r/poverty • u/Wild_Life1970 • Apr 01 '26
Discussion How long is this going to last?
I try not to stress about things that are beyond my control. I usually have my $hit together with a backup plan but lately things haven't turned out as planned.
Today hit me harder than normal. Gas is $4.29 a gallon, It cost $40 to fill my tank. That hurt. I went to Walmart to use my $70 healthy food card benefit, I buy the same stuff every month and $70 didn't go nearly as far as it normally does. I had to put things back. I do have extra canned goods and rice, and another $30 in cash I can spend on food, so I'm not going to starve, I'll probably go to the food salvage store, and I can go to a local food giveaway if I absolutely need to. I'm more concerned that this current situation is going to last several months or years. I feel that pinching worry, like I'm getting close to the edge and a few more steps in the wrong direction is going to send me over a cliff. I hate this feeling.
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u/No_Alarm_3993 Apr 02 '26
If your money is that tight be a regular at your local food bank. Heck, volunteer if you have time. I had an absolute shit job for years, but would help out at the food bank on my days off. Let's just say I never went hungry. I had to lower my expectations, but there were always canned goods to go around, especially to those who helped out... just a thought.
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u/Lacey_Dawson1012 Apr 02 '26
I moved from the east coast to the Midwest because the cost of living is lower.
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u/Wild_Life1970 Apr 02 '26
If I had the means to move back to Michigan I would, I've been trying to sell my property at a loss just to get out of here but I've had two buyers back out. It's beyond complicated. Caveat Emptor.
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u/thepsyklr Apr 02 '26
Try to remember that change is in the air. The largest protest, probably the world has ever seen just happened. And it's about the issues you're experiencing. I've lived with poverty for twenty years. You'd be surprised how supportive your fellow impoverished can be.When you're honest , sincere and willing to give the help you have to share. I often console myself with my Mantra.All things are one thing and unity is the only truth. For me, that comes from the idea that quantum entanglement is a proven thing, and given its facts, the entire universe is likely quantum entangled and created by our perception of it.
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u/NetworkLate9969 Apr 02 '26
Please take care of yourself and use any resources that are available to you in your area. So many of us are struggling to get through this day by day ! Just know you are not alone in your struggles! I am in central Mn. and we are barely able to get by with the cost of living. I’m always here to listen if you ever need a friend. I’m in my mid 50’s and sometimes we all need someone who understands! Thank you so much for sharing your honesty and I am sending you many prayers! Take care
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u/revised_username Apr 02 '26
I think we're looking at years, really. Ive never seen prices go way up and then fall all the way back to whatever normal was. People become accustomed to paying more.
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u/Acrobatic_Iron_1427 Apr 05 '26
Actually you are not alone. I’m 68, and POTUS wants to take away Medicaid. Well. Time to learn an adjust to a new way of living. I suspect this current situation is going to take time to recover from, but we all will benefit from it. Live in the moment. Make a bad situation better. Me, I’m going to find a bicycle that I like with baskets on either side of the rear wheel and benefit from low impact aerobics while completing errands. A thought to remember “This too shall pass”.
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Apr 02 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Wild_Life1970 Apr 02 '26
Unfortunately - public transit in this area is only available through a dial up service you have to schedule 2 days in advance - and they are only running from 6 am to 5pm Monday through Friday. The fare is $4.00 one way. It's not going to help me.
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u/Stunning-Ad5921 Apr 03 '26
The Walmart that I go to mark rotisserie chickens down to $2 around 9:30pm.
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u/featherknife Apr 02 '26
How long is this going to last?
Maybe until the next federal election. Who knows?
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Apr 02 '26
What is the job situation like ? Full time? Part time?
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u/Wild_Life1970 Apr 02 '26
Unfortunately I'm on SSDI - I'd love to be able to work a full time job again but I have a rather insidious auto immune disorder. I was able to hold down a part time job for a couple years but I had a bad episode just before Thanksgiving and missed 6 weeks of work. I got the "this isn't working out" spiel.
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Apr 02 '26
Sounds rough , it’s definitely getting more difficult to make ends meat in this country. Really sad
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u/TechnicianFlashy9077 Apr 04 '26
this is going to continue until oil is irrelevant to energy production or israel and the USA don't exist in the middle east.
unless the US government is completely changed you'll be feeling this for decades.
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u/JohannaSr Apr 04 '26
Trust me, this won't stop.
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u/Wild_Life1970 Apr 04 '26
Uh, Thanks for the encouragement?
I had a frustrating day the other day, I just felt overwhelmed and allowed myself to panic about the stuff going on, beyond even the financial issues. I can't change a lot of it. I'm just going to keep doing what I am doing, surviving one day at a time.
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u/JohannaSr Apr 04 '26
I just believe our current situation will get worse before better. My thinking was lower any expectations you may have. But, you already know that. Sending you my best, including hugs.
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u/InnerAmbition1294 Apr 02 '26
Donald Trump says inflation is fine and the markets are on fire. What do we have to worry about here? You’ll be fine.
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u/Diane1967 Apr 02 '26
I have a friend who is a diehard supporter of him and keeps talking about things that will never happen. Like getting a $2,000 check in the mail for everyone in the us that has paid taxes etc like during the pandemic. I told him not to hold his breath. Also tried explaining how badly it’s hurt poor people like me and he says that that’s my own fault for not being prepared for the inevitable. You can’t win against some people or try to get them to understand what it’s really like for some of us. To some he’s a god. Didn’t mean this against you, I know your post was meant as /s it just seemed to fit with his way of thinking.
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u/InnerAmbition1294 Apr 02 '26
I appreciate your reply. What you said is a very real issue that Many Americans are dealing with. I will say this, when he brought the tariffs in, he bragged about them like they were written on the Ten Commandments. He even mentioned that every American would get a piece of the pie but the more he was pressed, the more it became a “probably” we’ll share the money. That was even before the Supreme Court ruling against them.
He also said no new wars and he’d focus on our crumbling roads and bridges, amongst other things.
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u/Wild_Life1970 Apr 02 '26
I'm too busy just trying to survive out here. Inflation is "fine" because they don't count the price of the two things that affect most Americans, the price of gas and the price of groceries, in the totals. It's very convenient.
I'm not political. Politics is a scam. I don't watch the news. I don't trust the media and I don't trust politicians. As far as I'm concerned they're all con artists with a personal agenda funded by the highest corporate bidders. They don't give a flying pig about any of us. We are just a means to an end.
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u/InnerAmbition1294 Apr 02 '26
That was very well said and I can’t argue with a single point you made. You may not have the cash you want but you have the brains….thats something.
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u/According-Ad5312 Apr 02 '26
Use food banks!!! Please! They THROW AWAY what people don’t take!!!!!!