As 2025 ends, many households face soaring costs for housing, rent, cars, groceries, daycare, clothing, and insurance while wages lag. People work multiple jobs, live in multigenerational homes, and take on credit-card debt just to cover basics. Prices rise through shrinkflation and hidden markups, flipping 1995’s small surplus into today’s deficit. Yet some find hope by cutting extras, thrifting, paying off cars, and investing early to build future security.
https://www.getrichslowly.org/the-thrifty-food-plan-challenge-eating-well-for-less/