Nickname: lucky

Review: I could symphatize with all these people who are relying on their Social Security money. Particularly for people living in the metro areas like San Francisco, Boston, and New York--to name a few. I have a suggestion for an alternative way to stretch your money, why not consider moving out of the country and living in some Asian countries like my place, the Philippines. You'll find your money will go a long way and you'll enjoy the remaining years of your life. You might be surprised at how cheap everything is and also how friendly the local folks are. I'm looking forward to that wonderful day of retirement. Good luck to all.

Date reviewed: Jun 30, 2006 7:56 AM

Nickname: i only buy what i must to survive, what next?

Review: I am disabled living on SSI. My former employer a Fortune 500 company has cut my pending pension 88% and rewarded the retiring C.E.O. with tens of millions in a golden paracute. My medical insurance has gone up 50 percent in the past three years. My deductibles are higher every year. I am no longer insurable. What does the government expect from people, my Medicine plan is higher than ever and limited to drugs that seem to be the ones the drug companies can get cheaper. Doesn't work to suffer. High blood meds are $3.50 a pill times 30 days a month. I live on less than 1/3 the national medium income. I have an old computer somebody else didn't want and library books. I refuse to use food stamps or put in for heap as they treat you like dirt. Then they put Medicaid liens on a house you spent 30 years trying to pay off only to borrow money for a new roof and burner and windows and siding, and doors.

Date reviewed: Jun 29, 2006 9:58 PM

Nickname: dying

Review: I've been retired for four years now and I hate it. My social secutity check has been getting smaller and smaller. Every time you get your once a year $40.00, the taxes and utilities and your food take it quicker then you get it. Mecicare took 1/3 of it and the part D insurance took the rest, so i'm short 230.00 a month. That insurance that Bush gave us is a joke. I was going to file bankruptcy, but Bush took that away too. There is no where left to tun but? I feel sorry for the baby boomers which are in for surprise. God help us all. Dying

Date reviewed: Jun 29, 2006 9:46 PM

Nickname: bigharry60

Review: The outrageous cost of living we are dealing with is due to fuel prices and that my fellow Americans, since 2001, when Bush, Cheney and their handlers (aka, Big Oil execs and a few other corporate heads) They all deserve to spend the rest of their lives in prison for what they have done to the American people and our country. Not to mention the trumped up reason for going to war in Iraq.

Date reviewed: Jun 29, 2006 8:01 PM

Nickname: tominpitt

Review: Replying to ingozzi- Poor people are not affected by rising gasoline prices because poor people cannot afford a car.

Date reviewed: Jun 29, 2006 3:06 PM

Nickname: nprfreak

Review: I can certainly empathize with Ingozi. The fact that the 'core' rate of inflation excludes the very things required for basic survival in our society (food, road fuel, and heating fuel) skews government calculations to the detriment of those at the bottom. In this era of deregulation and every-man-for-himself capitalism, we have discarded social safety nets, added ever more excise (i.e. hidden) taxes on basic utilities (phone, power, etc.), and failed to provide adequate basic opportunities necessary to work for American Dream to the ever increasing numbers of citizens being left behind. It has been over 20 years since Reagan "freed" the mentally ill to live in homelessness. Let us hope this pendulum swings before we degenerate to collections of gated communities surrounded by a lawless frontier.

Date reviewed: Jun 29, 2006 1:03 PM

Nickname: smitty

Review: Home prices are falling. Gas is relatively cheap. Jobs are abundant. Life is gooood!

Date reviewed: Jun 29, 2006 6:00 AM

Nickname: ChicagoSal

Review: Well, it's about time! But you wouldn't know it if you visited downtown Chicago. Consumers are up and down the Mag Mile shopping like it's Christmas. Maybe the economy is hitting other cities but here it's going full steam ahead. But I can rightfully say I see differences in spending habits, meaning, when I go to the Dollar Store, I see more well-dressed Caucasian, yuppy looking people. The dollar store used to be the choice of the poor and down and out, but visit any Family Dollar for example and there are more yuppy families shopping than ever before. The consumer who used to spend on name brands and "quality, high priced" stuff is still spending, but they're going to the discounters. Another indication, I went to the thrift store over the weekend and both of them - the Salvation Army and Brown Elephant were packed, very long lines. Major retailers who built superstores may start feeling the pinch.

Date reviewed: Jun 28, 2006 8:06 PM

Nickname: Mo

Review: I agree that inflation is rising which comes from the high price of oil. I work in the restaurant business (high end gourmet) and see a big drop since 2005. I work in a casino but surprisingly it's been steady on the gambling side. Sure, people might be curtailing their overall spending such as eating but people are still going out. My solution, get off of foreign oil and invest in alternative energy.

Date reviewed: Jun 28, 2006 5:35 PM

Nickname: Ingozi

Review: I am disabled living on SSI, and last year was very punishing because my check only appreciates at the beginning of every year. This year, my check started off at the same level (meager) adjusted for inflation from the end of the year. Currently, I am eating two meals a day and cannot afford housing if it requires me to pay utilities. If you want to know how tough the gas prices have been, simply ask the poor living on subsistence benefits.

Date reviewed: Jun 28, 2006 7:04 AM