Cost of Living #8

[NotASlayer]

How is everyone doing? I'm definitely already seeing the costs of things going up here in Oklahoma. Gas, while usually $2 or less a gallon, has risen to $3.50. It doesn't really affect me much as I don't drive that much, but it has to be hard for people who do.

Petrol has gone up here as well, and it was already substantially higher than yours (if I've worked it out correctly, it's currently at $7.60 per US gallon at least). At the moment, I'm mostly only doing short local driving, but a trip out of town has a noticeable difference. It is still, fortunately, quite a bit lower than it was a few years back.

 

[November]

Dramatically more EV's on the road!! Crazy increase, so fast. Diesel was around$3 a litre. Petrol was around $2.85 a litre. Our town ran out of fuel and so did the next town over, so I had to go 200kms round trip to get fuel. Next town over is restocked now. Our fuel is iffy, its self serve so sometimes even when it has fuel, the payment is broken and we cant get the fuel. As far as I know, its still down.

EVs have noticed that we dont have great electricity out here all the time and complaints of only slow charging being available at times have begun. The electricity goes out most nights in my house haha not always for long but it often goes out. There is no fast charger here but i think there about 90kms away and there defo is in the city.

Grocery delivery spots are filling fast, so I have to be quick or miss out. Lots of complaints of mice nesting in peoples cars now they are not using them as much. My worst fear for my new one!! Mice are out of control right now cos they've suddenly banned poison to save the owls and now there is a mouse plague.

Nothing is open this weekend anyway so no places to spend money even if i had it haha.

 

[Stake fodder]

EVs have noticed that we dont have great electricity out here all the time and complaints of only slow charging being available at times have begun. The electricity goes out most nights in my house haha not always for long but it often goes out. There is no fast charger here but i think there about 90kms away and there defo is in the city.

This is what stops me buying one. I have to park on the street, and sometimes three blocks or more away from my place, so charging at home is impossible, and charging stations are too few and take too long. Having said that, the gas station up the street from me is now charging more than $6 a gallon, up more than $1 from a month ago.

On the other hand, my favorite bread's cost is going down. A couple months ago, it was $2.99. (Really $4.99, but always on sale.) Then it dropped to $2, and now it's $1.20. I'm buying as much as my freezer can hold, but I'm not sure why its price is declining when it seems like everything else is going up.

 

[November]

https://www.news.com.au/technology/motoring/electric-car-driver-left-scrambling-for-power-as-chargers-go-offline-on-nullarbor/news-story/93a559da76ebf3766745d3d4797d1cef

If they keep yelling loud enough, maybe we will start getting more infrastructure outside of the cities and then more people could actually leave the cities so no one has to live like a sardine in a tin.

The ladies this morning said our town fuel is topped up, but if the payment machine is working is anyones guess haha. They keep trying to convince me to get a horse, and I keep telling them to buy lotto tickets!

 

[NotASlayer]

This is what stops me buying one. I have to park on the street, and sometimes three blocks or more away from my place, so charging at home is impossible, and charging stations are too few and take too long.

There are similar issues around here; a lot of street parking and it being difficult to charge at home. Running an extension cord from the house to the road is not really viable, given that's across the pavement! And I have seen people do that if they have a driveway, having the power cable running out of a house window. Not as good as a charging station, but hundreds of pounds cheaper.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

On the other hand, my favorite bread's cost is going down. A couple months ago, it was $2.99. (Really $4.99, but always on sale.) Then it dropped to $2, and now it's $1.20. I'm buying as much as my freezer can hold, but I'm not sure why its price is declining when it seems like everything else is going up.

That is strange that it's gone down in price. I wish that were the case with my favorite bread, which is so expensive - $4.47 for a small round loaf, but it's good, only a few ingredients. And I'm a weirdo who's picky and only likes sourdough bread.

I'd make my own bread, but I'm not good at baking at all.

If they keep yelling loud enough, maybe we will start getting more infrastructure outside of the cities and then more people could actually leave the cities so no one has to live like a sardine in a tin.

We need more affordable housing period. It's a crisis here in America. There just isn't enough housing for those who need it, especially housing suitable for families. In the cities, they're only building studio or one bedroom apartments, and very few new single family homes. The average rent is now $1800 for a 2 bedroom apartment, which is insane. The average household income (dual income) is about $80,000, but many make much less, as they only have one income, especially if they have kids because one parent has to stay home because they can't find or afford daycare. People who work full time should be able to afford housing near where they work. "Min" wage needs to be a living wage. Working people should not have to live in their cars. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk, lol.

I live in the city proper, but don't mind it. I'm approximately five miles from downtown, a 10 minute drive to work there, and live in a nice residential neighborhood. At this point in my life, I wouldn't want to live downtown, though I have friends who do, since they don't have cars and want to be able to just walk to work. I need a yard for my dogs.

The ladies this morning said our town fuel is topped up, but if the payment machine is working is anyones guess haha. They keep trying to convince me to get a horse, and I keep telling them to buy lotto tickets!

Ha, transporting yourself around via horse may be cheaper than petrol...

Also, speaking of cost of living - I just got a notification on Mercari that due to rising fuel prices, they will be upping their shipping costs by 8%. I resell vintage on there a side hustle. Shipping is already high since the current administration de-funded USPS, and customers are already hesitant to buy something because of shipping prices. I don't doubt this will hurt my little business. I'm pissed. I know we're not supposed to talk about politics on here, but screw this war.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

Well, I paid my property taxes today, and feel like a real adult! It hurt though, not going to lie. Though my taxes are relatively lower than in other states, it's still a hit to my wallet!

That said, I'm doing pretty well sticking to my monthly budget, all things considered. For whatever reason, some of my utilities were cheaper this month than last, though I'm unsure why, because I'm definitely not using less. In fact, I'm using more since my boyfriend moved in last month. He's now paying half the fixed expenses though, which is dream! Gives me some room to breathe. My car insurance went up a little bit too, which irritates me, because I have a perfect driving record, and already think I'm overpaying.

I did buy myself a little gift this month - an inflatable pool for my yard, and a covered dog run for my dog, so she can chill out there with me. Now I can chill and stay cool, and not have to pay to use the city pool, or the pool at the casino as much this coming summer.

I've been trying to not use the air conditioning, but it's already so hot, I gave in and turned it on. I'll still try not to use it at night, and just use the fan.

I'm anticipating getting some gifted money for my birthday next month, and planning to save it for my next vacation.

How is everyone faring with the cost of everything seemingly going up?

 

[November]

$3.5 billion surplus in the state budget. They are giving everyone with a drivers license $100 for fuel, but you have to sign up for an app to get it. People with kids get up to $700 extra. 900 new hospital beds and free tafe for building jobs.

You'd think they'd factor in cost of living for the regions, but nah. More voters in the city.

In other news, I got my bunnings shop free on flybuys points and two $20 vouchers to use on groceries after they failed to deliver them twice.

 

[TamsinValencia]

Bayliss and harding handwash only £1.53 in waitrose its so pretty!

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

So I posted this in the How Long Is Your Hair? thread, but wanted to ask it up in here too:

I've been trying to get away with only getting haircuts four times a year, because they're so expensive. And I've started dying my own hair at home to cover my grey hairs, which is a total game changer!

Just out of curiously, how much are you'll paying for haircuts where you live? And do you tip on top of that? If so, how much?

 

[Stake fodder]

Just out of curiously, how much are you'll paying for haircuts where you live? And do you tip on top of that? If so, how much?

I cut my own hair, so I pay nothing. I can do a fairly even job on shoulder-length hair, and I typically wear my hair in a ponytail, so unevenness is hidden. But if I did go to a hair-cutting place, Great Clips is only about $20, though I always tipped. I stopped going there because they started taking appointments instead of being strictly walk-in.

 

[thrasherpix]

Just out of curiously, how much are you'll paying for haircuts where you live? And do you tip on top of that? If so, how much?

For many years now I've gone to a beauty college on Fridays as they give cheap to free haircuts. It's first come first serve and sometimes I only wait 5 minutes while other times I may have to wait for hours.

On the very rare occasions I use a professional stylist, assuming I'm pleased (and I think I'm easy to please and will even forgive what I consider innocent mistakes), I typically pay up and tell them to keep most to all the change. For example, say it's $44, I may pay $50 or even $60 (cash only) and tell them to keep the change. I love the sensation of having my hair done which can add to how generous I feel.

I did have my hair taken care of professionally in my 20s, and it didn't seem worth the expense (but still necessary), and most of all it seemed almost everywhere I went they (with others waiting) wanted to gossip. I felt exposed and kept too much hidden as my life was not normal then. (And I generally did not bond through trivial and sometimes mean-spirited gossip as seemed too likely the kind they wanted.)

To this day it's the gossip that keeps me away, though I know they don't do that everywhere. It always seems to happen where I'm at (save the beauty college, which is one on one, and the student is trying to concentrate which keeps chit chat to a minimum). Even the men seem to want to gossip. And it's usually more than one beautician with other customers who take part in it.

I know not everyone experiences the gossip, but it almost always happens to me for some reason. Maybe I'm just unlucky, though I suspect the reason such care is addictive to so many who can't afford it is because of the gossip (and fear of being gossiped about if they stop going). That is I think it's common even if it doesn't happen to everybody.

I avoid taxis for similar reasons, and the one uber I caught also did a double fare (me and another women who were picked up and let off at nearly the same place) with lots of gossip. I'm just not into it for some reason. Maybe something is wrong with me. I'm not antisocial it's just I find it too trivial at best. It's not that I think I'm better than them, though sometimes do fear I would not be understood, and become part of their gossip.

 

[November]

So I posted this in the How Long Is Your Hair? thread, but wanted to ask it up in here too:

I've been trying to get away with only getting haircuts four times a year, because they're so expensive. And I've started dying my own hair at home to cover my grey hairs, which is a total game changer!

Just out of curiously, how much are you'll paying for haircuts where you live? And do you tip on top of that? If so, how much?

I cut my own hair and havent dyed it in over a decade. When i do need help to cut it, I go to a walk in salon in the city and its around $80, no tip.

 

[nightshade]

Last time I had mine cut it was around £30, no tip.

I'm not bothered about my hair going grey it's just part of life and getting older.

Diesel has started to come down in price, but my hours have dropped at work so I can't fill up the car as much as I'd like to.

Heatwave is hopefully coming to an end, so I'll be able to plan meals better, I just haven't wanted to cook lately.

 

[NotASlayer]

Probably less than most, at around £12, no tip because it doesn't take long. There are advantages to having most of your hair buzzed off, in both cost and time. 😀 And, in the hot weather we've been having, coolness.

These are pretty close to how I have mine cut, so most of it is done with an electric hair trimmer.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

For many years now I've gone to a beauty college on Fridays as they give cheap to free haircuts. It's first come first serve and sometimes I only wait 5 minutes while other times I may have to wait for hours.

I've heard of people doing this, but I've been afraid to do so in fear they will screw up my hair.

On the very rare occasions I use a professional stylist, assuming I'm pleased (and I think I'm easy to please and will even forgive what I consider innocent mistakes), I typically pay up and tell them to keep most to all the change. For example, say it's $44, I may pay $50 or even $60 (cash only) and tell them to keep the change. I love the sensation of having my hair done which can add to how generous I feel.

$44 is cheap for a haircut around here. And you definitely get what you pay for...

To this day it's the gossip that keeps me away, though I know they don't do that everywhere. It always seems to happen where I'm at (save the beauty college, which is one on one, and the student is trying to concentrate which keeps chit chat to a minimum). Even the men seem to want to gossip. And it's usually more than one beautician with other customers who take part in it.

This is interesting! I see what you're saying about wanting to avoid gossip. Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Great Minds Discuss Ideas. Average Minds Discuss Events. Small Minds Discuss People,” and I think there is definitely truth to this! I feel uncomfortable if someone is talking badly about someone else in my presence when they are not there to defend themselves. Thinking back, I've never really experienced this at the hair salon, though I have definitely endured a lot of gossip in the workplace. I usually just wait in the waiting room alone, and don't talk to anyone though, so maybe that's why? For years when I lived in Seattle, I actually saw a man, a barber. He was pretty stoic. Now, living in Tulsa, I've found a woman I like to do my hair, but she does charge around $80 a cut. She will take my lead if I want to chat, if not, she's pretty quiet, which I like. If we do chat, it's usually about our dogs or the weather or something trivial.

Post automatically merged: Jul 17, 2026

I'm not bothered about my hair going grey it's just part of life and getting older.

I totally get that! I'm not too bothered by it, but it's an easy and quick fix to cover them, I'm going for it. I don't mind looking my age, but I don't want to look older you know?

Heatwave is hopefully coming to an end, so I'll be able to plan meals better, I just haven't wanted to cook lately.

I'm so in the same mindset. I've been working so much, I'm just so tired. I'm planning to make a big batch of cocount curry lentils and live on that for a few days.

 

[thrasherpix]

@Joan the Vampire Slayer

Since 2020 I look for the best prices as I still haven't fully recovered financially. I know $44 is cheap (it could be twice as much when I went to better ones in my 20s), and it was you get what you pay for, but I chose them for the price and figured it would be fine after a month, though I was surprised in that it was pretty much what I wanted (I believe it was the very last time I went to an actual salon, though I'm being tempted to go to another one now, and if I do it will be to one I haven't gone to before).

The gossip was about people who went there, but also celebrities (some also said what they wanted by referencing a celebrity's style, which is why I presume they had celebrity magazines there). I don't keep up with celebrities, and I feel strange talking about people not there, especially if it's mean spirited (not only can it get back to them, but it implies to me that they'll do the same to me when I'm gone which makes me want to stay silent about myself). And it doesn't interest me much.

I like your Eleanor Roosevelt quote.

Though it's more than that. Gossip can lead to really bad things happening (I've heard of it reaching levels of vandalism and terrorizing someone to sell their home to escape it, primarily because she wouldn't drink while watching children which made another mother who did drink feel judged). For a hair stylist, it COULD lead to a passive aggressive butchering of my hair. Not that I've known that to happen, but I was the target of vicious rumor campaigns when I went to school which caused all sorts of badness, so I remain wary of things like that.

I've expressed discomfort before with others about this and some tell me they don't have the same problem (though others can relate), so I said some are lucky. I've also seen people who struggle with food yet pay hundreds of dollars per month on their hair and nails so I have to wonder why they can't skip that in order to eat, and I can see it feeling important and tribal if a lot of gossip is going on. I guess it's therefore common, but I don't really know. It's certainly been common for me.

 

[November]

There is privatisation going on, just quietly. I have noticed two private ambulance companies lately. There are often private coach company buses. And Starlink is doing a far better job of regional internet than the government is, so its no surprise that people opt for it. The railways were all sold off decades ago yet the question of a rail service south never goes away. I wonder how long until private paying parks and private pay parking lots creep in down here.

The highway was trashed after the school holidays, as usual. Tourists just dont treat the place nicely. Part of me thinks that the trash should be earth colours, then it would be far less noticeable along the highway.

The shire has taken away all of the bins on the main street here too. There used to be 5. Now there are none. There are 2 bins for private businesses (the post and the bank) and thats it. The park still has 2 bins. I see people dumping house rubbish in the park bins all the time. Lazy bastards. We have free tip passes! But I think the shires laziness in taking away the street bins is going to bite them when they then have to hire people to pick up dumped rubbish. Maybe they will just ignore it, rip up and plant new fresh plants every six months to train the eye away from it.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

@Joan the Vampire Slayer

The gossip was about people who went there, but also celebrities (some also said what they wanted by referencing a celebrity's style, which is why I presume they had celebrity magazines there). I don't keep up with celebrities, and I feel strange talking about people not there, especially if it's mean spirited (not only can it get back to them, but it implies to me that they'll do the same to me when I'm gone which makes me want to stay silent about myself). And it doesn't interest me much.

I see what you're saying! You're right, if someone is willing to gossip to you, they'll certainly going to gossip about you.

Gossip can lead to really bad things happening...

You're absolutely right. This reminds me of a job I was once fired from. I was asked to sign a paper that said I had been let go because I "didn't mesh with company culture." No joke.

I am an incredibly friendly, easy going person, and most people like me. The boss loved me, so much so I was promoted only months into working there.

I refused to sign it.

A few months later, I ran into a woman I had worked with and she told me I was fired because the other women at the office were offended that I didn't want to get happy hour drinks with them after work. I didn't have an interest in socializing with them because they were all super negative and gossiped a lot.

Post automatically merged: Jul 20, 2026

We have free tip passes!

What is that?

 

[Stake fodder]

I wrote elsewhere about selling my car today. I paid $8000 for it brand-new 20 years ago, and got $1300 for it barely running, which I thought was fair. But looking at my records, I see I've put over $6000 into it in the last five years. Sigh, it's so hard to know when to give up on a lost cause.