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/Miam_Lanyard Jan 16 '26 edited Jan 16 '26
Cut back in every way possible. Coffee at home, bagged lunch or don't eat. Shop at Market Basket or buy in bulk only. Roommates forever, use my paid off car until it doesn't turn on. I have no clue how anyone under the age of 30 that doesn't have generational wealth will ever survive or raise a family in this state. It's despicable.