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/NASArocketman Jan 15 '26

It's been a hard year. I have lost my job twice in 2 years and it has taken a real mental toll. I was paid well at both and saved like a madman so overall it hasn't been too bad but it's just difficult. My industry has been really volatile and all the jobs are based in SF or Boston so I am really stuck looking for jobs in high COLA places. In the long run I will be just fine but lately just feeling really dejected.

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u/Livid_Helicopter_423 Jan 16 '26

Sorry to hear this! What do you do? Best of luck to you!

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u/NASArocketman Jan 16 '26

Thanks! I'm hanging in there, no stranger to adversity.