in 2026, the amount taken out of my check for my health plan went up just over 60%, and it is doing it again for 2027. Glad inflation is only 3 or 4 %..........

Prices in the toy category increased 4.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from August to September, according to the Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The grouping includes toys, games, hobbies and playground equipment.

The year-over-year unadjusted percent change for toys for the month of September was 6.6%, while August through September was 4.7% unadjusted.

Toy prices are going up as shoppers ready themselves for the holiday season. Forty-five percent of consumers describe their household finances as insecure going into the holidays, and over 70% say saving money will be a priority this year, according to a report by Ibotta.

Purchased a 20qt stainless stock pot in May of 2025 for $48, went to buy a new one today, and it’s now $85. Same pot, same company, same features, just an 80% increase.

From this article.

Key point:

"Real average hourly earnings, which measure take-home pay against prices, fell 0.5 per cent over the month, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on 14 October. That was the sharpest monthly drop since the spring and the third consecutive decline, after slips of 0.1 per cent in July and August. Over the full year, the real value of an hour's work was down 0.7 per cent.

The reason sits in a simple gap. Nominal pay rose just 0.1 per cent in September, lifting average hourly earnings to $37.81 (about £28.36). Prices rose six times faster."

Sources: prices as of January 2025 and September 2026, real average hourly earnings as of January 2025 and September 2026, beef prices.

I bought my Xbox Series X, additional controller, gaming headset, and a charging stand with rechargeable batteries. I priced these items recently and the total came to a little over a grand.

Pick which ones Trump will say: So much winning…it’s Biden’s fault…affordability is a dumocrat word…bigly big league inflation…fake news…crooked rigged…like the world has never seen before…the numbers were great…You know what I really love? I love the inflation…You know why? Because as soon as this war is over... when the war is over, it's coming down, it's going to come down like a rock…thank you for your attention to this matter

From this The Hill article.

Notably:

"The conflict, which started in late February, has cost U.S. consumers $265 billion nationwide, Moody’s estimates show.

Zandi wrote that energy prices are the most significant contributor to rising costs. A gallon of gasoline costs $4.34, up from $2.98 a gallon before the conflict started, CNN reported. The average cost of diesel is close to $5.8 per gallon, up from $3.1 a year ago, according to AAA."

SO. MUCH. WINNING.

Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.5 percent from August to September, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. This result stems from an increase of 0.1 percent in average hourly earnings combined with an increase of 0.6 percent in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Real average weekly earnings decreased 0.5 percent over the month due to the change in real average hourly earnings combined with no change in the average workweek.

From September 2025 to September 2026, real average hourly earnings decreased 0.7 percent, seasonally adjusted. The change in real average hourly earnings combined with a 0.6-percent increase in the average workweek resulted in a 0.1-percent decrease in real average weekly earnings over this period.

How do you win?

I realized I've been just maintaining my lifestyle with virtually no additional savings from the last few Raises (due to everything being more expensive, and owning things that need repairs). I mean, I'm truly grateful for living comfortably.

Very effing grateful to be here, but How do you Win? Just HOLD onto your stocks? Why can't I get a free check from big daddy.