Why is everything so expensive (general rant)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:inflation is much higher than stated. Things like car repairs, maintenance, etc have gone up astronomically and are hard to measure. Paying people to sit at home was incredibly disruptive to the labor market and was a failed experiment.

Remember how the Biden administration kept using the term “transitory inflation?”

Biden’s government is incapable of being honest.

I am tired of this utter garbage.

Trump caused this learn econ.

And moron you want a 60% tax on everything when he gets back? "Trump confirmed that he would impose tariffs of 60% or higher on Chinese goods were he to win a second term in office"

You like food right? Well gee who is going to work the farms when they deport everyone? Your white son or daughter

Biden is not the problem Republcians and CEO's are. What do you think when Trump and any REpublican for that matter deregulate everything? Jesus you freaks are stupid.

[Anonymous]

I don't really find these things more expensive than they have been. It's all relative.

[Anonymous]

I don't usually shop there, but I ran in Giant the other day to grab like five things and it was $90. WTF. How does that store even stay in business.

[Anonymous]

Yes. The one that gets me is hotel prices. And we stay in budget-to-midlevel hotels, so I'm talking like, at best, and Embassy Suites. And not in NYC or something, but like in Nashville or Denver. You will wind up spending $250 a night for one room, and then you'll have to pay for valet parking on top of that, they won't come clean your room unless you ask, and the pool will be out of service when you get there.

It honestly makes me feel like there is no point in traveling. You wind up spending so much money on flight and accommodations that are barely serviceable, and then you're struggling to stay in budget before you even get to anything you do while there. It's ridiculous. Throw in all the service charges and cleaning fees and other random charges that are tacked onto everything and it's like, I should just stay home and get nice takeout or something. Spend the money I'd spend on a hotel on having someone clean my own house and some high threadcount sheets and call it a day.

We are trying to save to move out of the HCOL DMV and even that is hard. I don't know. The world is not built for middle class people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The one that gets me is hotel prices. And we stay in budget-to-midlevel hotels, so I'm talking like, at best, and Embassy Suites. And not in NYC or something, but like in Nashville or Denver. You will wind up spending $250 a night for one room, and then you'll have to pay for valet parking on top of that, they won't come clean your room unless you ask, and the pool will be out of service when you get there.

It honestly makes me feel like there is no point in traveling. You wind up spending so much money on flight and accommodations that are barely serviceable, and then you're struggling to stay in budget before you even get to anything you do while there. It's ridiculous. Throw in all the service charges and cleaning fees and other random charges that are tacked onto everything and it's like, I should just stay home and get nice takeout or something. Spend the money I'd spend on a hotel on having someone clean my own house and some high threadcount sheets and call it a day.

We are trying to save to move out of the HCOL DMV and even that is hard. I don't know. The world is not built for middle class people.

I agree, hotel prices are insane, flights too, and service is the worst ever, as if airlines and hotels were doing you a favor by letting you travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CEO's and their bonuses.

And profits to shareholders. The pandemic showed companies exactly what consumers were willing to tolerate, so they've doubled down to increase profits at the expense of consumers, and society in general.

This!

[Anonymous]

I recall one of Biden’s promises was to crack down on these “junk fees.” The only thing I notice is that now you can see all the junk fees? Now I can see how Airbnb or VRBO charges a cleaning fee and a service fee and all the other crap that shows how an advertised $200/night stay ends up being over $1000 for a three day weekend. And now I can see how Ticketmaster charges $22 service fee on top of a $55 concert ticket. Oh joy.

[Anonymous]

Small home improvements/maintenance, kids activities, clothing, medical expenses 🥴 every month the money drains away. Not to mention food, gas and skyrocketing utility and insurance costs. Everyone is coming for us!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recall one of Biden’s promises was to crack down on these “junk fees.” The only thing I notice is that now you can see all the junk fees? Now I can see how Airbnb or VRBO charges a cleaning fee and a service fee and all the other crap that shows how an advertised $200/night stay ends up being over $1000 for a three day weekend. And now I can see how Ticketmaster charges $22 service fee on top of a $55 concert ticket. Oh joy.

And to add, that while I’m doing okay, these rises in costs are not applying to MY salary. I work in tech and while it seems that the layoffs/tech recession has stabilized somewhat, clients are still tightening their belts and we’re not getting our usual bonuses. Other people I know in their respective industries are also mentioning belt-tightening and lower bonuses/raises.

So who is making all this money? Where is it all going?

[Anonymous]

OP, I basically don't buy certain things anymore if the price goes up, for example I just forgo certain groceries and eat other things. We don't go out to eat (no fast food either) or get takeout except on special occasions. All of this is becoming unaffordable because corporations are really profit taking right now, on top of inflation.

We rarely go on vacation, since as OP points out, vacation prices hav

Then we can afford to save for an emergency fund. I can understand why mechanics and tradespeople need to make enough money in the DC area.

Oh, and we make close to 200k. And no longer vacations or potato chips or fast food for us for the foreseeable future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:idk but EVERYTHING is so expensive! Our HHI is mid six figures but we are so thrifty bc everything is ten thousand dollars (to be fair we live in manhattan).
It's just NUTS

Just a guess, but I think you’d find things aren’t so expensive if you just f’ing moved out of one of the most f’ing cities on the f’ing planet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recall one of Biden’s promises was to crack down on these “junk fees.” The only thing I notice is that now you can see all the junk fees? Now I can see how Airbnb or VRBO charges a cleaning fee and a service fee and all the other crap that shows how an advertised $200/night stay ends up being over $1000 for a three day weekend. And now I can see how Ticketmaster charges $22 service fee on top of a $55 concert ticket. Oh joy.

Maybe Biden forgot?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes. The one that gets me is hotel prices. And we stay in budget-to-midlevel hotels, so I'm talking like, at best, and Embassy Suites. And not in NYC or something, but like in Nashville or Denver. You will wind up spending $250 a night for one room, and then you'll have to pay for valet parking on top of that, they won't come clean your room unless you ask, and the pool will be out of service when you get there.

It honestly makes me feel like there is no point in traveling. You wind up spending so much money on flight and accommodations that are barely serviceable, and then you're struggling to stay in budget before you even get to anything you do while there. It's ridiculous. Throw in all the service charges and cleaning fees and other random charges that are tacked onto everything and it's like, I should just stay home and get nice takeout or something. Spend the money I'd spend on a hotel on having someone clean my own house and some high threadcount sheets and call it a day.

We are trying to save to move out of the HCOL DMV and even that is hard. I don't know. The world is not built for middle class people.

I agree, hotel prices are insane, flights too, and service is the worst ever, as if airlines and hotels were doing you a favor by letting you travel.

Also agree. We make a higher salary than ever and yet travel has become too expensive. Going on a vacation to a National Park feels like a huge expense (airfare, rental car, hotel), when it didn’t seem like a big deal a few years ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:inflation is much higher than stated. Things like car repairs, maintenance, etc have gone up astronomically and are hard to measure. Paying people to sit at home was incredibly disruptive to the labor market and was a failed experiment.

Remember how the Biden administration kept using the term “transitory inflation?”

Biden’s government is incapable of being honest.

I am tired of this utter garbage.

Trump caused this learn econ.

And moron you want a 60% tax on everything when he gets back? "Trump confirmed that he would impose tariffs of 60% or higher on Chinese goods were he to win a second term in office"

You like food right? Well gee who is going to work the farms when they deport everyone? Your white son or daughter

Biden is not the problem Republcians and CEO's are. What do you think when Trump and any REpublican for that matter deregulate everything? Jesus you freaks are stupid.

LOL. You are in for a rude awakening. VERY SOON.

[Anonymous]

Inflation. Some many stocks doubled in the market last year into this year. Whatever I bought in August, showed 100% return today.
I have never made more money, and coupled with not spending much, I wish at least market continued to go up like that.