Rising Costs

You all know that so many things have gone up in price since the pandemic besides groceries. I took a good look at what we are now paying because of increases. It really adds up.

I put the information on my natural gas and electric usage on here every month. This last bill that I received last week went up $ 59.24 over the same period last year. It was $ 371.08. My kwh’s were less and so were my ccf’s of gas but the bill still increased that much. UGH! So I looked at what the total increase has been over the past year. This past year we paid $2906.82. The prior year we paid $ 2306.24. That is an increase of $600.58 for just about the same usage. I never thought that I would see the day that we would be paying over $3000. for this. But I expect that will happen in the next couple of months.

Last week we got both our auto and home insurance that is due soon for the year. Our auto insurance went up $ 177. We are now paying over $1400. for 1 car which is a 2013 and the two of us as drivers and no accidents. Our home insurance went up $120. and we are paying almost $1100.

This past month our cable, landline phone, and internet went up $ 23.40 a month or $280.80 a year. We now pay $ 268. per month. This is outrageous so I will be calling them to negotiate.

The online newspaper that we subscribe to has gone up to $42. a month. I think we are being gouged bigtime on this one but Hubby loves it so I grin and bear it.

Our property and school taxes have increased since the pandemic by $800.

Our water bills have increased year over year by about $200.

Our pest control service has gone up $60. per quarter over the past couple of years.

All items you buy which are not food have increased. Appliances are ourageous now. Tires are so expensive.

Our medical insurance has increased by $998.80 for this. My dental practice increased all of their rates for this year.

Social Security increased in January by 2.8% but Medicare ate that up.

NYS never saw a tax that they didn’t want to add to everything. The latest is a $25. fee added onto the cost of your driver’s license renewal for upstate people. The renewal now costs us $ 94.50 for our enhanced license so it will go up to $119.50 the next time we renew or $239. for the both of us.

I am sure all of you have had increases like this. It is getting ridiculous.

For those of you who are new here, we are a retired couple. We will be retired 25 years in a couple of months. Inflation has done a job on all of us over those years. From the first day we got married we have saved money. We have continued to save since we retired. All of these constant increases and inflation is why. If you haven’t, start now. It is never too late. Even if you have a low income you can save. Cut costs where you can.

If you are living on just Social Security, you can still save something. It is all about the choices you make. Not only do prices increase regularly but you have to have an emergency fund for those unseen expenses that come up.

Tomorrow, I will remind you of past posts that will help you in your money saving journey.

I can’t be the only here who is seeing these kind of increases, am I?