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Patty Craig: A Slice of Time

Last week, I spent much of one morning working on next month’s budget and scheduling payments. I keep my expenses on an Excel spreadsheet and can see what I spend for various items and services. And, over time, expenses have risen – some expenses more than others.

 

Wondering how others felt about rising expenses, I asked family and friends, “Thinking about your regular expenses, what things do you pay more for than you think you should?” Their responses are listed below.

-Well, having a baby (off the top of my head). Nice shampoo and conditioner are also outrageously expensive. And feminine hygiene products – I hate spending money on them. So necessary, but so expensive!

-Insurance for car, house, health and long-term care. Also, internet is too expensive.

-TV!

-Electricity and water.

-Gas, diesel, LP gas, groceries, phone, internet service…the list goes on… ice cream cones!

-It has to be cable television. Air waves in general were free locally. The quality of programming is such that it is absurd what is being charged these days. I try to stay as low end on what they offer as I can, and I’m beginning to think Internet may be the way to go.

-Cell phone service.

-That’s hard because prices are rising on everything. Phone and television services are too high! Water and sewer are necessities that they know we’ll pay. I just remember a lot of what prices used to be. But of course, people’s incomes were so much less! Maybe everyone needs to learn to live more simply.

-TV and health insurance.

-My daughter’s medicine – she has to have name brand medicine and the insurance won’t pay for it. Toilet paper, paper towels and room deodorizer are too expensive. And gasoline, too!

-Books.

-Everything.

-Fresh foods, like meat and veggies. It’s so much cheaper to eat junk food.

-Food items and brand-name items rather than generic, which are just as good sometimes.

-Utilities. The rates seem to go up every year.

-Gas.

-Cell phones!

-Food. I eat out way more than I should because it is so quick and easy, but it adds up.

-Food: I find that the name brand is better than generic. I think there is more product in name brand veggies. Shoes: cheap shoes will kill your back, knees and feet.

-I pay way too much for gas, but I sure do love my Jeep Wrangler. I could save a lot of money if I drove something else.

-I think I pay too much for clothes.

-Food, water, and energy.

John C. Maxwell said, “Look at our society. Everyone wants to be thin, but nobody wants to diet. Everyone wants to live long, but few will exercise. Everybody wants money, yet seldom will anyone budget or control their spending” (https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/budget-quotes). Maxwell makes a good point – sometimes we don’t support our desire with action. However, many expenses are simply increasing – a decision beyond our control.

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