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* How has inflation directly affected your life? This is about you, not someone else. Thanks.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:16 pm
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I buy less goods and services because I can afford less. I’ve also cut back my driving.
Comment by Steve Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:23 pm
$65 for 14 gallons of gas was a bit of a shock.
Comment by Huh? Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:24 pm
I went to the gas station and the candy bars were really expensive. I ended up just getting a scratch off lotto ticket instead. No inflation on those bad boys.
Comment by Correcting Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:24 pm
Things are more expensive but it has not changed my life. I don’t have any expensive habits and usually go through a tank of gas a week. But no substantive change so far.
Comment by JS Mill Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:26 pm
I rent out a property I own to a family member. Never meant to be an arrangement where I make any profit; idea would be I break even and sis gets a decent place to say until she gets back on her feet. Inflation has turned a “break even” agreement for me into a “somewhat substantial loss.”
Specifically, gas bill to heat the house has gone from approx $60/month to over $200.
Comment by AlfondoGonz Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:28 pm
The price of gas has hit the wallet since I drive a SUV. Luckily for me I don’t drive that much so a tank lasts me longer. So far the price of beer hasn’t gone up. So when I need gas I stock up on beer. When I need beer I top off the gas tank. It seems too be working out.
Comment by Club J Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:33 pm
Yes. We have adjusted our budgets and spending accordingly. It is a beautiful reminder every time we pay that gas surcharge fee from uber too.
Comment by ;) Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:37 pm
I haven’t changed much yet, but am worried about $65 to fill a tank of gas and my grocery bill Saturday topped $200 for the first time.
Comment by G'Kar Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:37 pm
Gas costs me up to $50 bucks extra a week. Beer prices at grocery stores are way up, and if you can find a good variety of dry pasta it is also much higher than a few months ago.
Comment by Donnie Elgin Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:39 pm
Coffee and a bagel used to be $6.33 at my Starbucks. Today, it was $7.21.
My wife and I postponed a basement renovation due to the rising cost of materials and labor.
Fortunately, my whiskey of choice is still the same as always, although the cost of beer at Binny’s is rivaling the increase in the price of gasoline. Yikes.
Cigars have also escaped the ravages of inflation, so far at least.
Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:39 pm
Since I’m saving and retiring soon - cutting back on extras, pinching pennies with deals and coupons at grocery stores, and eating out a little less. Passing on my getting pinched by having to pinch other part of the economy that I’ve supported.
Comment by IL Concerned Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:41 pm
It hasn’t. Not even a little bit.
I’ve lived a sustainable lifestyle before now, which has made the pandemic and now inflation mostly meaningless as far as impacts to me directly.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:43 pm
My cleaning lady has been with me for 15 years, through thick and thin. She recently informed me that, due to financial pressures, enough of her clients have dropped her, to the point where she will need to get an hourly job. I hope she can still take care of me for a little extra cash on the side.
Comment by Langhorne Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:45 pm
Might be eating out a bit less or at least eating at different places (Steak and Shake vs McDonalds)
But so far the impact is minimal.
Comment by OneMan Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:46 pm
It’s hurt, sure. But, I know it’s temporary.
What doesn’t appear to be temporary, and what hurts a lot more is the fact that real wages have not gone up for the average worker in 50 years. Meanwhile productivity has skyrocketed and we are still the most overworked developed country. I know those are macrostatistics, but I feel them on a daily basis.
Comment by Davesurance.com Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:51 pm
I wasn’t exactly surprised to see the $65 on the pump, but the number was still quite a bit higher than I’m used to seeing. But, overall, it hasn’t affected me at all in day-to-day stuff. We do need to desperately replace a car and have for about a year, but that’s one where I just think I’ll keep on waiting for now
Comment by Joe Bidenopolous Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:56 pm
I’ve noticed the increase in food and gas prices. But I drive very little and can easily adjust my food choices if I don’t want to pay the increase. Mostly I just buy what I want and can afford to do so. I hope that some of the price increases are due to increased service worker wages - I would willingly pay more for that.
Comment by Rachel Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:57 pm
Fingers crossed, but so far not much affected. Retired, not travelling much, spending too much time on internet. None of those really have been affected.
Comment by Bruce( no not him) Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:58 pm
I’m lucky to be very close to work and shopping so a full tank lasts me about three weeks. I’m trying to keep to a $150 grocery budget per week, but I’m buying less and stocking up during sales on certain items. I think it helps that I’m still following pandemic precautions, staying home instead of going out for other activities.
Comment by Wensicia Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:58 pm
This is actually about Wall Street money inflation. I WAS a small real estate investor- private equity has upended the business. I can’t compete- so I’ve stopped trying.
Comment by West Sider Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 2:59 pm
Simply put: No.
Like everyone, I have noticed increases, but I haven’t made any changes as a direct result of it.
Comment by Tim Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:03 pm
I am still smoking the same amount of cannabis as before, so I haven’t noticed any change. Yet.
Comment by Vote Quimby Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:19 pm
When I saw the price of heating gas I reprogrammed the thermostat so it’s cooler when we’re gone. I should’ve done that regardless.
This weekend when we visited our son in Milwaukee we took the car that gets better mileage.
I needed a new mower and I’m trying out an electric model.
We’ve bought less meat and more vegetables.
The things I’m doing for economy are all things I should be doing anyway.
Comment by Proud Papa Bear Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:22 pm
My 30-something friends who are looking for work are getting offered middle class pay for the first time in their lives. My wife is getting a substantial raise and we received unprecedented direct aid during the pandemic.
The only negative is that my local Domino’s refused to acknowledge the new wage levels necessary and couldn’t hire delivery drivers. I carried out instead until I found out that they fired their harried manager for failing to hire people at their antiquated wage. So I switched pizza franchise loyalty.
Inflation has been below 3% for my entire life, good economy and bad. Wages have stagnated, generational wealth transfer hasn’t happened, and workers have steadily lost power even as politicians from every party promised jobs. 40 years cycling between “neutral” and “recession” has produced more billionaires and more poor people. Well, now we get a little inflation, as a treat. I’m going to enjoy the only “overheated” I’ve seen before we go down another 40 years of austerity.
Comment by vern Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:23 pm
It hasn’t affected me too much. Living in West Central Illinois, when the economy is good, it is not so good here, and when it is bad, it is not so bad here. That is how inflation feels to me right now. I cannot complain too much. I am a well paid state employee in an area where the cost of living is pretty low.
Comment by H-W Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:38 pm
Things are way more expensive. Gas, utilities and groceries. Groceries for my family went from about $800/mo to $1,300/mo, that’s shipping at Aldi, and not buying much meat before or after, maybe chicken or fish once a week.
I now use a budgeting app. i rarely go out to eat (for lunch or dinner, maybe 2 times per month), and i have begun to save more. i don’t mind paying more for gas if that weens us off of russian, venezuelan and saudi gas.
if utilities stay this high i am going to have to look at doing something different, heat pumps, idk
Comment by Merica Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 3:39 pm
Yep price of gasoline and propane put dent into extra spending cash. Eat out less putting off several purchases too. Electric bill seems to be higher as well. Income Taxes are due too so there is that.
Comment by NorthsideNoMore Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:09 pm
I’m learning how to drive my hybrid for maximum mileage. I usually don’t care and get around 40 mpg. Now, I’m stretching that to 47-48 mpg with a little awareness and maximum cheapness.
Comment by Leigh John-Ella Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:10 pm
Car is hitting 225,000, touches of rust, but runs great. Checked cost to repair rust. Far more than car is worth. Checked local auto dealers. Lots of trucks at $55,000-$75,000 range. Used cars in $35,000-$45,000 range. Will probably fix headliner and hold on.
Comment by zatoichi Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:12 pm
Inflation has me questioning when the best time to discuss a needed or desired increase in my compensation is or if I should just investigate other opportunities where I can ask for more or demand more up front.
I don’t personally associate many of the increases in prices I see being a product of inflation. I can tell when I am being gouged and publicly traded companies have been reporting significant profits. Those profits are coming out of someone’s pocket.
As a person that may be below the Illinois median age I do not have much expectation for price stability as my entire adult life has been going from one policy induced economic crisis to the next as if someone has decided that everything I ever learned in social studies needed a recent real world example. We can call this inflation if we want, but the truth is this is a consequence of permitting the over concentration of specific markets so that a handful of firms own almost everything and then begin engaging in monopolistic and anti-competitive behaviors.
We need federal regulatory entities to act and break up some of these gigantic conglomerates that now own huge segments of their respective industries along with fines and prison sentences where appropriate.
They they don’t just own the fancy brand, they own the inferior goods brands too and the supply of the product to their company and they’re just jacking up prices because they can while lying about the cost of their inputs increasing.
===I’m going to enjoy the only “overheated” I’ve seen before we go down another 40 years of austerity. ===
Love you, vern. Can’t wait till they roll out some new version of Reinhart and Rogoff to justify destroying our public institutions and what little social safety net we have while we ignore climate change until our extinction is a certainty.
Comment by Candy Dogood Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:24 pm
Turned down the thermostat and added a heavy sweater to the wardrobe for hours spent at home. Fertilizer for my unplanted corn crop in central Illinois is booked at almost twice the cost of previous years. Booked means it’s contracted for delivery at that exact price. I’m genuinely worried if the fertilizer will actually be available for application at that or any price.
Comment by Responsa Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:34 pm
Ammo prices are going higher with some calibers still not available.
Comment by Nieva Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:35 pm
We have canceled summer vaca plans as reservations needed to be made last month and if gas remains high it was going to cost$1500 just for gas there and back towing the camper. Can’t eat out as much and gas for biweekly trips to visit grandchild is starting to pinch the budget.
Comment by Captain Obvious Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:35 pm
Climate change is going to make the human race extinct?
Corporations are PUBLICLY traded which means those profits do go into the pockets of their shareholders of which everyone with a pension or retirement plan is.
The reason for inflation is simple. Too much money (6 trillion in stimulus) chasing too few goods causes the price to go up.
The price of gas has been going up for the past year and not just the past month because of the curtailment of the domestic energy business in the name of climate change.
Can anyone explain how buying dirtier oil from countries that despise us makes any sense or is any greener than being energy independent?
Comment by Lucky Pierre Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:47 pm
The invisible man and I share the same economic philosophy…I have everything I need and my wants are few.
Comment by Dotnonymous Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:48 pm
Bought my first house a couple years ago. Bought some furniture shortly after moving in and am putting off buying anything else for a while. Also spending about $100 more per month on gas. Home insurance went up because of the increased cost of building materials in the event that there is a claim.
I talked to my parents over the weekend and we’re trying to figure out what is best to do for our small farm. Crop prices are definitely up, but the cost of putting in a crop has increased dramatically over the last year.
Comment by Notorious JMB Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 4:54 pm
Paid $14 for a whole chicken at Aldi.
Comment by NIref Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:11 pm
We’re managing ok. May notice it more as we travel this summer. Check out the February 2022 article at Hightower.com “Gouge Consumers and Blame Joe Biden”. Corporations taking advantage to grab profits!
Comment by ChathamFreeThinker Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:13 pm
I don’t drive much so the price of gas doesn’t affect me too much and I drive a smaller car. I’ve sure noticed the price increases in food and won’t be having much steak. Darn, even a chuck roast is $7 a pound. The one thing that does really bother me is the cost of natural gas to heat the home. The cost of heating the house is up 60% over last year and it’s clearly the purchase price adjustment for the gas from Ameren. I’ve always been pretty frugal so I can weather this with no problem but I do worry about my kids who don’t have the same resources I do.
Comment by Manchester Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:33 pm
Medical inflation is our biggest concern. Insurance premiums are up $400 a month this year. Trying to figure out how an “elective” but needed surgery can be done. Meanwhile we’ve adjusted food, entertainment, and travel budgets.
Comment by yinn Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:38 pm
Not much, if any. We have always lived well below our means.
Comment by Stix Hix Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:47 pm
If I can even find tasty buffalo wings at a bar they’re now prime beef priced on the menu and the basket of them that comes out is not exactly overflowing.
Comment by ChicagoBars Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:50 pm
Aren’t you in Hawaii?
Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 5:53 pm
My job is 95% travel across the US. I eat out most meals. My per diem is taking a hit. I have two weaknesses, Milo’s Sweet Tea and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups. Not noticed Milo’s being more expensive but Reeses is.
Comment by FormerParatrooper Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 6:00 pm
Our Comcast bill this month jumped $52. No change in service. Just $52 more for the same service.
Comment by Cook Street Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 6:23 pm
I don’t believe that we’ve changed a thing due to inflation.
– MrJM
Comment by MisterJayEm Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 6:33 pm
Although I know I’m paying more for food/gas, etc. I don’t think it’s affected us in a negative way. Yes, I’m a bit more watchful in groceries, but we are in a financial area that, as long as we watch what we do, we’re ok. We’re beginning our garden again, and we save money with this. I can/freeze much of the produce so that’s not an issue.
If I was a single mom in my 20’s (as I was 40 years ago), it would be much more difficult.
Comment by Union Thug Gramma Monday, Mar 21, 22 @ 6:38 pm
Frankly not so much. A full tank lasts me up to three weeks these days and I don’t make long distance drives that often.
The housing market though is nuts: a year since buying my current place, it’s gained 25k in value, just for me breathing.
Comment by Give Us Barabbas Tuesday, Mar 22, 22 @ 6:26 am
I eat more beans and less meat, which is better for the planet. I cut out all unnecessary driving which saves gas and is better for the planet. I ride my bicycle more, which is free and better for the planet and my health. I cut the cord on cable TV which is better for my bottom line and my mental health. I’m doing just fine.
Comment by Terry Salad Tuesday, Mar 22, 22 @ 6:37 am
It hasn’t.
Comment by Ryan Tuesday, Mar 22, 22 @ 6:57 am
No effect at all, thanks to Dave Ramsey and Financial Peace University.
Comment by Occasional Quipper Tuesday, Mar 22, 22 @ 7:16 am
We’ve been saving up for a move. Inflation is slowing the rate we’re saving, the good news is we can absorb the hikes without losing ground we just aren’t gaining very fast.
Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Mar 22, 22 @ 7:49 am