Inflation Rate Increase vs Fixed SS!Monthly Payments!!
 

Many like myself and Debby survive only on SSI income which is far below todays actual cost increases which rises every week! Worse if your wife or husband dies, his or hers ssi check will stop!!! My loss will be twelve hundred a month!!! But they want you to buy an ELECTRIC CAR costing cover fifty thousand! What next electric trucks? We are at a loss and fear the future! This affects us in every way! Something has to give and change instead of the GREEN DEAL! PS Gas is up 40% since our former president!! Most are put in a hopeless condition!! Sorry, I"M PISSED!! https://www.ssa.gov/cola/

Eric, relax, it is frustrating, but you will just make yourself get all worked up.
So, don't buy an electric car, and your amounts are low unless you get the cheapest one.

I learned today that inflation is now the HIGHEST in our history!

This inflation is a global thing and not a US political party thing. They take credit when it's good and pass the blame when it's bad.

inflation woes
 

Hi to all, we have always lived hand to mouth, or out of pocket, which was never too deep even in the best of times! :eek: I have always tried to hitch my dreams and goals to the ship that was leaving port, most of the time I got torpedoed before we even got out of the harbor. So, to keep it short, I was poor 50 years ago, and, I'm poor now! So inflation means to me, I only buy one instead of two? Lifes still pretty good, and so it goes... Best to all, til....lat'r.....GT....:cheers:

we are receiving our current home appraisal statements from the local county boys......they raised my land value (.485 ac.) (the house is on a separate statement) from $23,000 to a nice round number----$100,000.00.

I have not cut a tree, added any decorations, no landscaping, built a fence, changed the drainage, ...nothing...so I will set a visit with the appraisal office and go have a chat....won't do any good, but will get them to recognize me as a 44 year owner of this property.

Refinanced, Your damned if you do Damned if you do or Damned if you don't!!

Consider This~ Reverse Mortgage! My Granny used it! https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-...rtgage-en-224/

These look good on paper, but there's too much room for shenanigans. It's good if your Granny or her estate didn't get burned. IIRC, you still have to pay taxes and upkeep on the place. Downsizing is probably a better choice, but didn't you and the Debster already do that?

SS Survivor' Benefit might help, but if the deceased has had more than one marriage that lasted at least ten years, they will split it. If there's an Office for the Aging or similar in your area, they're there to help with such questions.

David
That 10 year thing. Is that NY law or? Seems like what ever is in a divorce decree is binding?
rule? Bill

TKS Dave, check out! https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/survivors/ifyou.html

BAD NEWS! I talked to my SI law expert! If you dies your spouse will only get your SSI payment. The surviving spouse gets nothing but You continue to get the higher of two! That Sucks! Worst you get a final $255 for funeral expenses!! Thanks Allot!!

Inflation over here is 10-12 percent. Mainly due to rising fuel costs. My natural gas bill went from 80ct per cubic meter to 2.50 per cubic meter. With my disability fee I am now struggling to make it to year's end without debt.

I'm driving a 21 year old small car and have sold part of my car collection at a loss in order to cover the medical costs.

Hoping to keep my 1998 SLK up and running. As a youngtimer it is relatively cheap to run. My country has one of the most expensive fuel taxes on the planet.

I went through something similar in the 1980's as most of you did but back then I realized it IS going to happen again. I promised to be prepared when it did. NO DEBT. That was my plan and even with that it will be tough to hang in there. I have not had my car out of the garage for 10 days..the only defense I can figure on high dollar gasoline. From what I can see no one else it taking that approach! Traffic is worse than ever! I work from home so it's possible for me..
Where do local governments go when times are tough? To homeowners & business that cannot afford NOT to pay the tax. In this old world ya gotta be tough..but my daddy didn't name me Sue!

I must admit that working with a tight budget has its fun challenges. My previous ride needed a lot of work to get through its annual inspection and I no longer have the means to tackle the welding work myself.

I found a locally advertised Mercedes A-Class that was cheaper than the repair costs of the other car. It had 2 knackered door locks, not seen a decent service in years, but had a fresh approval until december.

Fixed the locks. Zero cost. Replaced the dash light bulbs and had it serviced. Ordered a 30 dollar seat adjustment handle and we were ready. My pal at the workshop donated a set of original hub caps from the parts archive.

So decent transport, with acceptable economy and great seats for a screwed up back for under $1000. And still a Mercedes :)

Nicknamed it 'Taschenpanzer' (pocket tank).

Where Went The "GOOD OLD DAYS"

Must be picture distortion! That ain't your Granddaddy's Mercedes!