INFLATION--The damage has already been done

This is the correct view

 

I think that's usually right. Best to hold the line for a bit and see what happens before they start lowering rates.

 

You don’t know you crossed the line on higher rates until the line breaks. Thus, expect a harder landing than the soft landing scenario they are peddling.

 

It's a balancing act. The Fed isn't doing that bad at all. The Fed has been slightly hawkish over the last few years. Around a 7.5 out of 10, if 10 is completely hawkish/defeat inflation at all costs. Basically, the Fed has done what it's supposed to do.

Going forward, I'd be wary of upsetting the balance. Just hold steady for a while and don't jump headfirst into the shallow pool of rapid multiple rate cuts.

 

Blast it, now even my hair cuts have gone up! Biden you’re like OU, you suck!

 

Mine haven't, but only because I have no hair to be cut.

 

My haircuts are same cost as 1979.

 

Sangre my cut takes around 3 minutes. Start to finish.

 

Mine's gone up a bit lately...

 

It shouldn't exist. So there's that.

 

I had my barber carve in the "RRR" earlier this weak for "Red River Rivalry"...

 

Horror of horrors on inflation - Not Girl Scout cookies! Inflation has come for one of America's favorite treats (yahoo.com). Now they've let inflation get out of hand!

 

Girl Scout cookies have been grossly overpriced for 20 years. If it's getting worse, well, the little gold diggers can go jump in a lake. Maybe some of them will earn a swimming merit badge.

 

They are overpriced, but I can't say no to 7 year old girls asking for money. They're too cute, and since they aren't my kids, I don't feel an obligation to sometimes say no just so they don't think the world will always give them what they want. Besides, I get big points at home when I bring Mrs. Deez the samosas, and I'm a big fan of the thin mints when they're kept in the freezer. In total, those little cookie racketeers usually scam $20 - $30 per year out of me.

 

I am, too, Mr. Deez. I usually buy two boxes and normally eat half of the first box before I get home.

 

Nice pay raise for some of you:



Social Security COLA 2024 increase: Cost-of-living adjustment adds $50 a month on average — Axios

 

Due to crappy bonus this year due to the manufacturing recession, my pay in 2024 will be the same as 2018 in nominal terms. In real terms, I estimate a 22% reduction.

 

Yes, it will be nice to get the bump on our Social Security checks (and also on my USAF retirement check). It helps us catch up on part of last year's inflation. It doesn't come close to covering the huge increases in food and energy costs. And the index they use to calculate the increase doesn't accurately reflect the way retirees spend.
But I won't turn it down - every little bit helps.

 

Good illustration here, prices up 20% since covid.

 

Got me Mc, I feel wealth coming my way.

 

If the government keeps spending more it doesn't matter what the Fed interest rate is, inflation will continue.

 

Wait until winter arrives. Natural gas has been over $3 since 05 October.

 

I'll watch this with great interest. Our previous home was all-electric. We moved in April (to get into a one-story house so Mrs. HHD won't have stairs to climb) and we have gas heat. So far our Atmos bills have been tiny - but we haven't had heat on yet. Hope we don't get huge gas bills in the winter.

 

Ours is ~$50 just for hot water.

 

Mona
Wow
Are there non gas added costs?

 

We moved to deep east texas 18 months ago. Gas (wtr heater, central heat) and electric (range, washer &dryer, central a/c. ). As hot as this summer and last summer was we never had a combined bill over $200 in any month. Last winter the norm combined bill was $160 with one month at $240ish. That was the month of the big freeze

Gas has always been cheaper for heat I hear.

Our house here is only 1800sf, one story and very energy efficient. Not to mention the huge trees keep the sun off the house. Just by eliminating the 2nd story should be a significant savings for you

 

Yes, single story with double pane windows makes a huge difference.

 

We downsized a bit when we moved - went from 2650 sq ft to 2400. My Reliant bill (on average billing at our previous 2-story home) was about $450/month. So far we're running about $300 for Reliant and $40 for Atmos. I suspect that the 220 volts for the pool pump will put a floor on the electric bill, even in the winter.