We’re by no means struggling relative to what many are going through right now, but we definitely already lost multiple safety-nets in a very brief amount of time under Trump’s 2nd term.
I’ve been aggressively cutting my food bill and making do with the cheapest staple foods. Not ramen, but like the cheap vegetables, bulk rice and legumes, not much meat, no dairy. Making my own sweets, bread, ECT. Lots of soups, stews, vegetarian curries. Getting free fruit from neighbours trees. That’s the biggest expense I can cut right now. I’m increasingly frugal on just about everything else, and doing side gigs wherever I can. I even stopped buying books and started going to the library once a week.
I wouldn’t say I’m struggling, but I’m all out of things to cut.
My sales had a significant drop the past several months, it’s now just barely over my bills. And my bills are really small compared to most.
Quite freaked out about it. Keep thinking sales are coming… Xmas is soon… Where are the sales?
I setup rain water catchment and solar power, so at least I have free water and power.
Counted my stash of canned foods yesterday and checked all the experation dates.
Just making sure I have: food, water, shelter. No matter what happens, hopefully I can ride it out here.
I’ve ramped up my garden from a hobby to being more productive for food this year.
Engaging in more rain catchment as well, though I need to get bigger tanks – at least some IBC totes, but ideally a 500 gal cistern. My pool is admittedly also my emergency water ration. Solar, I have panels and am amassing pieces, but I haven’t quite figured out how I want to integrate it. I have what is needed for a primitive off-grid setup, should it be necessary, but would love to go a couple steps further.
My biggest objective is getting proper acreage somewhere with water that I can transition into a more sustainable homestead.
You mention Xmas and last year was the first one all adults in my extended family agreed not to exchange any gifts, both to save money for rainy days ahead, and to also pinch this economy further to prove a point and bring people to wake up and vote Democrat (most sadly only learn by how it impacts their bottom-line, or the big numbers at the gas pump). We plan to do the same this year as well. Sorry you’re caught up in that.
Yes. Just got a raise and an unexpected large one. Wont do jack diddly to my overall situation. Still haven’t had a good steak in better than a year and there’s only so much ramen you can eat.
We should be doing well. But over the last 5-6 years we’ve been stagnating. Inflation, increasing costs overall thanks to factors like tariffs and stupid wars, artificial scarcity in the tech world…all of it has eaten huge chunks out of our buying power. We’re at the age where we should have “made it”, but it’s just the feeling of “where did it all go? Why aren’t we getting ahead?”
Not everyone. Only about 90% of the world’s population.
I am well off, but not well off enough to lift other people out of their misery. I contribute what I easily can, but every day I wish for the world to change, even if that means having less income as a result.
First time in my life me and my gf earn more than 1000€ for two, so I can’t complain (I still earn 460€ myself, but sh" has a real salary yippee)
My Survivor mode has been activated 2 years ago
My economy is incredibly solid, and I’m not the most frugal. Could live off savings for more than a year.
Living in Scandinavia, background in physics.
No
I know a lot of people have it rough right now. But I am lucky enough to own my own house at 31, have a stable job and is awaiting my first child. So no, I am personally in an ok spot, but I will vote in solidarity for those that isn’t.
just won $6 million in the lottery. I plan on, snorting, shooting, and fucking my way to Thailand to retire.
No. But I do feel slightly bad about it.
Don’t have kids I guess? 🤷
Feels like it. I’m getting the most pay in my life and 5 years ago it would have been comfortable. Now with the cost of everything I’m just eeking by. Hell I drive a 30 year old car still as I can’t afford a new one or even a newer used one
