Should We Believe The Price Increase Warnings?

 Walmart recently had the audacity to defy President Trump and proudly display that yes, indeed, prices are going to rise due to the new tariffs. Not only will the prices go up, touts Walmart, but they are going to put a red letter "T" next to those prices to constantly remind you that the "T" stands for tariffs and yes! that's why your prices have increased.

Should we believe the warnings? Is it really going to happen? Has it already happened? Is anyone prepared for this? Are we really going to starve? If so, what steps have you taken to prepare for higher costs? 

Should we believe the Target employee who posted and exposed his employer of jacking up the prices, thanks, in part to those tariffs? Items that were priced at $9.99 are now being sold for $17.99. Here's his recent upload photo:

You can't go by me because other than gas and groceries, I rarely buy anything. And when I do, for example hubby just bought tires for our car, it's always an item that has gone on sale. We follow the process. We log in the costs and when we see the price decline, we snap it up and buy it. Hubby got 4 new tires for the price of 3. I don't think I have ever bought much at retail costs. I frequent Goodwill and FaceBook MarketPlace. Now that the weather is warmer, I'll be going to more yard sales and barn sales. I rarely buy anything new. Secondhand has oftentimes been my only friend. 

I will tell you, however, what DOES worry me when it comes to increasing prices. It's the rising costs of health, home and car insurance. I can try and find a new provider but how worthwhile are these new suppliers? It would be awful to switch to a cheaper provider only to find out they won't honor a claim or if they do honor it, they shortchange you and pay out less than it's worth. I worry if, as hubby and I progress in our retirement, will we be able to keep up with these rising prices? I read this morning that next year basic Medicare will rise between 10% and 40%. Will we be able to keep paying? And what about our rising property taxes? Will we be able to keep paying those? We have no other choice but to keep paying these increases because what's the alternative? Even with the anticipated increases, it still will only cost us $1,000 a month (up from $700) to live here. Rent alone, should we go that route, would be at least $1,500 to $2.000 a month. That's before adding in electricity and rental insurance. The $1,000 I just quoted includes every single item needed to live here, in place (property taxes, electricity, maintenance, heating and air conditioning). So, all in all, it's still a good thing for us, at this time, to remain in place. And just continue to find ways to increase income while decreasing expenses, while maintaining a balance.

We continue to cut whatever expenses we feel aren't necessary. Thankfully, hubby continues to get a few days of work monthly. We save all those pennies to prepare for the one eventual day hubby can no longer work. In the interim, we continue to make our home the best it can be. Because, in reality, we're spending more and more time at home so we might as well make it as comfy as possible. As for the starvation warning, many of our friends have rural connections, as do we. We live among the many area farms and have been told often that they favor the locals over the tourists. So, that's a very good thing. We can't replace our community. There's no guarantee if we moved away we'd find another dedicated, caring neighborhood, such as the one we have already. Hubby and I have been living here for 25 years. We're now part of the local community. There aren't any warnings on that!!

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