# Will everything always be more expensive and just out of reach? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 3, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442 "2007-10-03T23:25:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/1 "2007-10-03T23:25:39Z")
Some days I feel like there’s some sort of vast conspiracy to keep the prices of all things in perfect proportion so that they’ll maintain that same ratio of cost to my income regardless of how much money I have and how much they actual cost. I was grocery shopping yesterday and a box of cereal - which I did not buy, but looked at - was $5.99. Really? We’re talking about six damned dollars for a basic box of name-brand ceral, and not one of those big “family” boxes. I remember eating a lot of cereal when I was in college (a mere 8 years ago) and it never cost that much - it was about $3 a box, but I also had a lot less disposable income. So it still “costs” me the same proportion of my money to buy a box of cereal. Milk is similar - I don’t know what the hell happened to milk, but it’s almost $5 a gallon around here. It’s not that I’m particularly big on those two things, but it’s the _principal_ of the thing. I’m sure that there’s some legitimate reason out there that even though I’m making twice what I was making back them, cereal and milk are about twice as expensive, and that it has something to do with government subsidies of corn and oil and so on, but it just feels fucking insane and stupid. Why do I feel as broke as a college kid 8 years on? Because shit’s more expensive. Gas went crazy. At $50/ish a full tank, gas costs me as much of my money, proportionally, as it did when I was 16 and I could fill up for $10. It’s like you can never get ahead. I don’t even need to talk about housing prices. Will everything always be getting more expensive so that you always feel like you’re in the same position with how much of your money it takes to buy things? Is that why old people think everything’s too expensive? Is that what inflation is? When I’m making $100K a year, will it cost $300 to fill up my gas tank? Will pop tarts be $99.99? It honestly just makes me want to put a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger some days. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/2 "2007-10-03T23:28:30Z")
Don’t worry. Some day you’ll have enough money to buy anything you want. Then you’ll be working so hard you won’t have to enjoy it. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/3 "2007-10-03T23:39:20Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] It’s not that I’m particularly big on those two things, but it’s the _principal_ of the thing. [/QUOTE] Actually, it’s the \*principle \* of the thing. If you had more principal, you wouldn’t complain about how much things cost. Ok, I only did that because this is the pit. On a more responsive and substantial note: I think this topic is worthy of GD rather than the pit. The subject would be things like corporate welfare vs. the ability of the middle class to keep their heads above water; why the system we have is perhaps as closely related to fascism (in the economic sense) as to capitalism, as corporations and governments are in bed together but we are the ones who get fucked; and similar topics. It’s interesting how items that are perceived as optional goodies and toys (electronics, computers, fancy TVs) keep getting cheaper, but the necessities of life keep getting relatively more expensive. Together they make it seem like the cost of living is pretty stable, but it’s not. More people can afford the optional goodies (maybe, probably), but also more people can’t even feed their families. Revealing my essential paranoia here, but I don’t think this is accidental or coincidental. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/4 "2007-10-03T23:42:16Z")
Hmpf, reading the OP I ask “Will everything always be cheaper and just within reach in America?” $50 to fill your tank, lucky you 🙂 Assuming VC03 doesn’t ride a scooter of course! ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/5 "2007-10-03T23:44:08Z")
[QUOTE=VCO3] Milk is similar - I don’t know what the hell happened to milk, but it’s almost $5 a gallon around here. [/QUOTE] The price of milk has risen dramatically, not least because of a major increase in demand for milk (and milk products) from China, where it and other dairy products have not traditionally been consumed in large amounts, but are seen more and more as part of a Western, and therefore desirable in some ways, diet. Or so I heard on NPR recently. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/6 "2007-10-03T23:53:27Z")
Totally uneducated WAG, but I suspect this has to do with the fact that the consumer economy is largely financed through credit cards. If things were way more expensive than people could afford, they’d tend not to buy it even on credit. But if things are just a little more expensive than they can afford, they figure “eh, I’ll just put it on the credit card and pay it off when I get my next paycheck.” And this drives prices up to just that level where, for most of us in the center of the economic strata, things are priced “just out of reach.” Sucks for those of us who (now) refuse to use credit cards. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/7 "2007-10-03T23:56:34Z")
Actually, it seems to me like food has gotten cheaper relative to wages. My first job paid $4.00 per hour and the minimum wage was $3.35 per hour at the time. At that time, it cost about $4.50 for a nice deli sandwich. Now, the minimum wage is $5.85 per hour. And a nice sandwich costs about $5.50. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2007, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/8 "2007-10-03T23:57:10Z")
The thing is, I feel like a dick for even complaining about it - we’ve got it good here in the U.S., “where even our hobos are fat,” compared to the rest of the world, and I could have been aborted in Darfur rather than been born a white male here, I mean, I GET it. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/9 "2007-10-04T00:04:08Z")
**VCO3** , how much money do you spend now on getting out of the debt that you created when you were a free-wheelin’ college kid (and over the past 8 years)? I find now that I feel like I am totally broke. I make more money now than I ever have. But, that’s because every extra penny I have goes to paying off the debts I started piling up when I was in college (8 years ago). And I don’t even really have any fancy toys to show for that debt - just living as if I was going to be able to pay it off in the future. I don’t have college loan debt, but as a trade off I took on a mortgage instead. So I’ve got my credit card debt from college and my mortgage debt from now. Doesn’t seem like the economy has changed as much as _I_ have changed. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/10 "2007-10-04T00:04:14Z")
[QUOTE=villa] The price of milk has risen dramatically, not least because of a major increase in demand for milk (and milk products) from China, where it and other dairy products have not traditionally been consumed in large amounts, but are seen more and more as part of a Western, and therefore desirable in some ways, diet. Or so I heard on NPR recently. [/QUOTE] Part of the problem may be that the government subsidizes milk production, just as it does agriculture, which keeps the price high. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/11 "2007-10-04T00:31:13Z")
[QUOTE=athelas] Part of the problem may be that the government subsidizes milk production, just as it does agriculture, which keeps the price high. [/QUOTE] The current high price isn’t because of price support for milk in Wisconsin. The price support starts at a pittance in Madison Wisconsin and radiates outward across the country. I’ve always found this to be completely unfair, especially when you consider how much milk California puts out. Yet congress even last year refused the push by Wisconsin to make it a level minimum price across the country. The price support currently in place is not raising the price of milk in this state. The farmer isn’t usually the one that benefits greatly from the high prices. Very little of that increase goes to them. ---
**Author:** ![grayhairedmomma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/47e85d/32.png) [@grayhairedmomma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grayhairedmomma)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/12 "2007-10-04T00:43:19Z")
I hear ya. It seems like every item in the grocery store is at least $2.50+. I was so happy to know that my kids would be getting breakfast for free at school (all the kids do, it’s not related to income) so I wouldn’t have to spend so much at the grocery store. Add in fresh fruit, veggies & meat and I can’t get out of the store for less than $120 a week. It _shouldn’t_ cost almost $500 a month to feed a family of four and we don’t eat a lot. Cheese is $4, milk $4, yogurt $4, blueberries $3, bread $2.50, cereal $4, crackers $2.50…it’s so depressing. I suppose I should just be thankful I can put good food on the table. ---
**Author:** ![cowgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8c91f0/32.png) [@cowgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cowgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/13 "2007-10-04T01:04:40Z")
I am told that that the price of an eighth of pot has remained constant since I was in university ten years ago. The benefits of the underground economy! ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/14 "2007-10-04T01:26:04Z")
> [@](#): > > It honestly just makes me want to put a gun in my mouth and pull the trigger some days. Have you SEEN the price of bullets these days? Seriously, though, my big beef is that here in Amurrica, we seem to have gotten to the point (I certainly have) where we have so much stuff that each of us practically has our own gravitational field. I guess a six-buck box of cereal would be more significant to me if I actually ate cereal any more, or maybe less significant if I didn’t have fifteen grand or so in credit card debt to pay off. The ability to run up more or less permanent debt on credit (and Lord, I know I have) is one thing; then there’s the ever-increasing “need” to have services that more or less lock you into permanent, lifetime subscriptions. Lessee, I’ve got cable, Internet, cell phone service, HOA fees, insurance payments of various types, magazine subscriptions; and thats only a fraction of what I could sign my life away to if I really wanted to. Unfortunately, dammit, I like having most of that stuff. So, the prisoner is in love with his chains, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/15 "2007-10-04T01:43:20Z")
It’s not just milk and cereal- it seems like _everything_ has gone up. A couple of weeks ago I went grocery shopping and then I was like, “Hey, I just spent $175 and I didn’t even buy any junk food!” Using coupons helps a little, unless you’re like me and you end up buying stuff you normally wouldn’t, just because you have a coupon. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/16 "2007-10-04T01:52:45Z")
Actually the standard of living keeps going up, in fact it doubles every 30 years or so. _Myths of Rich and Poor_ gives a pretty good presentation based on empirical research: > **[Myths Of Rich And Poor: Why We're Better Off Than We Think: Cox, Michael W.,...](https://www.amazon.com/Myths-Rich-Poor-Better-Think/dp/0465047831)** > > Myths Of Rich And Poor: Why We're Better Off Than We Think \[Cox, Michael W., Alm, Richard\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Myths Of Rich And Poor: Why We're Better Off Than We Think And the biggest problem that poor people have with food now is that there’s too much obesity, not a good indicator that food prices are out of reach. And there’s that recent report showing what the average poor person owns. Cars, TV’s, cell phones, etc. Relax. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/17 "2007-10-04T01:53:14Z")
My rant on this topic would have been even more extreme - not only are things more expensive, but I truly don’t think our salaries are keeping pace. Way back in the 50’s/60’s, a single-income for a family was plenty to live a very comfortable life, complete with house and kids. Hardly anyone in modern times can afford a house and kids on a single salary now. Part of this equation is affluence, but not all, in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![Kayeby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de0a6/32.png) [@Kayeby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kayeby)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/18 "2007-10-04T02:00:25Z")
At the risk of sounding unsympathetic, perhaps if you [worked more than 3.5 hours a day](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8812429&postcount=23) you could afford name brand cereal. ---
**Author:** ![Sarahfeena](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sarahfeena/32/519_2.png) [@Sarahfeena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sarahfeena)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/19 "2007-10-04T03:14:25Z")
[QUOTE=Kayeby] At the risk of sounding unsympathetic, perhaps if you [worked more than 3.5 hours a day](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=8812429&postcount=23) you could afford name brand cereal. [/QUOTE] I don’t know how old you are, **VCO3** , but in my experience, most people don’t find themselves in a really comfortable place with money until they are at least 40. And that’s after busting their ass for 20 years to get ahead. ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2007, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442/20 "2007-10-04T03:26:54Z")
it creeps up on you. One day you’re sharing a small 3 room hole in the back of a carburetor shop, the next thing you know, it’s several jobs later, you have a kid in college, a few cars and a nice house. You’re still proportionally in the same debt as you were before, but now you have nicer stuff. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-everything-always-be-more-expensive-and-just-out-of-reach/421442.md?page=2)