Anonymous wrote:I am happy to pay the tariffs. It means the US is really sticking it to the rest of the world. I am glad to have a president who finally knows how to win!

America First!

Yeah…by making everything more expensive here and killing manufacturing. Way to go.

Anonymous wrote:I am happy to pay the tariffs. It means the US is really sticking it to the rest of the world. I am glad to have a president who finally knows how to win!

America First!

First at what lol

I am happy to pay the tariffs. It means the US is really sticking it to the rest of the world. I am glad to have a president who finally knows how to win!

America First!

Anonymous wrote:Even I, a person who eats out all the time and never thinks twice about going to Starbucks, have noticed.

I went into a gas station and grabbed some Gatorade, chips and a sandwich - $18!

Between this and the new weight loss meds, we’re all going to be skinny!

Even I, a person who eats out all the time and never thinks twice about going to Starbucks, have noticed.

I went into a gas station and grabbed some Gatorade, chips and a sandwich - $18!

Was shocked to see a lamp I bought three months ago now costs almost double.

Anonymous wrote:I have been shopping online and in person recently and noticed huge price jumps on stuff that I have shopped for before. It’s horrifying. Is this the tariffs kicking in? Or is it something else?

For example an item that I want to buy for months is now twice the price at multiple vendors!

I’m noticing less variety and quantity of certain goods as well as higher prices.

We are just regular middle class, not the DCUm version where under $1m annual income is considered MC. That means DS, DD, and I shop at stores like DSW, Kohl’s, JCP, Footlocker, Macy’s, H&M, The Limited, TJMaxx, Marshall’s, Ross, and Nordstrom’s Rack. We also thrift first. DH is 6’4” so his clothing is a whole ‘nother thing.

Tax free weeks in the DMV are still attractive within our household budget. It’s not uncommon for us to save enough on taxes to afford 1-2 extra items.

At 19, my two youngest kids aren’t growing anymore, but almost always need new footwear, underwear, and school supplies.

I typically add a few new items for myself to refresh my work wardrobe. Mainly shoes.

We usually gather ideas or even stalk specific items online or in person a couple weeks in advance so that we aren’t impulsively buying. I also save Kohl’s cash or any other loyalty coupons and points I can use.

There are years that I think everything is fugly or that the prices are a bit high. But this is the first time that I’ve seen so little stock. I don’t wear a weird shoe size or anything, but I couldn’t find any plain black leather flats. It’s a basic staple! What is available looks like last year’s leftovers.

We have to get used to high prices. Cut back on non-esentials, travel less, shop your closet, sell stuff you don't need, get a side hustle. The deficit needs to be tamed. Billionaires are getting their tax break because they they have an in ith the President. The rest of us can only pay up until the next election. Suck it up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Prices have gone up dramatically and I will be changing my habits. I recently took college aged DS out for lunch at Silver Diner, and with a 15% tip the bill was around $50 for 2 “lunch specials”.

I recently bought groceries and it was $75 for milk, bread, plain yogurt, bananas, cereal, and a few other random items that fit in 2 shopping bags.

Package shrink is a real thing, too. Manufacturers are shrinking the size of boxes and cans while raising prices. It makes following recipes difficult because a package of X is not what it used to be.

Same here. We no longer go to places like Silver Diner because it's not enjoyable to me to pay a fortune for a mediocre meal. The value proposition isn't there even though we could afford it.

NP. That’s right, these are mediocre meals we tolerate for togetherness or travel, but they’re certainly not worth the $$$.

I feel sorry for restaurant owners because many are not rich. They have to pay high labor costs, high food costs, high materials costs, high insurance costs, high rent costs.

But at the end of the day, it’s no longer worth it.

PP here. We switched gears the last few years for our family of five. We occasionally go out to dinner at a nice place because the mid-range ones aren't worth it. Sometimes we go to an Asian fast casual place. One parent sometimes takes oldest DC out to lunch or the younger ones out for treats like ice cream or doughnuts with friends. DH and I sometimes go out to lunch or dinner together or separately with friends. Oldest DC goes out with her friends a lot, but it's not that expensive for one person to get just one meal and no drinks.

We pack food when we run around with kids, both for health and financial reasons. I just hate being trapped into paying $75-100 for a mediocre fast casual meal we just need for sustenance. It's much more if we go to a sit down restaurant.

We also do a lot of get togethers with other families at our homes. We always bring something to defray the work and costs for whoever is hosting and other do the same when we host.

Now would be a good time to sell your house in the dmv, buy land, put up solar panels, harvest rain water and raise some cattle.

Anyone know when the appeals court will rule on the tariffs? Seems like it will be another overwhelming defeat for Trump.

It's funny because he is now claiming if the court rules against them it will cause the stock market to crash and bring on the next great depression.

Completely nuts thought process.

Better buy now cause it'll only get higher. Not sure how you've all just noticed the hike. In Winter this year u noticed how much dining out was. When a bowl of pho is $14-17 everywhere, that's a prob. A sandwich has been hovering at $20 for lunch now at many casual restaurants. Spending $30/pp for a casual lunch with a soft drink and meal + tax and tip is standard.

It's super hard to give up daily lux though. Eating out is not just lux and hoping for deliciousness as it's just more convenient when you lack time and energy. You know - cause you're too busy working to afford to live!!!

I really do think the wealth gap is coming to a head. We will be seeing much more of the have/have nots and pretty soon it's less just dining that's going to be the prob. Everything is going up because everyone needs more money so travel, entertainment, clothing and housing - it'll all have to go up because people will need the profit for themselves to live.

I imagine a country where many will be very unhappy. More violence, fraud, suffering. But it'll be distinct- some will be fine as if you have a high paying job and savings - life will still be happening with the multitude of options that abounds in a capitalist society. You just have to be one of the lucky ones.

Why aren’t we revolting in the streets?

The prices will never go down. We have to buckle up and get used to it, so that the billionaires can buy more jets, pedo islands, and plastic surgeries.

We all have to suck it up and pay more due to tariffs. It will help offset the tax cut for billionaires, otherwise the defecit will sky rocket. Nobody wants that.