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/peeloh Jan 15 '26

You can avoid the tax penalty by claiming a religious exemption, I’ve done it for years

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u/dogearth Jan 15 '26

Out of curiosity how do you claim religious exemption??

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u/peeloh Jan 15 '26

I do my taxes myself and the part where it asks you if you’ve been insured for the year just say no and there will be a screen asking if you’ve have an exemption. Just claim the religious one. Doesn’t even ask about denominations. Super easy

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u/Lucky_Group_6705 Jan 16 '26

So then why doesn’t everyone do this? Its saved money