Photo by Mohamed Hassan, Courtesy Pixabay, Creative Commons License.
New York City has been the city of dreams forever, but inflation has changed the game for many. Queens residents noticed prices have gone up in stores and online, and they face constant questions about how to spend their money and still have a good lifestyle.
During hard times, money can help improve our lives or cause more stress. There is no in-between. Choosing whether or not food should be on our tables or whether we should buy a new pair of sneakers for work has become a subconscious debate in our heads. In the middle of the pandemic, living comfortably only seemed realistic after the pandemic. But now, when you go out to buy groceries or go out for dinner, prices have increased to an extent where $50 feels like it doesn’t go very far.
“It is insane how much prices have gone up. Everything doubled and you have to pay it regardless of your income, there is no way out of this,” said Alexandra H., a Queens resident who didn’t want us to use her last name. She works for an insurance company and gets paid bi-weekly. It makes her uncomfortable that money doesn’t come in weekly. After paying for rent and car expenses, she worries because there isn’t much left from her paycheck.
You can not escape the effects of inflation. The cost of buying food increased by 11.2 percent over the last year. Now being responsible with your money is something you need to consider so that you don’t lose your apartment, your car, or any of your most valuable items.
“During the pandemic, I didn’t think that inflation would be so cruel as it is now. Buying gas or groceries every week already can be $300 taken out of your paycheck,” said Peter G., a Queens resident who also didn’t want his last name used. Peter thought through the areas where he spends money and realized that some of his purchases “are not worth making.” He had to step back from spending.
It is important to keep the idea of making smart choices with bills and our savings every single day. Instead of buying a $7 coffee, you can make coffee at home. There’s the same satisfying taste and a satisfying way of saving $7. During this time as we struggle, prioritizing our money seems like the best thing to do while focusing on what is best for us and our families.
