How is inflation affecting you?

[Brainonska511]

Haven't noticed any changes in food prices here compared to the last year or two - we're still spending about the same amount per week; however, I don't really buy meat, so that could help in keeping things down. From what it appears to be, the concentrated businesses controlling meatpacking have really banded together to kick prices up a notch at the expense of both producers and consumers. Haven't seen much effect in other areas either of my life, but we're not heavy spenders; my wife uses the T to commute into school, and I work from home.

The only things that have spurred me to action: bought $10k of I series savings bonds, just to take advantage of that high 6-month interest rate (at the moment, planning on treating it like a 1-year CD, subject to re-evaluation as the rate changes every 6 months). Also looking to get a new car as our 10-year old Fusion starts to develop gremlins - the short supply and shipping delays are pretty annoying, mainly because it's extremely difficult to even get a test drive.

 

[local]

Housing prices, which isn't totally an inflation problem in DFW. We are stuck in a starter home we bought 12 years ago for the 2 of us but now we have a growing 5 person family. Even though my pay has more than doubled in that time frame I couldn't afford to buy this same house again. Bought this place for $120k and now it is supposedly worth over $300k. We refinanced in 2018 to wipe out debt so we lost a lot of equity then. I already live 35 miles from work and I don't want to add more time to my commute so moving further out is not real feasible. The only way these prices are being sustained is people from California and New York moving here but the price increases are killing the people that have always been here. Something has to give.

Thankfully I don't have to pay for fuel so gas prices are only a marginal concern, in fact I am hoping prices keep rising as that should reduce the housing demand further out from the city.

 

[Stiff Clamp]

my usual trail mix bag has risen 10% in price

my usual chips are up 20%

one 4'x8' of 0.5"-thick plywood + two 8-foot 2x4s = $54 (cut to fit)

gasoline is $1 more than it should be

 

[Brainonska511]

Housing prices, which isn't totally an inflation problem in DFW. We are stuck in a starter home we bought 12 years ago for the 2 of us but now we have a growing 5 person family. Even though my pay has more than doubled in that time frame I couldn't afford to buy this same house again. Bought this place for $120k and now it is supposedly worth over $300k. We refinanced in 2018 to wipe out debt so we lost a lot of equity then. I already live 35 miles from work and I don't want to add more time to my commute so moving further out is not real feasible. The only way these prices are being sustained is people from California and New York moving here but the price increases are killing the people that have always been here. Something has to give.

Thankfully I don't have to pay for fuel so gas prices are only a marginal concern, in fact I am hoping prices keep rising as that should reduce the housing demand further out from the city.

Housing inflation is almost entirely driven by lack of supply and is largely independent of the current underlying causes of inflation in other sectors. It would help a lot if suburbs and cities allowed greater density (from so-called 'missing middle housing' to apartment buildings) instead of restricting everything to unwalkable, must-drive developments. The current development landscape hits families in the pocketbook with a one-two punch of being more expensive and wasteful (energy-wise) and then basically requiring a car per adult in order for people to get on with their daily lives.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Housing is insane now days, I feel bad for anyone that wants to buy a house. I'm just glad I bought mine around 13 years ago when it was not as bad. If I was trying to buy my current house right now I probably would not be able to afford it.

Even my off grid land I got lucky. Was starting to get discouraged as nothing was showing up anymore then hit refresh at the right time and the one I bought popped up. I put an offer right away without going to see it. Off grid land in my area sells within the hour of being listed. Lot of people seem to be getting the same idea. Especially with the covid crap.

 

[highland145]

0.25 per cookie.

 

[lxskllr]

Girl Scout cookies are a bad deal. I'd rather donate some money that they keep 100% of, and buy cookies in the store. Most have a commercial alternative that's just as good if you can find them.

 

[Exterous]

0.25 per cookie.

Is that more? I have no frame of reference

 

[MrSquished]

Housing is insane now days, I feel bad for anyone that wants to buy a house. I'm just glad I bought mine around 13 years ago when it was not as bad. If I was trying to buy my current house right now I probably would not be able to afford it.

Even my off grid land I got lucky. Was starting to get discouraged as nothing was showing up anymore then hit refresh at the right time and the one I bought popped up. I put an offer right away without going to see it. Off grid land in my area sells within the hour of being listed. Lot of people seem to be getting the same idea. Especially with the covid crap.

Can you explain why Covid restrictions promote off grid living?

Restrictions that are too isolating make people want to go be isolated?

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Red Squirrel]

Can you explain why Covid restrictions promote off grid living?

Restrictions that are too isolating make people want to go be isolated?

Sent from my Pixel 6 Pro using Tapatalk

People are just fed up of the craziness of where society is heading. I know of at least one large family that bought a big chunk of land and built a mini village basically. They can spend time together, not worry about visitation limits etc and live like normal. They even setup their own small church and family events where they don't wear masks or do any of the covid stuff. There's a lot more people looking into off grid living in general too and land sales reflect that, been watching land for a few years now even before covid started. I think covid just kind of was the last straw for a lot of people.

 

[shortylickens]

They used to be a dollar a box back in the day. And the girls made good money with them. I have no idea what they did with it. Camping?

Now its about 5 dollars a box. Thats a lot if you need your cookie fix.

 

[brianmanahan]

rent went up like %10 but houses went up %50, so i'm still renting

i don't do anything anymore so it hasn't really affected me, besides the increased food costs

actually because of COVID i now spend like 10$k less per year.

no travel, no golf, no events, no shows, no shopping.

i sit at my computer and go on ATOT all day.

 

[brianmanahan]

Is that more? I have no frame of reference

"it's one cookie, what could it cost, 10 dollars?"

 

[highland145]

Lol, like everything, mo $$. And like lxs said, give $ to local places. Eff the national chains.


FWIW, the boss bought that box.

 

[brianmanahan]

FWIW, the boss bought that box.

that's a nice soft benefit

 

[waffleironhead]

They used to be a dollar a box back in the day. And the girls made good money with them. I have no idea what they did with it. Camping?

Now its about 5 dollars a box. Thats a lot if you need your cookie fix.

The girls never made much from the sales.
The Cookie sales go towards funding the salaries and costs of the regional GS councils. Each regional council has an executive director and lots of membership staff(people who train new volunteer leaders and help organize troops), plus accountant and office staff. They also fund properties like council offices and summer camp property and their staff.
When I worked for GS the breakdown was about:
21% is cost of cookie
14% goes to troops to fund trips and activities.
65% goes towards paying salaries and property costs of the council.

 

[waffleironhead]

My Natural Gas bill is up over 100%, I can pay it, but, many folks may have trouble paying all their bills on time since lots of people are underpaid.
Groceries are up quite a bit, but, again, I can pay it, but many folks are underpaid and do not earn enough to be able to afford it.
I have a mortgage on my house, so I am not personally impacted by rent increases. However, many folks are underpaid and do not earn enough to afford rent increases.

Propane is up as well. Last winter I was paying $1.70 a gallon. Just put an order in and its $3.05 a gallon. It would have been cheaper to heat with electricity right now. Just hoping these fills last me till spring. Averaging about $300/month.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Oddly enough natural gas seems to be one of few bills that has managed to not change too much for me. Seems to hover around $100 only, sometimes even a bit lower. I do keep the house at like 12-15 degrees when I'm not home, or sleeping though so that helps save a lot.

 

[MrSquished]

People are just fed up of the craziness of where society is heading. I know of at least one large family that bought a big chunk of land and built a mini village basically. They can spend time together, not worry about visitation limits etc and live like normal. They even setup their own small church and family events where they don't wear masks or do any of the covid stuff. There's a lot more people looking into off grid living in general too and land sales reflect that, been watching land for a few years now even before covid started. I think covid just kind of was the last straw for a lot of people.

That's absolutely great to me. Self isolate these people away from society.

I think it's funny - temporary rules are too isolating, so we are going to go isolate more permanently!

Critical thinking. It's a hell of a thing.

Meanwhile yesterday I was at parks, a museum, coffee shops, a restaurant, a bar and some shops, and in subways and on a bus. Experiencing life.

 

[ultimatebob]

My grocery bill went up about 25%. Steak night is getting pretty pricey!

 

[Torn Mind]

Gas prices and seeing loss leader pricing in the likes of milk and regular eggs increase.

 

[TheVrolok]

I don't really notice it in my day to day, but the inflation adjusted return on my investments makes me sad.

 

[Ajay]

Groceries are up $20-25 per week. Ofc, gluten free, dairy free - some of our favs only come in 'organic' . Steak one per week, salmon once or twice per week (why did that go up, I live near the sea shore and local farms) and then chicken. Steak is stupidly expensive (just sirloin tips). Some sundries like cleaning products, TP, etc., have gone up.

 

[IronWing]

Cat food is stupid expensive now.

 

[shortylickens]

Cat food is stupid expensive now.

Just feed them human food.
Those little packets of tuna and salmon arent expensive.
Right now.