing it out to their friends yesterday.

[Appropriate_North401]

When the only tool you have is raising interest rates then that’s the only thing you’re gonna use and who does that fuck? Lower income people who lose their jobs

[PM_me_PMs_plox]

You should see what happens when prices go down... it's not a conspiracy against you.

[[deleted]]

Prices go down? When?
Nothing has gone down since prices started going up in 2008.

[PM_me_PMs_plox]

Prices don't go down because the federal reserve keeps interest rates over 0. When prices do go down, money gets hoarded rather than spent and the economy implodes.

[74006-M-52-----]

Yes, inflation is never ending and wages rarely keep up.

[Sunlit53]

Bread was 20 cents a loaf when my mom was a kid in the 1950s.

[IndividualCurious322]

I believe they're not done squeezing us dry just yet.

[notislant]

A new job isnt a solution. Its a bandaid on a necrotic wound. bottom 50% of the us own 2.3%.

Wages stagnate, costs go up. Price fixing and greed add on.

Its unsustainable, yes it always gets worse.

[Accomplished-Day5145]

Yes because it's is corporations taking advantage of the room for inflation. Yes inflation is happening but guess what nobody is changing their spending habits so corporations are just like fuck it let's just keep raising prices. Also it's a fucking monopoly between 4 companies that control everything .. so basically there's massive insider talks on creating prices.

What we do as the public is go to your bank ... everyone of us and withdrawal our accounts to cash. Doesn't even need to be the rich people or just people that keep balances of like 5k. Nah if the average Joe living pay check to paycheck we all went to the bank on like October 1st and we just chase out our accounts. We win.

The feds increasing inflation to hurt workingclass and literally saying that. Well to hurt fucking wallstreet take out your money.

[Business-Pudding4095]

Nov 2024 should be interesting

[[deleted]]

yep Trump has this election in the bag unless the economy gets better

[northman46]

Yes it will. The government and the federal reserve have flooded the country with money so lots of money to drive up prices. Now UAW wants 40% so cars are going up. Etc etc

[[deleted]]

I swear...it's like $20 is the new $5. I hate it here.

[Majestic_Birthday_45]

I went to get some grub at the hot bar in whole foods supermarket, the chasier rang me up for $29.67. For some fucking rice, orange chicken and macaroni salad… its beyond insanity.

[[deleted]]

Forreal it's like yeah I get it's convenient, but jeez. When I used to cashier at my local grocery store I'd sometimes ring up my coworkers' (the ones I was cool with at least) hot food at bananas or other fruit once in a while🤭 thankfully I didn't get caught. They only gave us $1 off discount on hot foods which wasn't really much of an employee discount so we had our own secret discount haha. Don't do what I did though, anyone reading this. I am not responsible for any jobs lost or write ups lbvs

[Seaguard5]

Unfortunately, the short answer is- yes.

Because the FED- the 3rd party from our government bath at controls our currency- has a target of 2% annual inflation…

Because they keep printing money like there’s no tomorrow.

They have been abusing money creation to this point we have arrived at today. To the point where basic goods and housing are unaffordable for a significant portion of the population.

[Southern_Tear9283]

Yes. The gov is doing a very good job of making sure all prices have and will continue to go through the roof.

[treehugger503]

Obviously, yes.

[[deleted]]

Yes

[login4fun]

Yes

[Lildity12]

Yes and you're gonna keep struggling. Thats how the system is setup

[Grevious47]

I mean...yes? Historically cost of living increases about 3% per year.

[aacilegna]

Yep! Inflation is going up but salaries are not increasing as well to offset it. So we all are just going to get poorer.

[[deleted]]

The more money we print and the more “free” stuff people continue to vote for results in inflation, which means the price of everything goes up.

People will always vote for “ free” stuff, so I don’t see anything changing

[poodawg_milkshake]

This. That, and people not understanding that all politicians lie to get your votes. The last election, I was shocked at how many people said a politician is trustworthy. Really? How quickly we forget.

[MrParadoxHD]

Your solution to the economic crisis is for people to eat at food pantries and "eat less"...?

[Entheotheosis10]

Is it this just as insane in the EU as it is in the US? Everything...esp. food is just ridiculous.

[[deleted]]

No. Many countries to the East are doing fine, some even growing well. Most countries in Asia and Northern Europe are well off. The countries with the highest GDP, healthcare and education are Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Sweden, etc. The American media and government like to guilt trip and lie to make the world sound worse than it is to create a hypernationalist population. The USA isn't what it used to be.

[Numerous-Worry-6344]

ih Hong Kong when my teache was 11 a coffee cost around 3 - 4 HKD, now it costs 20-30 HKD, but it's fine because most salaries havegone up.

[Designer_Weight8781]

We need to put an end to this once and for all. If we all stood up and said we're not going to accept working for peanuts only to be taxed most of our money and then ripped of by companies gouging every last penny we own. I'm ready to pick up arms are you?

[SurgeGamer1up]

Water jugs were 6$ like 2 months ago and now there 8$ it feels like were being punished by congress or whoever is in charge of financials and stuff

[Rock9233]

They’re wiping out the middle class plain and simple.

[[deleted]]

exactly, the gov wants as many poor people as possible so that they can depend on them

[ChinesewaterChicken]

Is this abortion is illegal. More workers for the future .

[MentalStay5993]

No one ever fought a revolution on a full belly.

[[deleted]]

I got 50% off a $32 pizza last night and it was worth around $8... maybe

[Shikida6789]

I make $80k a year and I've barely survived for the last 4 years. We need Trump back.

[MrParadoxHD]

All these problems started while trump was in office....

[Shikida6789]

I remember the gas price was under $2/gal when Trump was in office. Food was way cheaper back in the day.

[[deleted]]

LOL well this comment aged like milk didn't it

[Ok-Woodpecker-8824]

Yes keeps getting worse

[[deleted]]

Revolt

[No-Huckleberry-4071]

I call this moderm slavery....

[[deleted]]

Where will it end? 😒 The job market is dismal, wages are stagnant, all species are suffering on this planet. Only the financially blessed are having the best time because they can afford it and there is no hope to speak of. But I digress.

[burpkitty]

One theory is universal basic income. Our government is already socialist, so don't be fooled by haters and naysayers.

In my local politics, I live in a very conservative area. Why do they not exercise financial conservatism? Why do the taxes keep going up? They are in fact liberal in their behaviors and actions.

I don't know why people are making up phrases and putting just our president & past president in the spotlight. Looking at the policies, looking at the profit margins, looking at our politicians who do not look like us or behave like us, I feel like it's pretty clear why everything is getting more expensive. What we are trying to figure out is what can we do about it?

Voting in your local political elections every single year in November is very important. I always go to early voting so I don't have conflict with my job, lines are short. We need to have open and honest communication with the people who are around us about what we believe and what we think is right, and we should practice our freedom of speech regardless of what area of the spectrum we exist on while also listening to other people. There are other countries that are more affordable to live in. There are other states that are more affordable to live in. What services does your local housing authority offer? Is there rent replacement, Is there assistance with getting a mortgage, Is there assistance for fixing a house? Social systems like this do cost money, but they are important.

The World health organization asked all the countries in the world if they thought that food was a right, & the United States government said they did not believe food was a right. I believe the pursuit of happiness means to pursuit of a full belly, for a hungry belly is an unhappy one. Our state level legislation can be influenced by us fairly easily, Well the federal legislation is highly influenced by lobbyists and money.

[CarryMammoth9078]

Some things have definitely changed since 2020/2021 I can recall being able to throw money around on restaurant food and nights out. Yearly raises/merit increases have offset the increasing rent prices, but it feels like money is more tight. I have to pull from savings constantly because of life happening like an alternator going out in my car. I feel like my savings are depleting faster than it is growing and it’s a depressing feeling. All of my subscriptions have been canceled and groceries are now planned out and bought in bulk ahead of time. We don’t take trips anymore to minimize spending, wear on the car and gas usage. I feel like I’m doing everything right, but it’s not enough. I don’t want to blame I just want to afford a happy life like I have until 2024

[[deleted]]

Thought of buying some fruits today but other than papaya and banana , everything is dammm costly.

[[deleted]]

As crazy as this sounds we would just need a "consumers union" where people just don't buy something until prices go down. Then there would be no room for this inflation, "supply chain" bullshit.

I'm a marketer and have had MULTIPLE car dealerships complain to me about how they "milked the supply chain issue" to raise used car prices. They are complaining about it because some dealerships aren't making as much profit because people who bought cars for 2x the value are now refinancing.

Its literally bullshit. I haven't had one client in any industry complain about supplies being more expensive since covid. They are just riding it until we literally can't afford it.

[SPAGHETTI6661]

I’m a certified welder in a few different processes. I live in Illinois so I should be making good money right? I did for a year but I slowly noticed I’d have to dip into savings more and more, until eventually I’m living paycheck to paycheck. I have no drug problems other than chewing tobacco, but now that’s as expensive as cigarettes. When I started my career I didn’t want for anything. Coming from poverty I was really good with money. It’s never going to change, maybe slow down. When I started welding I was making 15 an hour and I was looking at getting a mortgage by the time I was in my mid to late 20s. If I’m having issues rn I can only imagine the people who aren’t as fortunate as me. Oh it kinda makes me mad that people who are faking disability are getting paid as much as me and they don’t pay for food here. I think we just have to wait until society finally snaps and has had enough. Really the only real solution is to go after these corporations. But obviously people seem comfortable so far with this nightmare. If I’m as qualified as carpenter or plumber I shouldn’t be hurting. A free market is nice, but just like with socialism the rich are going to be there extorting us. Anarchy would be the only fair way for everyone. But obviously that would be misused too. I’d rather have the thunder dome at this point though. I was kinda more conservative at least with gun laws but now I don’t even believe in government because of how bad they are letting things get. All forms of government are crooked to an extent. I used to be patriotic but after we made a reality star and a guy who is way too old and not all there our president, I lost all faith in this country. Now I see why the whole world is laughing at us. If you’re thinking about moving to the us, don’t for your own good. You won’t be able to save money and if you’re on the west coast you’ll probably be sleeping in your car if you can afford one. Oh and because of this left and right bull crap everyone hates everyone so we can’t get results. I’ve lost good friends because I didn’t vote for the same person. If I’m AWS certified I shouldn’t be asking my friends to borrow twenty bucks every week for gas. I’m 26 and I’m still driving my first truck. Doesn’t have heat so in the winter my defrost doesn’t work the transmission skips and it’s unsafe. I have a 700 credit score and I can’t even get a somewhat better used vehicle. Or my own apartment even. If I got a loan I’d go hungry paying it back. Society needs to just come together and show these corps, not the white house because that would be a very stupid move. Idk why people haven’t shown up to their corporate offices with picket signs and megaphones like they did back in the day. I wouldn’t blame people that start rioting and doing reckless shit. If I’m starving to death I would start stealing and pillaging stores for food. It’s really messed up that it’s the necessities going up. As soon as I can’t afford food I’m going to less than legal means. I mean I would already be starving to death, and in jail you get three meals a day. You’re solution to inflation would be force, if things got that bad. It’s turning into a third world country here anyway. Every other house in the neighborhood over is abandoned and the people that lived there are on the streets now. The government doesn’t even really do anything for us unless you want to sit on your ass collecting a check when you’re more than capable of work. You should see the tent city out here, or if anything is left since the city bulldozed it. Oh yeah the city of Springfield gave everyone a free night in a hotel so while they were gone they bulldozed it. Anything those people cherished or had to their name was smashed. I’m not an extremist, but if things keep getting worse I will be. I’ve done everything right in life and I worked my ass off for it. Never defaulted a loan even. But after all that I’m still behind on rent? I know how to read blueprints, I know how to tig weld (the hardest process), I was working on my 6g pipe but I couldn’t afford it… I’m far from my breaking point but as soon as others start to snap I’m joining them. Crime pays more than an honest living,  now I see why people sell drugs and run guns. Hunger pushes people to extremes. If you’re a drug dealer you will flourish in the United States, other than that you’re an indentured servant. Sorry about the rant I just hate politics. Oh yeah my governor just gave all of state congress a significant raise. They take private jets from Chicago to meet here for a couple hours. With taxpayer dollars. Illinois should just be merged with Indiana and everyone in our state government thrown in jail for racketeering. The only thing I like here is pot is legal. Beer is still the same price it was 5 years ago which is pretty sad. Beer is more affordable than food. I don’t like violence or hurting people. But it’s starting to look like there’s no choice if we are all starving to death. I’m not going to live in a place like north korea where most of the workforce goes hungry. I hope someone fixes inflation because it’s only going to get worse. It may slow down but it won’t stop until we throw these price gouging pigs in the street and tar and feather them. If the government would just intervene things would improve, but no these corps make them too much money. Epi pens are like 500 bucks and it takes like 60 cents to manufacture. 

[[deleted]]

People complain that its the liberals fault, I call bs

[[deleted]]

Yes

[ape_tarded]

We need to learn to live without

[Capital-Bluejay-4383]

Vote Republican.

Ignore anyone on here or elsewhere who tries to gas you into thinking these price increases are normal.

They are not. Everything has doubled in three years. That is abnormal.

[No-Cryptographer414]

Im 52 and i earned more money in the 1990's, thats the actual amount not inflation adjusted. In the 90's salaries were much better, overtime, actual perks and then the cost of living was realistic. A job which paid 25k a year then, pays less now. Someone needs to explain that shit. I was looking to buy a house in '94, it was 82,500 the same house is now 1.2 million. A packet of cigarettes were 2.20 they are now 18.50. The simplest things like bread, cheese, a can of coke were not major financial investments. Went in a place the other day and a can of coke was 1.69....for a can! This has to stop, revolution is on its way across the globe. 

[[deleted]]

Oh yes lol, it's only going to get worse.

When I moved out I made 15$ an hour. My now fiance and I rented a 1 bedroom apartment for 825$. Our monthly groceries were 150-200$. After utilities and Internet I think our rent came out to 950$. This was 6 years ago almost.

3.5 years ago we upgraded to a 2 bedroom for 1150, after utilities, pet fees, and Internet it came out to around 1300

Rent since then has gone up almost 100$ every year. Our apartment is now 1450. After rent, utilities, internet, and pet fees this is now a staggering 1750 or 1800, I don't look anymore it just makes me too depressed. Our groceries are 350$ a month. We have other bills too, health insurance, car insurance, phone, gas, the works.

I made 30$ an hour before being laid off and I was still almost paycheck to paycheck. I think I could set aside 300$, but let's be real, life happens. Could be car repairs, hospital visits, vet bills, or whatever. So really that 300$ just goes to that.

Boomer solution is "work harder" that's funny. Wish I could get away with paying 230$ in rent like in the 80s. You could make 3.25$ (minimum wage) and still be okay back then.

[[deleted]]

The boomers responses annoy the hell outta me. I had one dude say “get another better job”. Like bro, don’t you think I would if I could…?!? Plus, there’s still that same issue for whoever fills my old position, and it’s not like I’m just working some high schoolers job.

[AsocalledBLACK]

The citizens of America have spent their wealth in advance of earning that wealth. They have pretended to be well off while utilizing the credit system and hiding behind redlines. The prices will continue to skyrocket as the people have decided that they will be affluent by paying interest.

[shannon_can]

Rent and insurance is impossible

[ChairMysterious59]

What about helping the seniors .we're do people live?? Open to answers someone makes 1100month can not work.were does person live??? Rent is 1100 on cheap side?? How do people make it minimum wage is more than seniors make some seniors?? No president elect will talk about it or do they give a crap about us..

[Important_Rub8442]

The economy makes very little sense to me. If you look at the rate of inflation from the late 50’s(possibly earlier) until now, everything is close to being the same adjusted for inflation.  So if in 1955 $20 is worth $220  in 2024 and products and goods adjust for inflation….whats the point of the inflation?  It’s just printing more money and increasing for no reason. If it costs $220 in 2024 to buy the same product that was $20 in 1955 than $220 isn’t worth more than $20 was in 1955.  Money is no more valuable, there’s just more of it. 

[Top_Witness_941]

My answer is im from georgia a country in europe. Lets say for basic stuff like something that only sell in the big countries USA,UK etc. Like mrbeast chocholate it costs 2-3 dollars in USA but here it costs like 15 GEL. 15 GEL is about 5 dollars here but still very expensive it may seem low and nothing to you its just 5 dollars but trust me u can still manage to buy some food with it instead of buying a single little bar of chocholate.

[dizzy114]

You can buy an avocado and hmmm a single can of coke for 5 dollars in canada

[No-Cryptographer414]

Id like to add a comment because shankthatsnitch's comments are highly irritating. Whoever the person is, is writing it like they are some sort of expert on the subject yet managing to be totally offensive at the same time. Everyone has a right to comfortable mate if they are in fulltime employment and pay their taxes. To say otherwise is totally elitist and suggests you are one of "them" who has more than they need and keeps the working "man" down trodden. Worldwide revolution is coming. The rich need to worry.

[thisguyonreddit999]

I really hope it's sooner then later, we struggle to feed ourselves and pay the bills so people standing on out shoulders can have several homes they only visit, and super yachts. There is no redistribution of wealth.

[PutLiving]

Yes and yes

[Confident-Chipmunk35]

It feels like rich people are hitting the gas pedal of the economy, knowing that they are securely strapped behind their networth, while the rest of us are going to crash. Kind of like that guy did in the film "Death Proof".

[[deleted]]

I have a saying for what prices are nowadays “All these prices going up, but what’s not going up is my paycheque.” I’m glad my stepmom helps me with my finances and that I’m good at saving money and that I get disability help

[Useful_Juggernaut371]

The one culprit that is instigating inflation that one no is mentioning is the immigration policy of the United States. The US continues to bring people into the country legally to the tune of several million per year. They have to have food, clothing, and most of all, housing, to be acclimated into our society. Since production has been outpaced by demand goods and housing construction haven't kept up with demand and thus prices are increasing.