Is being on a fixed income during these economic times causing you to "hunker down"?

I went out today, to run errands and pick up a few groceries. Gas went up .20¢ in the last week, and I was absolutely shocked at the price of food. How in the world do families make ends meet? I actually felt almost teary-eyed thinking about "How long will I be able to make it?". Fixed income, very unlikely that I would ever be able to work to bring in extra.
 

We're pretty much doing what we've been doing for ages. We generally don't go out to eat, as we eat natural/organic and there aren't such restaurants where we live, and aside from normal bills, we get (don't laugh) movie DVDs from Amazon to entertain ourselves. Well, that's us. :)
 
well over here they can become a bit like an octopus ; starting from one point of reference ; say a few people getting together at a house for cups of tea/coffee and cake to one it gets large enough branches of it ; in our little town one started and then sprout a bit of a choral group who eventually could sing at local events - some from little acorns etc
 
RadishRose said:
I didn't go out much before, and now only rarely.

I don't mind a chilly house, but I refuse to suffer sweltering heat and humidity so I'll trade shoes and clothes that I don't need, meal delivery etc. for my central AC.

I never go on vacations anyway so fortunately, I don't feel that loss.
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I'm with you on the temperatures. I grew up in a cold house and since I'm also from the Pacific coast, cold doesn't bother me. I only keep my central AC on 82 in the summer. This unit in the apartment is old and I'm upstairs. It's also kind of noisy. If it was new and efficient, I'd certainly keep it a few degrees cooler.
 
For the 1st time in a very long time, someone got me into a McDonald's for coffee. The staff was very busy with all the customers driving through in their cars/trucks. The person I was with ordered the coffee from a panel with their credit card. I eventually got my coffee. It has way too much cream in it and it really felt watered down.

I know I got watered-down chill at Tim Horton's a few months ago. Now, it's watered-down coffee at McDonald's. Guess, I have to stay home and make my own coffee if I want quality coffee. Can't stand cheap, watered-down coffee.
 
Packerjohn said:
For the 1st time in a very long time, someone got me into a McDonald's for coffee. The staff was very busy with all the customers driving through in their cars/trucks. The person I was with ordered the coffee from a panel with their credit card. I eventually got my coffee. It has way too much cream in it and it really felt watered down.

I know I got watered-down chill at Tim Horton's a few months ago. Now, it's watered-down coffee at McDonald's. Guess, I have to stay home and make my own coffee if I want quality coffee. Can't stand cheap, watered-down coffee.
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I thought there was a saying that it taste better when it's free?

On the second bolded, maybe it would have tasted better if your friend had overpaid for it. 😉
 
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Is being on a fixed income during these economic times causing you to "hunker down"?​


Have always 'hunkered down'
My lady has never been a spender (I so love that)

Of late, we're putting away more untouchable money (due to what we're hearing)

Still buy needful things and home improvement stuff, but being careful
 
Packerjohn said:
For the 1st time in a very long time, someone got me into a McDonald's for coffee. The staff was very busy with all the customers driving through in their cars/trucks. The person I was with ordered the coffee from a panel with their credit card. I eventually got my coffee. It has way too much cream in it and it really felt watered down.

I know I got watered-down chill at Tim Horton's a few months ago. Now, it's watered-down coffee at McDonald's. Guess, I have to stay home and make my own coffee if I want quality coffee. Can't stand cheap, watered-down coffee.
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I'm surprised. My sister, who is very finicky about the quality and taste of her coffee always said that McDonalds has good coffee, though that is not where she usually gets it from. She is not a Mickey D fan. I only go there once or twice a year for their egg and cheese biscuit. I get decaf and even that's good. McD's is a franchise, so hopefully no other locations are doing to their coffees what was done to yours.
 
OneEyedDiva said:
I'm surprised. My sister, who is very finicky about the quality and taste of her coffee always said that McDonalds has good coffee, though that is not where she usually gets it from. She is not a Mickey D fan. I only go there once or twice a year for their egg and cheense biscuit. I get decaf and even that's good. McD's is a franchise, so hopefully no other locations are doing to their coffees what was done to yours.
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Yeah, I've always liked Mc D's coffee
Hope that watered down thing isn't a trend.
The franchises here still seem OK

I get the egg and cheese biscuit too, when we're on the road.
 
DaveA said:
Most folks in my area will hit Dunkin' Donuts for " out of the house" coffee.
Usually pretty good.
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Yes, DD is known for their good coffee. I think that's where my sister gets most of her "out of the house" coffee. I like their coffee too. My son used to go often and he'd built up points for freebies. But now he mostly makes his own (egg coffee) at home and puts it in a thermos.
 
You might have heard of companies down sizing their products to save money. People hate price increases but they don't seem to notice when the size decreases. eg: Yogurt used to be 800 g; now it is 650.

I wonder if making coffee weaker saves them money. I live in Canada and Canadians love their coffee. I wonder how long they will keep going out for watered-down brew?
 
I've always been on a fixed income. Sometimes a boss "fixed" my income, sometimes a robust or tanking economy fixed our small business income, but to a large degree my income has always been determined by externals.

Now SS and the income we earn from our pared down small business have "fixed" DH & my income. Not yet dipping into retirement accounts. Like @Gary O', we're getting a little rattled about what we're hearing on the news.

Recession possibilities, debt ceiling political gyrations in Washington, and who knows what all else, can be unnerving. We have three children and three grandchildren. All are doing well, but we're their backup and hope they never have to be ours.

We make sure our house is kept in good repair, and pantry is well stocked. We take the RV out a few times a year and go out to eat occasionally, but other splurges are few.

I can live with a chilly house in the winter, but can't abide indoor heat over 80, especially at night. AC is a must. I'd cut the food budget to the bone before giving up AC during summer heat.
 
Muskrat said:
Egg coffee? What is that?
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He makes loose coffee grains in a pot, adds the entire egg, shell and all and lets it boil/simmer for about 30 minutes. He told me why but I forgot the reason. I'll try to remember to ask him tomorrow. I almost didn't see your question Muskrat; wouldn't have if I didn't check to see who reacted. Use @ before a person's name (it will tag them) so that they can see you're responding to them OR hit the reply on that person's post.
 
I have said this before but now that I have been on my own after my husbands passing I have become even more aware that I have to be careful of what I spend. I am grateful that he left in a good position but now it is up to me to make the right decisions. I have always run the household, paid the bills and made sure that we were putting away funds for the future.

It is nothing I have to think about as I had done that all of our married life. He was the spender, I was the saver. With me being charge of finances I kept things under control and planed for our old age. Now, I am doing it alone but I have held true to my plan. I hope and pray I have made all the right decisions.

The home is paid off. The son went to a fine college and got his degree without any student loans. I think we did well in those endeavors. Now, it is just me and I don't need or much want of anything.
 
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