|
|
Post by Clipper on Jan 12, 2023 11:15:29 GMT -5
www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/cpi-report-shows-fall-in-gas-prices-helps-inflation-slow-again-in-december/ar-AA16gcsf?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=f3f2dbb9122d4672b0e18473e5605181Gas prices moderate, and grocery prices go up. It all supposedly has an effect on rent? What am I not understanding here. While all this economic activity goes on all I realize is that MY dollars are not going as far as they did a year ago. Gas prices did moderate, but they are now trending upward again. I enjoyed the respite while it lasted. We paid as little as $2.60-$2.70 for a short period of time. Prices over the past 2 or 3 weeks have risen back to a low of $2.99 and a high of $3.29 around here. Grocery prices are skyrocketing. The price of a dozen eggs has almost tripled, supposedly as a result of the avian flu, strip steaks that I bought for $7-$10 are now $15 per pound. Ground chuck now costs as much as the steaks did a year ago. I just saw another article that said inflation slowed for the sixth straight month in December. My wallet begs to differ. Even with the significant increases I received on my VA disability pension, my federal civil service pension, as well as my social security benefit, the costs of consumer goods and services is negatively affecting the amount that I am normally able to put aside in savings. Kathy and I were just saying last night after filling the little car from just under half a tank for $25, that we are fortunate to have traded the V-8 pickup. Filling it from 1/2 tank would be costing me over $50 and God forbid I should ever have let it get down to empty. My heart goes out to those hard working Americans with a large family who DON'T rely on social programs to feed their family.
|
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Jan 12, 2023 13:59:46 GMT -5
Eggs are out of sight. I saw a carton of 18 walmart variety eggs for over $7.00
I bought 12 large eggs for $4.88 Eggland's Best. I like those and they were the cheapest.
|
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Jan 12, 2023 16:17:38 GMT -5
The airbag light came on in my truck recently. Took it to my mechanic who diagnosed a bad crash sensor in the front end & the clockspring inside the steering wheel. It's going to cost me close to $900 in parts & labor to fix & I'm sure a good portion of that is for the parts due to the increase in the prices of any part that goes into a vehicle. It took him over a week just to get the parts. I bring it to him next week, grin & bear it & bite the bullet. Repairing an airbag is out of my league so I'm stuck. That governor of ours recently reinstated the sales tax on fuel as did Oneida County so they can bleed us some more.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Jan 12, 2023 17:11:39 GMT -5
Bought 18 large eggs today for $4.69. I started shopping on the Virginia side of town since Virginia repealed their tax on groceries. Tennessee still taxes groceries and the sales tax on the Tennessee side is 9.75% counting state, county and city tax. I had a fit when we first moved here to see groceries taxed at that rate but then I remembered that we don't pay and state income tax and our total property taxes are still less than $500 a year. Sales tax finances everything that the property tax doesn't.
|
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Jan 12, 2023 19:10:16 GMT -5
Our property taxes are close to $3000/yr. & that doesn't count the county & Utica city sewer tax which is based on water consumptoon, so the more ya use the more they grab ya. Smart.
|
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Jan 12, 2023 19:32:16 GMT -5
Bought 18 large eggs today for $4.69. I started shopping on the Virginia side of town since Virginia repealed their tax on groceries. Tennessee still taxes groceries and the sales tax on the Tennessee side is 9.75% counting state, county and city tax. I had a fit when we first moved here to see groceries taxed at that rate but then I remembered that we don't pay and state income tax and our total property taxes are still less than $500 a year. Sales tax finances everything that the property tax doesn't. Amazing. I know an old Italian lady at 85 years old who still works part time as a library aid at the local high school whose property taxes are three time's that amount and she lives in the 900 block of Elizabeth Street in a house owned by her parents. She recently had to move from the second floor to the first floor due to a heart failor episode which she is recovering from. Luckily she has a very nice latino family two houses down from her whom she rents her garage out . All the guy has to do is cut the lawn and shovel the sidewalks. When she retires she told me she hopes that guy will buy it from her and I am sure he will. I do not know how people afford these crazy taxations ets on property/ |
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Jan 12, 2023 22:44:33 GMT -5
Our property taxes are close to $3000/yr. & that doesn't count the county & Utica city sewer tax which is based on water consumptoon, so the more ya use the more they grab ya. Smart. That is what we could not believe when we moved here. The total taxes were something like $470. Now they are just over $500 20 yrs later. We also paid close to $3k when we lived in N Utica. We live outside the city in the county so we pay $15 per month for trash pickup by a private hauler. Our water runs about $50 a month and electric is $154 a month on the budget plan. We don't have natural gas or sewer at the curb. Our house is all electric. Those with gas appliances or heat pay a horrific price for propane. Kathy would love to have a gas stove but the cost is simply not worth it by the time we pay for installation of the system, the propane and a new kitchen stove. |
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Jan 13, 2023 16:31:38 GMT -5
Our property taxes are close to $3000/yr. & that doesn't count the county & Utica city sewer tax which is based on water consumptoon, so the more ya use the more they grab ya. Smart. That is what we could not believe when we moved here. The total taxes were something like $470. Now they are just over $500 20 yrs later. We also paid close to $3k when we lived in N Utica. We live outside the city in the county so we pay $15 per month for trash pickup by a private hauler. Our water runs about $50 a month and electric is $154 a month on the budget plan. We don't have natural gas or sewer at the curb. Our house is all electric. Those with gas appliances or heat pay a horrific price for propane. Kathy would love to have a gas stove but the cost is simply not worth it by the time we pay for installation of the system, the propane and a new kitchen stove. We have an electric stove & I hate it. It's a GE & the damn elements are designed so that they cycle on & off as your cooking. Try to boil water for pasta as it's doing that, it's a terrible design. We have gas heat but no gas line up to the kitchen. Our next stove will be gas & I'll pay someone to run the line. |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Jan 13, 2023 17:47:01 GMT -5
BHU that is the type of elements I had at the other apartment. You are correct when saying try to boil pasta or for that matter rice! I hated it. Now I still have an all electric stove and the elements are the old fashioned coil.
I have been having luck buying my meats and salmon at Hannaford. They sell smaller weight packages of meat perfect for one or even two persons. I got a package of chicken legs only three legs for 3 bucks. Two seasoned chicken thighs for $1.80.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Jan 13, 2023 18:59:05 GMT -5
I am glad we don't the elements that cycle on and off on our GE stove. Maybe ours is older. We bought it in 2006. If you want to boil water with ours you are certainly guaranteed enough heat to do that. The burners adjust from low to 2,4,6,8, and high. We cook most on 4 and 6, but even on two it will maintain a fairly vigorous simmer. Kathy likes it well enough but would rather have gas.
Some of the green initiatives are just a bit over the top. Eliminating the ability to buy a gas stove if a person wants one is ridiculous. I bet the White House, and many homes of those in congress have gas stoves and wouldn't trade them for electric. I bet the Whitehouse has a large restaurant size gas range or two and probably gas flat top grills. The nation's chefs will be marching in the streets in protest.
The same goes for what I call a premature rush to ban the manufacture of gasoline powered cars. I hope that some of those "green weinies" get stuck in a snow storm like what Buffalo recently experienced. When their Tesla batteries go dead they will probably die of hypothermia. They certainly won't be able to walk to a service station for a couple of gallons of electricity. There needs to be more time for consideration and planning before issuing those decrees and imposing them on the general population.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ralph on Jan 14, 2023 0:46:03 GMT -5
We have reached the point in our lives where we have decided we need to downsize. This spring we will be looking for a new home. Maybe a nice modular somewhere or a smaller ranch house.........preferably outside of Oneida County, but definitely outside of the "hood".
I truly envy anyone who is able to escape NY State and wish we had the resources to do so. But we will make the best of it and be able to use this house as equity when we apply for a loan. We'll use it for storage until we have everything we want moved, then I'll sell it to the first slum lord that comes up with the cash.
|
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Jan 14, 2023 9:52:39 GMT -5
I am glad to see that you are going to be able to finally leave Grove Place in the rear view mirror. That old house has become nothing but a money pit and it is dangerous for you to be climbing around repairing the roof. I remember when that was a nice neighborhood and one didn't need to be wearing body armor to walk their dog or sit on their porch. A single level ranch style home will be so much more convenient, and safe for Betty to navigate with her walker and in a better neighborhood you both will be able to enjoy a lawn and a safe environment where you can enjoy sitting outside without the fear of being struck by a stray bullet I bet you are REALLY going to miss sharing the driveway with your next door neighbor.  How nice it would be to have a garden shed or garage where you could keep a snowblower and lawn mower eliminating the need to have to carry them up and down any steps, and a ramp that Betty could navigate safely. I am already envisioning a freshly mowed lawn a flower garden, and you and Betty sitting on a deck with meat sizzling on the grill.  That is my wish for you my hardworking, deserving, and valued friend. |
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Jan 14, 2023 11:09:17 GMT -5
I don't blame you Ralph for wanting to get out of the city. Even though we live on the north side if we could do it again we probably would not have bought in the city.. But at my age the thought of moving & the hassle of buying another home is out of the question, & we do like it here for the most part. As far as O.C. is concerned the suburbs for the most part are appealing such as Marcy as long as you're not near those power lines.Just a thought & best of luck.
Oh btw. I know someone who sold a house in Utica to some investor & they paid I kid you not $80,000 for it. Cash. Me? I wouldn't have paid $20k for it. Somebody will buy your place.
|
|
|
|
Post by BHU on Jan 14, 2023 11:12:40 GMT -5
I am glad we don't the elements that cycle on and off on our GE stove. Maybe ours is older. We bought it in 2006. If you want to boil water with ours you are certainly guaranteed enough heat to do that. The burners adjust from low to 2,4,6,8, and high. We cook most on 4 and 6, but even on two it will maintain a fairly vigorous simmer. Kathy likes it well enough but would rather have gas. Some of the green initiatives are just a bit over the top. Eliminating the ability to buy a gas stove if a person wants one is ridiculous. I bet the White House, and many homes of those in congress have gas stoves and wouldn't trade them for electric. I bet the Whitehouse has a large restaurant size gas range or two and probably gas flat top grills. The nation's chefs will be marching in the streets in protest. The same goes for what I call a premature rush to ban the manufacture of gasoline powered cars. I hope that some of those "green weinies" get stuck in a snow storm like what Buffalo recently experienced. When their Tesla batteries go dead they will probably die of hypothermia. They certainly won't be able to walk to a service station for a couple of gallons of electricity. There needs to be more time for consideration and planning before issuing those decrees and imposing them on the general population. All anyone has to do if they own a gas stove is to install a hood vent & preferably vent it outside. Problem solved. |
|
|
|
Post by Clipper on Jan 14, 2023 12:04:37 GMT -5
Exactly BHU. Just put a pot of water on to boil and then turn the vent fan on low. You can easily see that anything emanating from the stove is quickly sucked up into the hood and vented outside.
Even with an electric stove Kathy always uses the fan on low when frying anything just to keep the greasy vapors from condensing on the cabinet doors.
|
|
How nice it would be to have a garden shed or garage where you could keep a snowblower and lawn mower eliminating the need to have to carry them up and down any steps, and a ramp that Betty could navigate safely. I am already envisioning a freshly mowed lawn a flower garden, and you and Betty sitting on a deck with meat sizzling on the grill. 
That is my wish for you my hardworking, deserving, and valued friend.