Since we married, my husband and I have not had to live poor. At times we have been on a very tight budget but we have not had to go without food for the table or a home or an apartment to live in. Both of us were poor at times when we were children but we both struggled very hard financially to get our college degrees. We were both lucky enough to choose a course of study which was in demand and we never had to wonder if we were going to have a job. My husband’s degree was in business, with accounting as a minor. He worked for IBM. My first degree was in nursing with a psychology minor. In my midlife years I went back and got a master’s degree in School Psychology. When we were looking for jobs those degrees were very much in demand. We paid our own way through college. They were challenging years but doable.

   We are senior citizens now. We’re retired. We both get adequate pensions. We are blessed! However, I am hearing from more and more people who are about to lose their homes or they can’t find a job or the high price of everything these days is making it very difficult. In addition to high prices at the pump grocery prices are sky rocketing. After several years of low food inflation, filling up the grocery cart is almost as painful as filling the tank. Prices for staples like bread, eggs, milk and flour have been rising sharply. The inflation rate for milk has been 26 percent over the year. Egg prices have jumped 40 percent.

   Inflation at the pump and at the grocery store is more alarming for people because we are faced with the reality of the situation on a weekly, if not daily basis. Some say that there is nothing worse than having a job, making money and still not being able to live at your current level of comfort. It affects every thing. It affects the stock market. It affects mental health. It even affects physical health.

   Let’s brainstorm to see if we can come up with some suggestions that might help. I know some families and friends who buy food in large quantities at places like Sam’s or Costco and each takes what they need and share the savings. I think that my daughter in law does that with her parents. Knowing my daughter in law she probably doesn’t come out financially ahead by doing this but her parents are probably helped with this approach. Several friends, or family members, could bond together in this way. You may be able to figure out some car pooling as well. It would take some planning. Our daughter in law, Annie, doesn’t have to ask her parents what they want to buy but friends would need to sit together and create the grocery list. I was going to say that they would need to sit together, have a cup of coffee, and create the list but coffee prices have gone up also.

   Just sitting together and having someone to talk to who understands what you’re going through would be helpful in its self. That can happen even if you aren’t buying groceries together. That’s my next suggestion. Don’t try to deal with this alone. Before television neighbors were outside more in the evenings. It was more likely that you would talk to your neighbors and friends. That’s not as true now but if we plan play dates for our children why not plan play dates for ourselves. Even with the soaring gas prices it can happen. Take public transportation or just go for a walk with a friend or a hike or just sit with a friend. When we lived in Minnesota we had several neighbors who got together to played cards once a week. Our kids would play together as we were playing pinnacle. It would be a pot luck. We didn’t drink alcohol those evening. We weren’t tea totlers but we just decided that buying alcoholic beverages for every one would have been a financial hardship for some and we didn’t need it. We shared a meal together. We shared some laughs, some tears, we shared some parenting advice and we played a game that we all enjoyed. We didn’t stay late because we wanted to get the kids to bed.

   This is an important topic and I’m running out of space. We’ll talk about this some more. In the mean time just remember the six suggestions that I have on my wall: rest; work and play; take some deep breaths from time to time; love yourself; love others; and find a faith in something bigger than yourself. All of those suggestions can be managed on any budget even the work and play. You may not have a paying job right now but there is always work to be done. You may not be able to do the same activities for pleasure that you used to but you can find ways to play. See you next week.