[itepearce]

"Living within your means" has been totally altered within the last two years.

I write this as I'm getting ready to go the the Post Office and send the government some nice checks. Last week I had the joy of giving my health insurance provider an additional 10% above what I paid at this time last year. And this month there was a rent increase (I LOVE to keep me landlord happy).

All of those things are rising faster than they did before, and two years ago there was no way of knowing how much current increases would be. At the same time those who pay me are claiming pinches from all directions.

Makes one think of the old saying about a thousand cuts -- which now exceeds any sense of creeping normalcy ...