Where Inflation Hits Most

Inflation is at a 31 year high. Prices for everything from gas to groceries are jumping. Headlines bemoan a more expensive Thanksgiving dinner and drive to Grandma’s afterward. Christmas will use up more than a few pennies extra, the media alerts. 

But the focus on holidays rather than the necessities costing more negates the real impact of today’s inflation. 

Ten cents more a gallon at the gas pump or ten dollars more per week at the grocery store might be an annoyance for those in the upper middle class and above, but it won’t break the bank. That’s not true for those who are already struggling. When a monthly budget is tight, if not already in the red, even just a few more dollars per month is nearly impossible to pull off. Cuts will have to be made - cuts to things that are necessary like food, clothes for growing children and the money set aside for commuting, bills, rent. That doesn’t even consider “the extras” that a family would love to provide at this time of year. 

How do you have a holiday when you can’t afford the every day? 

If you’re able, consider giving to a local nonprofit in your area to help ease the burden of rising prices this month. The R.J. Leonard Foundation partners with some amazing organizations, including One Simple Wish and The Vine at Doylestown United Methodist Church. They do a lot to help individuals and families in need. And of course, you can always donate to the R.J. Leonard Foundation here. ​