Had to finally break down and buy some more dress shirts yesterday, and it’s getting more and more expensive! Even at the exchange decent shirts ran $65 on sale. And just looking around at prices, I think things are at least 10-15% higher than last year. I really don’t remember seeing $100 shirts EVER in a military exchange, or $220 North Face stuff. And online isn’t much better, something tells me this is going to be a ‘cheap’ Christmas…
Especially since most of us have no idea what is going to happen in January. Taxes going up, medical costs going up, lots of potential job losses on the horizon…
I know my co-pays went up by 50% last month on medicine, and I truly wonder what the elderly are going to do. And I heard today that military etc. will get a whole 1.7% raise in 2013. Somehow I don’t think that is going to make up for the losses…
I’m beginning to think it’s just time to hunker down and hold on to what I’ve got…
Or do like this…
Especially since most of us have no idea what is going to happen in January. Taxes going up, medical costs going up, lots of potential job losses on the horizon…
I know my co-pays went up by 50% last month on medicine, and I truly wonder what the elderly are going to do. And I heard today that military etc. will get a whole 1.7% raise in 2013. Somehow I don’t think that is going to make up for the losses…
I’m beginning to think it’s just time to hunker down and hold on to what I’ve got…
Or do like this…
I just don’t know to where… Sigh…
Yep, know what you mean. I spend my days trying to sell my wares to hospitals and nursing homes. I thought the last 4 years were tough . . . . They are terrified, their costs keep rising, their client base keeps getting poorer, their reinbursment from all sides is become less and slower and their docs have about had enough . . . .
Heavy sigh. I was tasked with grocery shopping last night. Well over $100 for just the two of us!! REALLY?!?!?!?!?!?
I see the only option right now is to hunker down and hang on . . . . gonna be a bumpy “landing”!!
Know what you mean. I keep wanting to go back to America…
There aren’t any new frontiers left, or I’d be there.
We’ve been stocking up on everyday items, not for some zombie apocalypse, but just to get them while the are relatively cheaper now just to offset the increase in the cost of living later.
Sooner or later though, the numbers will catch up to us… on a long enough time-line the numbers ALWAYS work against you
I’m glad its not just me who has noticed that prices are going up. I went to buy some shirts the other day and couldn’t believe the prices.
If I had the cash, I’d be living in Coastal Alaska down around Sitka. But inland near the Canadian Border. Not that cold, Good Gun Laws, lots of Firewood, good Hunting/Fishing, still inside the U.S., but close enough for Life Flight. Check out that region as a “Retirement” spot.
Oh, and Shirt Prices? Cotton Crop Failure due to Drought over the last few years. And because they CAN raise the Prices.
but, Foe: Are you really going to contradict our “betters?” I think the people at the Bureau of Economic Statistics at Comerce or Labor or USDA could bury you with an avalanche of very convincing numbers. Can’t you just be a good little supplicant & sit down & be quiet? [think of it like you’re in Class in Pensacola.] Some people, jeez.
Prices are “going up” ’cause the dollar is worth less. Look for those last two words to be combined in the near future…
+1 Boat Guy.
The stuff in the PX from China just cost more.
Gerry
I have considered the EXPAT route…not ready to go there yet…but considering it. I am hopeful that the country will pull out of the doldrums, but the excess of adolescent voters concerns me.
Alaskans are beginning to mutter about British Columbia, to our southeast. I can’t remember another time when there were so many “balls in the air” at once.
Yeah…I at least don’t have to buy new clothes often, since I work at home and I keep my food costs down by not eating much meat.
Yep. Our Christmas will be much more about being together than suff. Not that we don’t have money, but who knows how much worse things will get. Have to,be cautious.
Paid $12.11 plus tip this morning for a truck stop breakfast with coffee – small town Wyoming. A few years ago that was a $4 breakfast.
eia- DO NOT envy you that… And concur, it’s gonna get rough!
Anon- Amen!
LL- Same here!
Matt- Good idea, and good point… sigh
Andy- yep!
Les- Too damn COLD! 🙁
Russell- Oh ‘thank’ you 🙂
Boat/Gerry- Yep dammit…
MrG- I dunno WHERE we are going!
Rev- Concur
PH- Understood, but it’s NOT just food/clothing, it’s EVERYTHING!
Agirl- Understood and agreed!
WSF- OUCH! And I don’t see it getting better… 1.7% ain’t goin far…
I buy dress shirts at second hand stores. Usually $5 to $10, and I’ve found some really nice ones. Got a Nordstrom shirt a couple years ago that I don’t think had ever been worn, for $9.
It takes some time, but a 90% discount can justify some time.
When you no longer need to wear a tie to work, your wardrobe cost skydive!
BTDT. 😉
Moreso if you can work from home.