Posted by Because of inflation in the past 12 months, I have had to stop spending on non-essential items. Here is the list of things that I have had to give up spending money on in 2025:
- Dinning Out – First it was full-service restaurants, then we had to cut fast food. If we do get fast food, its only because we have a coupon. We used to eat out once a week, now we are lucky to get fast food once a month. Prices exceed the quality of the food you get, and the value just isn’t what it used to be.
- Alcoholic beverages – I used to enjoy a beer or mixed drink while sitting out on our deck. That has been replaced with a glass of soda or juice on ice. The beer that I used to buy was lower tier. But prices have increased, and I can no longer afford to buy alcohol. Soda pop is less expensive than beer, for now.
- Gambling – No visits to the local horse track this season, which breaks a ten-year streak. We visited the local Indian casino a few times early in the year. But have no desire to go back, despite the free hotel rooms and free gifts they offer. We can’t afford to risk losing any of our money right now.
- Traveling – No trips in the past 4 years. I only drive to local destinations about once per week. This has saved a lot of money on fuel and vehicle maintenance. Both vehicles are also getting old (15 and 18 years).
- Red Meat – The only red meat we buy now is hamburger. No more steak or roasts. We buy only enough chicken and pork to cover 4 or 5 meals. We have only used our gas grill a few times this year.
- Stocking Up – We used to always have a full pantry. Not anymore. Our budget only allows us to have about 7 or 8 days of food on hand. I remember not too long ago when it was easy to fill the freezer and pantry with food to last for three or four weeks. Now our freezer is 90% empty and pantry shelves are 50% bare.
You might think this is a good list of things to give up. I’m probably eating healthier and staying clear of a potential gambling addiction. But I have also had to give up routine doctor and dental visits. The health insurance I have is only for emergency use. There are potential out-of-pocket expenses that I can’t afford. I don’t look forward to replacing our vehicles. A 4-year-old used car costs between $25k – $30k depending on the make and model. My 15-year-old Honda isn’t going to be worth anything in trade. I’m retired and only have $15k in annual income, they probably won’t give me a loan, at least not one with good terms. I have two more years before I claim Social Security. By that time, the extra monthly income will be absorbed by inflation.