Not my lane. I have generally followed you JJ and appreciate many of your takes. Your perspective often makes me ponder in ways that are beneficial. Frequently I agree with your overall theme, sometimes I do not. You don't give a shit what I think, I understand.
I do not understand your position here.
Are you spending more on your daily activities, daily needs than you used to? Are your increases (if any) consistent with BLS data?
I am spending more. I am not living a lifestyle that is materially different than I used to. I have had new expenses (new driver, needs car, needs insurance, needs gas). Excluding new expenses, my costs to live have increased considerably. When I look at my monthly HEB budget for the family I am up 35-40% since 2020 and I now no longer drink $100 worth of alcohol a week (down to about $40 a month). I eat far less beef than I used to (fajitas are now rare, as is steak).
Call it inflation? Maybe. Call it price gouging? Not sure how considering HEB has almost no margins on grocery items. Call it "more expensive than it used to be" - absolutely. At least from my chair.