General Discussion

slightlv

(8,052 posts)

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

Sat May 23, 2026, 04:17 PM

May 23

I'm used to using the cards, and then paying off the balance the next month. I'm looking at paying one of them off in 3-4 months now, and that scares me. It's so beyond what I'm used to doing... just to live. These purchases aren't for "luxury" and "would be nice to have" things... I'm using them at the grocery store and gas station. I even caught myself borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. I have a hard time going to sleep at night because my anxiety level is so high, and none of the meds I have seem to help cut it to a manageable level. I honestly don't know what we're going to do. At our ages and infirmities, a job is out of the question... and it feels like just "living" is becoming out of the question. Scary doesn't come near to what I'm feeling inside.

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How is everyone out there making it financially? [View all] LuckyCharms May 23 OP

I'm doing about the same. Haggard Celine May 23 #1

The best gift he can give - his absence lame54 May 23 #2

I'm doing okay. QED May 23 #3

I'm being very conservative. Living on social security. TommieMommy May 23 #4

Had to dump homeowner's ins. here in FL. Have tried to find a company that sells allegorical oracle May 23 #48

I'm in FL too. I found an independent insurance agent that sells liability only policies. Good luck 🤞 TommieMommy May 23 #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 May 23 #49

Barely. Iggo May 23 #5

Awful, but holding on barely Catlady123 May 23 #6

I believe they do. The Madcap May 23 #9

I guess I'm lucky dcbuckeye May 23 #7

We are fortunate in that we are doing OK and weathering all of this - for now. Marie Marie May 23 #8

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

I'm an adult grad student funding by a teaching assistantship mr715 May 23 #10

Getting by. I'm retired and don't have a lot of expenses. Ocelot II May 23 #11

Revolutions are fought by those whose ribs are easily counted. Lars39 May 23 #12

Reminds me of the phrase: littlemissmartypants May 23 #27

Yes, and so true! Lars39 May 23 #31

We do make decent art, though. Iggo May 23 #63

Maybe not a coincidence: DFW Sunday #79

❤️ littlemissmartypants Sunday #80

Except for the Faux pas May 23 #13

A fictional character in a book I once read had an interesting observation DFW May 23 #14

Id love to know what character in which book, DFW. ❤️ littlemissmartypants May 23 #26

The book was called "Shibumi" DFW Sunday #71

Looks interesting! littlemissmartypants Sunday #81

The book was fascinating! But beware..... DFW Sunday #83

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

This bit of escapism is worth the exception DFW Sunday #88

Deal! 🌞 littlemissmartypants Sunday #91

73% seems high... RPM May 23 #70

My income is all US sourced DFW Sunday #73

About the same as you... MiHale May 23 #15

Living paycheck to paycheck. Social security checks. Maxed out credit cards. Trueblue1968 May 23 #16

We aren't driving anywhere and we don't eat out Ritabert May 23 #17

The worst ForgedCrank May 23 #18

Housing relogic May 23 #19

well said Skittles May 23 #36

We rarely go out to dinner anymore - just too expensive and not all that good. waterwatcher123 May 23 #56

That sounds wonderful! Love curries and Indian vegetarian food biophile May 23 #58

No problem - If you make Dal or Dahl, be prepared to eat it for several nights in a row (makes a lot of food). waterwatcher123 Sunday #94

I hesitate to complain senseandsensibility May 23 #20

I'm doing OK. Retired, but SSI covers all of my monthly expenses. OAITW r.2.0 May 23 #21

We're doing okay. We're people of modest means with modest taste. I'm sure glad my husband is still Vinca May 23 #22

I've reached my goals. multigraincracker May 23 #23

I'm very upset about property taxes, atm. littlemissmartypants May 23 #24

My sister and her husband live in New Jersey DFW Sunday #87

Cutting back Maninacan May 23 #25

Grocery prices are going up to the point even snacks are too expensive sakabatou May 23 #28

We are doing fine edhopper May 23 #29

Okay so far, but being mindful about expenses and spending choices. n/t TygrBright May 23 #30

Pet food. hamsterjill May 23 #32

Wyoming is doing OK bernieb May 23 #33

what is the deal with Spectrum Skittles May 23 #34

I pay $15 a month for Spectrum internet Kaleva Sunday #86

I'm Okay BeneteauBum May 23 #35

It's a little tight, but not unbearably.... lastlib May 23 #37

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

I retired nearly 9 yrs ago. I did all of the shopping for two then and now and pay all bills. twodogsbarking May 23 #38

Trump has successfully LilElf70 May 23 #39

I'm feeling it IbogaProject May 23 #40

We're doing okay Grim Chieftain May 23 #41

Yeah, that's a structural economic cost for me, too. OAITW r.2.0 May 23 #59

Cheers, friend! Grim Chieftain May 23 #60

We're doing okay so far MustLoveBeagles May 23 #42

Expenses are up... but flat WarGamer May 23 #43

If it weren't for my few credit cards, we'd be out on the street by now. slightlv May 23 #44

I'm terrified... Scully May 23 #45

Every time I do something on-line I feel like a mark perdita9 May 23 #46

Doing without a lot of day-to-day stuff -- have cut back on driving, eating, allegorical oracle May 23 #47

I'm retired for about 10 years now, and doing okay, probably because GoodRaisin May 23 #50

By the skin of my teeth... buzzycrumbhunger May 23 #51

Retired for 12 years and still doing OK with income Progressive dog May 23 #52

I am very "lucky" usedtobedemgurl May 23 #54

I've heard of that, even seen online ads nilram Sunday #76

I have been doing it for nearly 40 years. usedtobedemgurl Sunday #82

Thanks! nilram Sunday #92

I can't complain, I have been retired for 16 years. I am fortunate to have one doc03 May 23 #55

I'm retired (10 years) and fortunate to get by on Golden Raisin May 23 #57

I'm Okay but I do see prices increasing LogDog75 May 23 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles May 23 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author Skittles May 23 #69

Look at you using new vocabulary! choie May 23 #62

Vocabulary? LuckyCharms May 23 #64

"Groceries." Iggo Sunday #93

This message was self-deleted by its author AZProgressive May 23 #65

Ihave Spectrum and recently bundled cable, cellphone, and internet LogDog75 May 23 #66

Mom and I sold our house, so better than it has been in a long time mvd May 23 #67

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

Trying to shed additional costs. haele Sunday #74

We're Doing Fine DET Sunday #77

I had to go back to work part time back when Biden was president Kaleva Sunday #84

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

You can likely lower your Spectrum bill... VTderry Sunday #90

$15 a month is what I pay. Kaleva Monday #95