What are you doing to adapt to current times

[pd2436]

I hate to say it but... I delayed retirement. I am an overthinker who tries to prepare for worst case scenarios, so when things like this happen I tend to stock up on essentials at home, and wait a bit to see what the future looks like. Now as a matter of full transparency, I'm only 57 and the DW is preparing for a major back surgery in the next month, therefore I figured I would keep working because we can't travel for a while anyway. Once she heals I will reevaluate expenses and the state of the world to make a decision.

But overall, we tend to stick to a budget, so our daily lives have not changed. Gas prices don't affect me as I have a company car that I drive all the time, so for that perk I am blessed.

[NJKris]

Don't stay home Paul. Just stay closer to home. We can still salvage this mess.

[W5CRE]

Travel a bit less by staying in place longer is all. Other than that my life plan hasn't changed. I plan to die broke in my 90's in someones bed from gunshot wounds.

[old40ford]

Originally Posted by Iwritecode

If I'm being completely honest... nothing.

Prices go up every single year due to things beyond my control. It's just part of life.

I'm not eating out any more or less than I used to. I'm not driving any more or less than I used to. I'm not cancelling any planned trips or vacations.

I don't exactly live an extravagant lifestyle as it is.

I'm just living my life as best as I can and will continue to do so for as long as I can.

X2 I am too old to postpone my adventures now

[Alloutdrs1]

I have stocked up on things we use the most by buying a couple extra here and there. Shortages are coming and I want to be able to endure the storm. All our camping trips I book a year in advance so those are set. I have two 8-10hr away trips so those I will play by ear, if fuel goes to 10$ a gal then the cost for those would be too great. The rest of my trips luckily are within 2hrs from my house, just ended up that way this year luckily.

[Life Without Whine]

DH just had emergency neck surgery with a 3 month recovery period so we get to have other people drive our camper nearby to set up for the next few months adventures so I can drive him back home if unable to spend the night out there. We thought he was going to just get his back done so we had not really booked out much for this year but boy o boy did his neck go down the tubes FAST :-( and that turned out to be a much longer recovery & rehab time .... guess this was a good time to hit pause on the longer trips for awhile....

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

, so money is not our main concern. Time is.

^^^^ X2
I agree.
We aren't rich, but we're not going to worry about something we can't control. Life's too short.
We'll do most of the things people have suggested if it becomes necessary... except for fiddling with the thermostat.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by 2plus1

For us $$$$ are a non-renewable resource. The nest egg is going down quicker every day. We are watching and will make our decision as we get closer to April 15 but I suspect we'll be staying home.

Paul

As another 79 year old (297 days til 80) I understand this part very well.

I have plenty of money for my lifestyle TODAY. Will it be enough down the road with the current trend? Unlike when I was still working there won't be any annual pay raises that will meet the level of increased costs that are becoming more apparent every day.

[2plus1]

Originally Posted by NJKris

Don't stay home Paul. Just stay closer to home. We can still salvage this mess.

Thank you Kris, and that's most likely what we will do. I think we can shorten it to about 1000 miles and still have most of the fun.

Besides the weather is not cooperating this year. This is the day we brought the trailer home from the dealer two years ago. At that time there was still a bit of snow around but we had no trouble getting in and out of our yard. This morning I spent two hours with my snow blower clearing the drive from the latest storm. At this time there is a drift between me and the trailer that is 5 feet high and 80 feet across. I have no way to reach the trailer to begin to prepare to go.

Paul

[NevadaMiniLite]

What are you doing to adapt to current times?

DRINKING

[RoyalFrog2]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

This is not meant to be a gas price watch or political comment thread. Hopefully those commenting will resist the urge

It's a given that current events have caused prices for EVERYTHING to go up.

What are you doing to adjust and meet the challenges?

Eating out less?

Traveling less?

Planning trips, both local errand types as well as longer travel?

Lowering the heat setting in your house or RV and just wearing warmer clothes?


Care to share what you are doing, or planning to do, in order to deal with the increased costs?

DH had been complaining about the 2020 Subaru we bought and since we were heading south for 4 months when it would not be used yet we'd still be making payments, we sold it back to the dealer. The market was hot for used cars they said. Yea, we got a good buy back price. The chip shortage would settle down in 2022 they said. HA! We have started to look at cars and now finding $2,000 to $20,000(!) "market adjustment" added to the MSRP. I think we are going to be a one vehicle couple for a while.

[markb422]

My problem is I had our big trip for late summer out west planned out and many reservations made while I thought gas prices would be hanging around 3.00 to 3.50. Now it looks like our trip is going to cost twice what our trip did last September only because of gas prices. So, do I cancel all the reservations and plan something closer or just hope prices will come down a bit later this summer.
Also wanted to give a LOL for writing this "given that current events have caused prices for EVERYTHING to go up".

[NavyLCDR]

I'm putting gas in like every third day because it seems less painful to pay $20 for 4 1/2 gallons of gas than it does to pay $110 to fill up. Also paying cash for gas now. Although at $4.25/gallon it only takes 3% cash back rewards to save more than the $.10 discount for cash.

[chuckt]

Had all trips planned for this year. Now with growing gas prices, I am considering at least 2 of the long distance trips (over 8 hours/400 miles one way) to be dropped and change to shorter trips no more than 3 hours drive away. However a lot of destinations have been booked already and reservations may not be available. Oh well, I'll do what I can.

[NoviBill]

I have always been frugal (some would say cheap, others would not be that polite). My house is less than I can afford, my motorhome was purchased used, my cars are older.
My big splurge in life is travel, so I will spend what I must to see what I want to see.

On a good day with a tailwind and downhill I get 10mpg so at $5/gallon that's $0.5 per mile or $500/1000 miles but only $200 more than it was before COVID, over a 2 or 3 week trip, $200 is not a huge factor. Gas was over $6/gallon equivalent when we were in France, it was not a major factor in traveling.

Another 5 years I will be able to buy an EV Motorhome with 400 mile range (Class B). No chance of buying a used one, so I will SPLURGE and buy new. This will also help keep my driving time down to reasonable every day.

*It's nice to see polite comments about a difficult subject.

[jimmoore13]

In the context of camping:

• Boondock or NFS campgrounds...free or $12.50/night;
• Stay close to home. Our typical round trip is <40 miles;
• Keep the speed down to save fuel;

Non-camping:

• Fewer restaurants;
• Fewer bars - we miss the live music;
• Make do...modest appliances, TVs, and so on - our "big" TV is a 37", 10 year old flat screen;
• Lots of DIY on repairs, etc.
• Work from home;
• Limit "shopping" and "errand" trips to one day per week.

[W5CRE]

It costs me more today to live the same lifestyle as yesterday. That's what my Great Great Great Grandfather said.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by jimmoore13

In the context of camping:

• Boondock or NFS campgrounds...free or $12.50/night;
  
• Stay close to home. Our typical round trip is &lt;40 miles;
  
• Keep the speed down to save fuel;
  

Non-camping:

• Fewer restaurants;
  
• Fewer bars - we miss the live music;
  
• Make do...modest appliances, TVs, and so on - our "big" TV is a 37", 10 year old flat screen;
  
• Lots of DIY on repairs, etc.
  
• Work from home;
  
• Limit "shopping" and "errand" trips to one day per week.
  

The DIY part will become a lot more popular. Rather than just paying someone else to a job that doesn't require an advanced skill, learn how to do it yourself.

[2plus1]

And my Grandmother who lived through the great depression said she would rather do that again than live through a period of inflation. She said, "at least when I get up in the morning I know I haven't gone backwards." She said that during the high inflation period of the late '70s, early '80s. Inflation was 10% to 15% then if I remember right and bank loans were about 20% and up. Yikes !!

Paul

[TeachTexas]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

^^^^ X2
I agree.
We aren't rich, but we're not going to worry about something we can't control. Life's too short.
We'll do most of the things people have suggested if it becomes necessary... except for fiddling with the thermostat.

X3


Not going to worry too much as that causes problems in itself. Will continue on and adapt when needed. As the french say C'est la vie.