The economy is booming, or so Bush administration apologists have told me, and yet, according to AP business writer, Anne D’Innocenzio, living paycheck-to-paycheck is getting harder. At the end of the day (or end of the week, I suppose), it doesn’t matter how well the economy is doing if your paycheck buys less than it used to.
The calculus of living paycheck to paycheck in America is getting harder. What used to last four days might last half that long now. Pay the gas bill, but skip breakfast. Eat less for lunch so the kids can have a healthy dinner.
Across the nation, Americans are increasingly unable to stretch their dollars to the next payday as they juggle higher rent, food and energy bills. It’s starting to affect middle-income working families as well as the poor, and has reached the point of affecting day-to-day calculations of merchants like Wal-Mart Stores Inc., 7-Eleven Inc. and Family Dollar Stores Inc.
Food pantries, which distribute foodstuffs to the needy, are reporting severe shortages and reduced government funding at the very time that they are seeing a surge of new people seeking their help.
Good for my collection business, I suppose. Sucks for America though.
Good to finally see some national press paying attention to what food banks are doing. Down here in south-central Indiana, Hoosier Hills Food Bank has given away more food than ever before (over 2 million pounds). Even with record donations, it’s a struggle to keep enough food in stock.
I have more and more people stopping by to ask for assistance with utility bills, food, and gasoline. And some of the people who have needed help would surprise you…definitely middle-class families.
Rev. AJB: Your experience sounds similar to what is happening here in Wayne County. The township trustees, food pantries, places that serve free meals, etc., have said that their numbers are up. They are also reporting growing numbers of working class and middle class families as clients.
I’m nowhere near having to go to a food pantry, but my job has not given raises to anyone for over three years, and I may have to start doing more freelance work on the side just to keep up.