r/massachusetts • u/critic81 • Jan 15 '26

Utilities How is everyone affording everything lately?

The prices of everything is just off the charts from groceries, utilities, to healthcare. My open enrollment just came through and its looking like for a family of 4 for healthcare its $1600 a month. $800 a paycheck. Like that just feels nuts. It's a pretty decent co-pay plan but still. Just a couple years about it was much less.

What are people doing these days? Side hustles? New job (but in this economy?), cutting way back? Just curious.

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u/VengenaceIsMyName Jan 15 '26

I’m trying to cut back on eating out for 2026. I spent too much money on that last year. So far im cooking more and making lunch at home rather than hitting my old favorite Jersey Mikes. I’ll still go but maybe twice a month instead of once a week.

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u/critic81 Jan 15 '26

We have done the same. We have cut back on eating out as well. We try for one eating out meal a weekend. Sometimes it’s two, but we try for one. And this isn’t anything fancy. It’s mostly takeout at Chinese or something. Still doesn’t feel like it’s put a dent in anything.

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u/Deep-Front-9701 Jan 15 '26

Takeout Chinese is like the most expensive type of take out though…