General Discussion

Ocelot II

(131,285 posts)

11. Getting by. I'm retired and don't have a lot of expenses.

Sat May 23, 2026, 02:04 PM

21 hrs ago

Since I don't have to drive very much, the increase of gas prices is distressing but not crushing. I notice the inflation the most when buying food, and have changed my buying habits and don't eat out very much any more. Heating costs were pretty high this winter, but we had a nasty cold snap for awhile that accounted for some of it. In general I try not to buy stuff I don't really need.

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How is everyone out there making it financially? [View all] LuckyCharms 22 hrs ago OP

I'm doing about the same. Haggard Celine 22 hrs ago #1

The best gift he can give - his absence lame54 22 hrs ago #2

I'm doing okay. QED 22 hrs ago #3

I'm being very conservative. Living on social security. TommieMommy 22 hrs ago #4

Had to dump homeowner's ins. here in FL. Have tried to find a company that sells allegorical oracle 18 hrs ago #48

I'm in FL too. I found an independent insurance agent that sells liability only policies. Good luck 🤞 TommieMommy 17 hrs ago #53

My credit cards were both up to the limit. I had to take money out of my now very meager retirement account. kerry-is-my-prez 18 hrs ago #49

Barely. Iggo 21 hrs ago #5

Awful, but holding on barely Catlady123 21 hrs ago #6

I believe they do. The Madcap 21 hrs ago #9

I guess I'm lucky dcbuckeye 21 hrs ago #7

We are fortunate in that we are doing OK and weathering all of this - for now. Marie Marie 21 hrs ago #8

Because other countries feel that we have made our bed, and they don't want to sleep in it DFW 9 hrs ago #78

I'm an adult grad student funding by a teaching assistantship mr715 21 hrs ago #10

Getting by. I'm retired and don't have a lot of expenses. Ocelot II 21 hrs ago #11

Revolutions are fought by those whose ribs are easily counted. Lars39 21 hrs ago #12

Reminds me of the phrase: littlemissmartypants 20 hrs ago #27

Yes, and so true! Lars39 20 hrs ago #31

We do make decent art, though. Iggo 14 hrs ago #63

Maybe not a coincidence: DFW 8 hrs ago #79

❤️ littlemissmartypants 8 hrs ago #80

Except for the Faux pas 21 hrs ago #13

A fictional character in a book I once read had an interesting observation DFW 21 hrs ago #14

Id love to know what character in which book, DFW. ❤️ littlemissmartypants 20 hrs ago #26

The book was called "Shibumi" DFW 11 hrs ago #71

Looks interesting! littlemissmartypants 7 hrs ago #81

The book was fascinating! But beware..... DFW 2 hrs ago #83

I don't read much fiction, but for this, I'll make an exception. littlemissmartypants 2 hrs ago #85

This bit of escapism is worth the exception DFW 2 hrs ago #88

Deal! 🌞 littlemissmartypants 1 hr ago #91

73% seems high... RPM 13 hrs ago #70

My income is all US sourced DFW 10 hrs ago #73

About the same as you... MiHale 21 hrs ago #15

Living paycheck to paycheck. Social security checks. Maxed out credit cards. Trueblue1968 21 hrs ago #16

We aren't driving anywhere and we don't eat out Ritabert 21 hrs ago #17

The worst ForgedCrank 20 hrs ago #18

Housing relogic 20 hrs ago #19

well said Skittles 20 hrs ago #36

We rarely go out to dinner anymore - just too expensive and not all that good. waterwatcher123 17 hrs ago #56

That sounds wonderful! Love curries and Indian vegetarian food biophile 16 hrs ago #58

I hesitate to complain senseandsensibility 20 hrs ago #20

I'm doing OK. Retired, but SSI covers all of my monthly expenses. OAITW r.2.0 20 hrs ago #21

We're doing okay. We're people of modest means with modest taste. I'm sure glad my husband is still Vinca 20 hrs ago #22

I've reached my goals. multigraincracker 20 hrs ago #23

I'm very upset about property taxes, atm. littlemissmartypants 20 hrs ago #24

My sister and her husband live in New Jersey DFW 2 hrs ago #87

Cutting back Maninacan 20 hrs ago #25

Grocery prices are going up to the point even snacks are too expensive sakabatou 20 hrs ago #28

We are doing fine edhopper 20 hrs ago #29

Okay so far, but being mindful about expenses and spending choices. n/t TygrBright 20 hrs ago #30

Pet food. hamsterjill 20 hrs ago #32

Wyoming is doing OK bernieb 20 hrs ago #33

what is the deal with Spectrum Skittles 20 hrs ago #34

I pay $15 a month for Spectrum internet Kaleva 2 hrs ago #86

I'm Okay BeneteauBum 20 hrs ago #35

It's a little tight, but not unbearably.... lastlib 19 hrs ago #37

Check out the price on Part D now and then, just in case. nilram 10 hrs ago #75

I retired nearly 9 yrs ago. I did all of the shopping for two then and now and pay all bills. twodogsbarking 19 hrs ago #38

Trump has successfully LilElf70 19 hrs ago #39

I'm feeling it IbogaProject 19 hrs ago #40

We're doing okay Grim Chieftain 19 hrs ago #41

Yeah, that's a structural economic cost for me, too. OAITW r.2.0 15 hrs ago #59

Cheers, friend! Grim Chieftain 15 hrs ago #60

We're doing okay so far MustLoveBeagles 19 hrs ago #42

Expenses are up... but flat WarGamer 19 hrs ago #43

If it weren't for my few credit cards, we'd be out on the street by now. slightlv 19 hrs ago #44

I'm terrified... Scully 19 hrs ago #45

Every time I do something on-line I feel like a mark perdita9 19 hrs ago #46

Doing without a lot of day-to-day stuff -- have cut back on driving, eating, allegorical oracle 19 hrs ago #47

I'm retired for about 10 years now, and doing okay, probably because GoodRaisin 18 hrs ago #50

By the skin of my teeth... buzzycrumbhunger 18 hrs ago #51

Retired for 12 years and still doing OK with income Progressive dog 18 hrs ago #52

I am very "lucky" usedtobedemgurl 17 hrs ago #54

I've heard of that, even seen online ads nilram 10 hrs ago #76

I have been doing it for nearly 40 years. usedtobedemgurl 2 hrs ago #82

I can't complain, I have been retired for 16 years. I am fortunate to have one doc03 17 hrs ago #55

I'm retired (10 years) and fortunate to get by on Golden Raisin 16 hrs ago #57

I'm Okay but I do see prices increasing LogDog75 14 hrs ago #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles 13 hrs ago #68

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles 13 hrs ago #69

Look at you using new vocabulary! choie 14 hrs ago #62

Vocabulary? LuckyCharms 14 hrs ago #64

I'm likely doing better financially than most AZProgressive 14 hrs ago #65

Ihave Spectrum and recently bundled cable, cellphone, and internet LogDog75 14 hrs ago #66

Mom and I sold our house, so better than it has been in a long time mvd 14 hrs ago #67

We're doing fine but I save less per month than I use to Tree Lady 11 hrs ago #72

Trying to shed additional costs. haele 10 hrs ago #74

We're Doing Fine DET 9 hrs ago #77

I had to go back to work part time back when Biden was president Kaleva 2 hrs ago #84

I can absorb most but I am starting to feel a crimp. And I am adjusting. boston bean 2 hrs ago #89

You can likely lower your Spectrum bill... VTderry 1 hr ago #90