Anyone Cancelling Truck Camper Trips Due to Fuel Prices?

valhalla360 wrote:

jimh406 wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:

jimh406 wrote:
The polls are saying most people don't think they are doing well now. I can't think of any reason why some would think that most people are doing well now. Maybe they aren't paying attention.

Perception vs reality are often different.

It feels bad when you drop $100 filling the tank vs the $50 you paid a year ago. So people perceive things as bad.

That doesn’t seem very different. If you are making a lot more money than a year before, that’s great.

However, most people including retired people aren’t getting 100% pay raises. In those cases, perception and reality are the same.

Of course, you can argue that it is all part of a good plan, but many people don’t agree that it’s a good plan.

Note: it’s not about me. I’m doing ok. However, the people who are living paycheck to paycheck are not.

Retirees make up a small percentage of the population...and even those got something like a 6-7% jump in SS. (overall inflation is no where close to 100%).

But those working even at the lower levels generally are getting sizable pay increases or moving to higher paying jobs in droves.

Of course, if the inflation keeps up, eventually reality will catch up with perception but right now, there are jobs and money for those who want it. It just feels bad when those gains are canceled out by inflation.

Hard to make the case Social Security retirees are doing OK. Net SS increase over last year for wife and myself after huge Medicare withhold increase is 4.8% and 5.3% respectively. I figure we will use 955 gallons of diesel this year. Using a conservative $2.00 per gallon increase (it has gone up $3.60 per gallon in the last 18 months), and my increase in fuel costs are $1,910. Total net increase in SS payments are $1,920. Justy the increase in diesel used up the entire raise. We get to suck up the increases in everything else from savings or other assets.