how do you all survive on 1,400-1900 paycheck a week?

Please remember that locale has a lot to do with that

 

It took me years to convince my wife to just let one rip!
It used to be so funny watching her, knowing how uncomfortable it is when you hold it.
Now she at least let's it out and doesn't have to sit in discomfort for hours. But she still says the dog did it!

 

You mention cost vs what people expect and it brings back memories.
I had an Aunt that was a self proclaimed wine conisor/expert.
She would rave or complain about the wine served at some family dinners based on her so called expertise.
My Grandfather started buying the cheapest wine in gallon jugs and would fill the glasses out of sight but always had a few bottles of the expensive stuff in sight so she could see them as she entered the house.
Whats funny is she from that point on always raved about how good the wine was never knowing she was drinking the least expensive stuff on the shelf.

 

Ever see the panic when the register is down and they have to figure your change on thier own?

 

oh, I have no worries. lol.

can I afford a mortgage? yup, sure can.

I'm retired, widowed, over 70 and don't see the need to go back to work, (don't want to either). S/Security is my income, so it won't be going down.

also got a big chunk socked away, (life insurance from the wifey), for the crap happens events

 

I did the same when I lived overseas. The custom is to serve male guests high quality wine.
I acquired several empty celadon wine bottles and then bought a gallon of cheap clear wine at Super-Walmart. Of course the celadon wine bottles were not the real deal, but perfect copies.
Kept the celadon wine bottles filled with that. Only one guest asked me about it and I brushed it off.

 

I make my own coffee in the truck, just the way I like it.

 

I NEVER go to Starbucks because it's bitter. Toilet bad beer they're everywhere. I do like Dutch bros. Ziggy, and scooter. ( it's funny cause we have two dogs named the last 2.

 

I work and get ssi.but they cut it off for 6 months because I was making too much. Imagine that, I contribute all my life and they decide whether I can have it or not. I'd settle for half of my lifetime contributions and we call it even.

 

They have black coffee. That's how I like it just not that bitter Seattle crap. In a pinch Starbucks " blonde" is passable.