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ALBliberal

(2,892 posts)
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 03:59 PM Nov 27

I am trying to cope and it's difficult. We are

solidly in the middle class. My husband is collecting a state pension. I just started my social security at age 63. We pay part of our health insurance to the state and we both work part time. We don’t quite own our home but are locked in at 3%.

We are reviewing upcoming needs on “major” purchases. Our cars are good to go. A dryer failed we replaced recently. Our phones are 4-5 years old. We are reviewing our cell phone plan and replacing these phones.

The only power we feel we have is the power of the pocketbook. We will drastically cut back on spending. And when we need services (large yard and house) will definitely check people out via social media.

Which has me wondering? Sort of like “Angie’s List” back in the day…. Seems there would be a niche for some contractors and business people to connect with people like us.

No I am not trying to bring “ innocents” down with me. I feel for all that will be inevitably hurt. But I have to look after my family. And this is how I think I can cope.

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marybourg

(13,254 posts)
1. There used to be a directory of progressive
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 04:40 PM
Nov 27

product and service providers in N.Y. called the Blue Pages. After a while it disappeared. Maybe this is the time to revive it.

Mike 03

(17,897 posts)
3. Yeah, that is such a good idea!
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 04:46 PM
Nov 27

Too bad it's no longer there. It would e a great time to put together a national list. Might not help those of us in more rural areas, but maybe it would expand with time.

eppur_se_muova

(37,970 posts)
5. The term "Blue Pages" apparently has been used with several different meanings, so maybe they changed it.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 05:33 PM
Nov 27

There might be a successor under another name.

Our local phone book (remember those?) had a section of (literally) blue pages which listed only gov't offices. And of course there's the Blue Book used by car dealers, so maybe that was just too confusing a name.

Think. Again.

(20,543 posts)
2. It sounds like you're in the best possible position.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 04:45 PM
Nov 27

And thank you for pledging to drastically reduce any unneccesary spending.

Once the corporations begin feeling our pain, they'll change things quickly.

As you say, the only power we will have for a while is the power of the pocketbook.

Mike 03

(17,897 posts)
4. Where I live, if your washer, dryer or fridge breaks
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 04:47 PM
Nov 27

it's very hard to find anyone to repair it. You almost automatically have to replace it. It's such a waste and terrible for the environment.

ALBliberal

(2,892 posts)
8. It was 20 years old. So we replaced.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 05:49 PM
Nov 27

We line dry most everything we can. In sunny NM I guess that’s a luxury. Just throw it in to soften it up.

But all those years raising the kids we had to replace it.

Ever so so thankful we did it before January.

Enter stage left

(3,892 posts)
11. If either of you are slightly mechanically inclined, you tube is excellent for trouble shooting issues.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 06:37 PM
Nov 27

Best of luck to you.

Evolve Dammit

(19,568 posts)
7. It's a really good point you're making. I try to only do business with Dems but hard to always be sure.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 05:40 PM
Nov 27

Nanuke

(612 posts)
9. We have the site Nextdoor that has lots of local mom and pop business services in our community.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 06:11 PM
Nov 27

agalisgv

(290 posts)
10. Don't underestimate the power of the pocketbook
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 06:16 PM
Nov 27

I have decided to completely stop spending money on anything unnecessary. If we all stop spending (when we can), it will hurt Trump's buddies more than just about anything.

ALBliberal

(2,892 posts)
12. Our buying power outweighs theirs
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 06:45 PM
Nov 27

I believe this to be true. I also believe our determination and our intellect outweighs theirs. I have basically switched into covid mode. We take care of our families and each other. We don’t lose our compassion. It defines us.

paleotn

(19,808 posts)
15. You are correct. Same here. Covid mode.
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 07:06 PM
Nov 27

We spend what we need to. We supported our neighbors whenever we can.

BonnieJW

(2,693 posts)
16. Don't bother
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 07:07 PM
Nov 27

Mr. Tariff will do it all by himself. Does anyone doubt what a disaster this economy will look like in 12 months?

NewEnglandAutumn

(201 posts)
14. I am doing the same
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 06:56 PM
Nov 27

I don’t care about what happens to MAGAts they need to reap t what they have sown

slightlv

(4,668 posts)
17. After being middle class most of my life,
Wed Nov 27, 2024, 07:19 PM
Nov 27

now that we're retired we're solidly in the "poor" economic scale. I had hopes when I thought Harris would win, that we'd see a decent increase in our SS, to match how WE spend our money. Now, I'm just hoping we hold on SS, period!

The faucet in our kitchen sink fell to pieces night before last. Nothing like answering a call for "help!" and seeing a gushing fountain of water hitting clear up to the ceiling (sigh). After DH finally admitted he knew nothing about installing a new faucet, and calling one plumbing company who gave me an "estimate" of over $1000 (to just install a simple faucet!!!!), I gave up, swallowed my pride, and called a good friend who is fixing it as I type, with hubby looking over his shoulder.

Something as simple as this can set us back a month or more. A few weeks ago, DH fell for a phone scam and our bank account was completely emptied. Thanks to friends, we managed to get thru til the next SS checks came in, but it was rough... what little I'd been able to save toward Property Taxes was wiped out. They're due next month. I have figured out who's going to have to wait for what payment to make sure the taxes are paid... but we bought this house outright in cash because I thought at least I'd have four walls and a roof over my head in our old age. Ha! Half the roof needs to be replaced and there's no money to do it. The back bathroom plumbing doesn't work right, and something is dripping down into the (unfinished) basement.

Daughter threw her oldest son out of the house when he and his brother got into a fight. In fact, she not only threw him out, she landed him in jail. I nearly hit the roof when she told me. You just don't do that to family except in dire circumstances like a gun or other weapon is present. This was a brother to brother fight. One just as guilty as the other. But the oldest was out of anywhere to live, so I let him move in with us. He's a low paying NFS job on Post, and pays us what he can out of each paycheck. And he helps around the house as he can. But the grocery bill has more than doubled.

I don't know what we're going to do getting deep in the fascist state we're heading into. It scares me to death. I mean, it's not just anxiety and worry... it's terrifying to me. I, at least, have my marbles more or less intact, but hubby is sliding down the slippery slope toward senile dementia, so whatever happens it falls on me to figure it out. And, while I have my marbles, my nerves are like frayed electric wires. We've had so much happen over the last three months, the sink faucet was my last nerve. And it seems like it just never stops. Thing is, even at this point, I wonder what the good is to continuing on like this. Other than my DH and my furbabies, I feel absolutely useless. But I am so tired of being scared of the future.

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