Is the price of things driving you insane? I took my kid to the movies - $78 for 2 tickets, 2 sodas, 1 small popcorn. I’m in NYC, hope it’s better elsewhere. Feeling fatalistic about it all. A new catcher’s mitt is $375? Ok. My Con-Ed bill is $769? Sure. I make over 300k and we’re now living paycheck to paycheck. And yes, we could watch movies at home or look on eBay for catcher’s mitts and sweat it out instead of turning on the A/C - I understand austerity moves. I’m just pissed. Am I alone?

There will always be someone better off than you and worse off than you.

300k is a good income, even in high COL areas.

My household was earning half that, with kids, in Los Angeles…before getting laid off. Out of work for a year. Life is really hard for us right now. We are the family buying stuff used…all the time, never eating out, no movie theaters, just watching at home.

But we still have some options. We do our best.

The most important thing is having options. That’s what enough money buys you.

As long as I have some options, feeling pretty fortunate.

To the bigger point, totally agree, life year over year has been getting more difficult.

I feel that something’s gotta give soon. It’s untenable. It’s harder and harder to meet basic needs. I worry about affording our water and power bill, affording health insurance, car insurance, gas for our cars, or even being able to replace our cars currently on their last legs. Groceries bills are high…everything costs too much.

If I am living paycheck to paycheck, I don’t know how families with lower incomes are surviving.

Feeling very similar in LA. Going to the movies shouldn't feel like it's breaking the bank!

I grew up pretty poor, but could go to the movies more since we had things like the 50cent theater near us. Things that were cheap and common in my child feel outrageous now (mini golf, bowling, I don't think we even have skating rinks these days). I miss being able to leave the house for next to nothing and have tons of fun.

You are not and it sucks the most to be the middle class. I feel like everyone else has it easier. They either don’t worry about money or don’t bother to work. The middle class has to do both

I feel this!! Same movie prices in Chicago btw. Thank god I get a break on housing costs comparatively.

Popcorn and soda at the movies has always been ridiculous. I make my kids share one if I spring for it at all.

Sorry but $300k crying poor? You get no sympathy for two reasons: 1) $78 is not what a normal theater will cost you. This feels like Saturday pricing of an IMAx in 3D ticket price. 2) catcher mitts aren’t $375 unless the kid is already being scouted for the majors you can get an excellent mitt fir under $100. Both of these are examples of someone who has more money than sense and then has the nerve to complain to people making far f’n less. What’s next complaining about how expensive dinner was last Friday night at NOBU or Le Cirque? It is tough out there but you have the financial resources to eaily coast through. It’s your lifestyle that’s hurting you not the prices. You’ve got goldfish syndrome.

You are not alone. I am here with you. Though we're far apart....😒