Let’s stop complaining about the inflation and do something about it: Tip and observations on current state of affairs…

 

Since the last couple of years, I’ve been hearing lots of complaints everywhere about high prices for everything, like housing, cars, groceries, gasoline.  For the most part, I concur. 

I saw average home prices rise close to $420,000 here in the United States for example, wondering how young couples can ever afford a home, unless they have a combined income of $140,000!  Just as a comparison, the average home price in 2004, just twenty years ago, was around $195,000.

I don’t know about you, but $140,000 combined income is no laughing matter.  For those of you wondering why I mention this number of $140,000, the answer is simple:  mortgage banks typically want  prospective buyers to earn roughly 1/3 of the price of the home.  

Price of cars are through the roof.  Case in point: all American car companies like Ford, GM, and Jeep love manufacturing big, profit generating trucks and SUV’s.  They seem to be hell bent on creating bigger and bigger vehicles that’ll line their pockets with gold.  

Most domestic manufacturers no longer make inexpensive sedans under $20,000 anymore, dependent ever more so on those gas hungry, $50,000+ price tagged vehicles.  I purchased my Mazda SUV in fall of 2022, and paid basically sticker price for the vehicle.  Due to high demand and low inventory, I paid it.  I was a sucker for needing to buy a car when they were so expensive…

How about price of groceries?  Compared to just 5 years ago (pre-pandemic), prices are higher.  What used to cost us roughly $300-$400 for groceries now cost upwards of $400-$500 per month!  How are everyday Joes supposed to get ahead these days when everything seem to cost more compared to just 5 years ago???

I get all the complaints from people on rising costs of seemingly everything and anything these days, but what drives me insane is to hear these same people living way beyond their means!!!  If you’re being frugal, saving money, planning for retirement, etc., then you are allowed to complain from time to time.

What I don’t understand is why these people complain while doing few or none of the things listed above to help themselves now and for their future!  Stop complaining and do something productive for yourself and for your future self.

Here are some of the things that drives me absolutely insane, and my tips and thoughts on how to make a lemonade when life gives you a lemon:

• Prices are higher these days, and you can’t really change the dynamics of these external factors…

There are so many extenuating circumstances for why things cost more these days.  Here are some of those:

1. Higher home prices: Many retirees don’t seem to want to downsize their current homes once they retire, choosing instead to stay put.  Homes just aren’t available like they used to is one reason.  Second reason is big Wall Street firms buying up homes in bulk in many parts of the country, causing prices to skyrocket.  Third reason is there aren’t many affordable homes being built.  
2. Higher car prices:  Due to supply chain issues during the pandemic that impacted China (they adhered to the Zero-Covid policy that shut down their factories), especially parts like computer chips, car inventory took a dive around the country.  Low inventory, high demand meant prices shot up.  Since then, as mentioned above, car manufacturers in America got greedy, choosing to only make higher profit margin vehicles like trucks/SUV’s costing over $50,000.
3. Higher grocery & fuel prices:  Sure, there were legitimate problems with supply chains during the pandemic as workers couldn’t work at farms, factories, and warehouses.  That counted for prices skyrocketing for couple of years.  That and the rising prices of notable commodities like rice and wheat, as well as rising prices of fuel, thanks to the Ukraine-Russia War.  On top of that, food manufacturers became greedy just like car companies by jacking up the prices and de-contenting foods containers equaling smaller portions and higher prices. 

Greedy manufacturers profiting from something like the pandemic is nothing new.  They will always try to make more money at all costs.  Throw in the war going on in Ukraine, where geopolitical instability is rampant, the current situation won’t improve anytime soon.

• We can make choices as consumers to buy or not to buy something…

Despite all these issues going on, we, as consumers have the power to change what’s going on.  Let’s stop blaming all the outside forces for all our problems, and instead focus inwards to find a solution.

1. Homes: we can choose not to buy a home that is at the highest price it’s ever been.  Instead, rent somewhere, save up the money for when home prices start to decline, then buy.  Or, do what we do, and forgo a home, embrace the minimalist lifestyle, and instead save/invest that money and be free. 
2. Cars:  we’re guilty ourselves for buying a car when the prices were at their highest, but at least we purchased a car that was well below the average transaction price of around $47,000!  Ours was around $32,500 with taxes and fees.  We can choose to buy a less expensive car.  
3. Groceries/fuel:  this is tougher as we all need food to survive.  With that said, we still can choose to buy generic brands, drink less sodas/juices/beers/wines, and/or eat less junk foods.  Sure, this isn’t easy at first, but it is possible.  We’re doing it these days.  We gave up buying alcohol and juices as prices were rising few years ago.  We must save around $50-60 per month on drinks like the ones mentioned above.  As for fuel, combine multiple trips into one trip to save fuel.  

• Why do these same people complain about the inflation when they’re spending like there’s no tomorrow ?

Sure everything seems higher as we discussed.  What are you doing about it though?  

These are some of the things I see people doing these days while complaining about the inflation!

     1.  Trying to live life like a rich person:  you can’t afford a European vacation every year (or twice a year) if you are not rich!  Period!  What do I consider rich?  These are people that have net worth of million dollars or more.  Notice I mention “net worth”, and not income.  Income is important, but not if you’re spending more than you’re making.  Trying to emulate the rich when you’re not is asking for trouble!  

     2.  Trying to live like a social media influencer:  why do you constantly compare yourself to these people?  Just because they’re staying at a fancy hotel, flying first class, and seemingly living the dream, it doesn’t mean what they portray is true.  How many times have I heard of these influencers going bankrupt and/or heavily into debt to try to portray someone they’re not???  

     3.  Driving a car that is way too expensive on your budget:  I was guilty years ago for leasing two cars that almost equaled about 60% of our gross annual income.  I learned my lesson.  I see way too many people make the mistake of driving a car that’s way too expensive:  Think anything that costs upwards of $50,000 like a BMW, Mercedes Benz, Lexus, Acura, or domestic trucks priced way too high.

     4.  Dining out constantly and/or ordering food deliveries:  it used to be that it was normal to cook our own meals at home, then go out on the weekend to dine out.  These days, people are ordering McDonald’s through any number of food delivery apps like GrubHub, Uber Eats.  How lazy and mindless have we become to constantly eat out/get food delivered?  

• Do something about the high inflation yourself, and stop blaming everything else; what ever happened to personal responsibility??

1. Live within your means:  stop wasting money on trying to be someone you’re not.  You’re not rich just because you travel like the rich, dress like the rich, or eat at fancy restaurants like the rich.  Forget the social media influencers, and be yourself.  Save money, start budgeting, then invest that money.  Instead of thinking immediate gratification, think delayed gratification.  Imagine what it would be like to be able to be financially independent, and to get off the rat race.  
2. Take road trips, go camping, and see this beautiful country of ours, right here in the United States:  there are so many natural wonders and man made wonders right here.  Why do you think USA was the most traveled-to destination last few years?  Discover your own backyard, and you’ll be amazed at how many awesome places there are, all while saving you tons of money!
3. Learn to embrace being frugal, to buy less:  since we sold our home (and got rid of most of our stuff), we no longer buy much of anything.  It is liberating to live with much less, to declutter our minds from the mindless consumption.  Try it yourself.   
4. Buying a home isn’t for everyone:  we currently live without a home.  There’s a certain freedom from living without one.  There are no more worries about paying bills on time, wondering what will break, bitching about rising property taxes/insurance/utilities/cable/internet bills/HOA fees and worrying about a job loss.  We were house poor and so are many others these days.  It’s not the end of the world to not own your home.  Consider renting, putting the money into retirement accounts or other investments.  There are so many unknown things that go into owning your home that it’s not for everyone…We owned three homes in our lifetime (so far), and we really worked hard to keep it and to maintain it.  Not easy at all…

In conclusion:

I see too many people who are struggling to make ends meet.  Many of these people do have legitimate concerns paying higher prices on everything.

No one said life is fair.  Greedy corporations will do what they do to make ever more money, and that is something you can take to the bank.

There comes a time in our lives when we finally need to step up and take personal responsibility to make things better.  I hate defeatist mindset of people who simply complain and complain some more about their lives, the economy, and the current state of our country.

What happened to good qualities we admired like sacrifice, hard work, and personal responsibility?  Unless you’re one of those trust fund babies who are born into a life of luxury, it’s time we all “man up” and start doing things that improve our lives.

Let’s stop pretending all of our problems are someone else’s fault.  Maybe, just maybe, the problem is us.  We have the power to change for the better, and we have the power to make things happen.  

No one will give you anything for free in this life.  If you’re waiting for that to happen, well, you’re going to be waiting a long, long time.

Instead of complaining, do what we can do to make things better.  If that means not buying expensive things, going on expensive international trips, and/or trying to be someone else, then so be it. 

Be happy with being yourself and please stop comparing yourself to others, especially those social media influencers!  Remember, no one can change your life for you.  You have to make the change.

No good thing comes out of constant complaining.  Do something productive, and see what you can do to make your life better.

Thank you for reading my rants and ramblings, and happy new year!

Jake

Wandering Money Pig 

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