The government is going to force people into frugality whether they like it or not.
My wife and I used to go to movies. We can’t justify $23 per person now, even if there were good movies. We have never owned cable. Ever. When we want to watch movies, we check them out from the library.
We used to go out to eat a nice meal several times a week. We do a ‘nice meal’ once every few months now. Can’t afford it.
We used to rent a small cottage for a weeks vacation. Can’t do that anymore. Prices are outrageous.
And so on.
My wife and I spent our lives living within our means. We purchased a small ranch on a quarter acre in a development forty years ago instead of a large multi-story home.
We did not purchase new furniture as a rule, but took hand-me-downs from relatives looking to get rid of it.
We didn’t buy expensive cars, and when we finally had enough to afford it, used cash to purchase them.
My wife is an inveterate coupon shopper, and she saves a lot of money.
I make a month or two of soup, freeze them in containers, and brown bag that to work for lunch every day.
I am late to coffee. I avoided it my whole life
It can be done. You can get out from under debt. It is simply a matter of exercising self control.
For how long that will be true...I don’t know.
And our life-savings? My wife and I have worked diligently and hard, but I see Weimar Republic inflation coming. I feel that we will be destitute, like all the rest, when we might have to burn our dollars for warmth because there will be no coal, oil, gas, or nuclear.
I do go into debt, but try to pay it off as soon as possible. Nonetheless, I may need to get a second job soon, thanks to JRB, Jr. and his bi-partisan collaborators in Congress.