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While the Euro zone inflation hits a record 8.6% as the European Central Bank prepares for its first rate hike in 11 years, the rest of the world is also experiencing rising costs of virtually everything.

In the US, costs of necessities yet again skyrocketed in May, leaving the US with a new 40-year high in inflation. Think of gas, food, energy, rent, flight prices, and all other basic necessities. Households across the country are experiencing unprecedented pressures, making them less able to afford discretionary items like electronics or haircuts.

So it’s not simply you who can no longer feast on Starbucks lattes. We’re talking about lower-income and Black and Hispanic Americans, in particular, who are struggling beyond the point that should be humanly acceptable.

This thread also sheds light on how inflation is not only changing people’s habits, lifestyles, and daily choices, but altering their livelihoods. “What have you given up recently due to rising costs?” someone asked recently on Reddit, hitting very close to home for too many people who shared their very honest responses.

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#1

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Red meat, tomatoes, a lot of fruits and veggies, heating in a wooden house that gets to minus 4, I'm living off a lot of rice, beans, pasta, no treats like yoghurt anymore, turning off every single power point except for the room I'm in. I get sort of warm with a hot water bottle and blankets. I'm making my own dog and cat food. Times are tough and they're only going to keep getting tougher. I don't have anything left to give up except for my medications that are keeping my alive. I'm terminally ill and only have a year or eighteen months left but this isn't living its honestly just existing. If I give up the meds it'll all go away but my animals keep me hanging on.

wish*twouldrainaus , James Lacy Report

Final score:
204points
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#2

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Living in the U.S.

I've been doing a lot of traveling recently and literally everywhere I've been from Latin America to Europe, the Caribbean to the Mediterranean, has been cheaper to live. Not only that but their social laws are better, and there's an understanding that health care and access to affordable housing with amenities is a basic human right.

I'm currently in the process of acquiring my EU passport so I can have other options.

whatsweirdis , Nik Shuliahin Report

Final score:
148points
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#3

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Going to the doctor. If I die I die

bethel_bop , National Cancer Institute Report

Final score:
131points
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Bored Panda reached out to a single mother of two boys, who has been particularly struggling in this time of inflation. The woman who goes by the handle Particular_Special70 on Reddit said that she is no longer able to take her kids on any vacation or trips this year and it makes her very sad. She also shared her difficult situation in a response to this thread.

“I try to take them on some kind of trip or vacation each year and it's just not happening this year with high gas costs and high everything costs,” she told us. In a post shared on the thread, the woman wrote that it’s her “favorite thing to do with/for them once a year.”

According to the mom of two, the fact that the family can no longer afford a vacation has to do with the fact that groceries cost almost double what they did just a year ago. “My electric and gas bills have been more than double, so the money I have to save for a vacation is non-existent,” Particular_Special70 explained.

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#4

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Driving. Covid started it, gas prices finished it. I’m a hermit.

candoitmyself , why kei Report

Final score:
111points
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#5

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers the idea of having children

xbubblegum_bitch , Joshua Reddekopp Report

Final score:
101points
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#6

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Dreams of owning a home this year lol

Informal-Cupcake2024 , Sieuwert Otterloo Report

Final score:
97points
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#7

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Ciggies.
I wanted to for a long time but the rising costs ($60 +/-$10aud for a 25g pouch) became almost insulting and I just felt stupid paying to slowly kill myself. Ridiculous.
Gl to anyone trying to quit, it's really hard

Apricult , Bewakoof.com Official Report

Final score:
95points
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#8

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers I'm not taking my kids on any vacation or trips this year and it makes me so sad. As a single mom I just can't make it happen and that's my favorite thing to do with/for them once a year.

Particular_Special70 , Derek Thomson Report

Final score:
94points
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#9

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers My privacy. All three of my children, plus my granddaughter have moved back in with me since Feb. All of them have good jobs, my two boys are Military, but rent prices are so high. They all help with the bills, because I can’t afford to cover the increase in food and utilities but it’s crowded.

LegitimateStar7034 Report

Final score:
84points
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#10

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers I’m currently living alone for the first time and loving my peace and solitude. But everything is getting so expensive that I’m considering going back to living with a roommate. It’s heartbreaking but I’m trying to come to terms with it.

GlitterMew , Joe Shlabotnik Report

Final score:
83points
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#11

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Junk food and desserts. If it can't be made into a meal with nutrients then I'm not getting it. I almost stopped buying meat altogether, veggies are way cheaper, and frozen veggies/fruit never go bad. If it's not bills or essential then I'm not getting it. I've lost a lot of weight because of my sudden diet changes so thats cool I guess.

Critical_Plate_4008 , Szabo Viktor Report

Final score:
79points
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#12

I'm getting extremely frustrated trying to have a savings account

cautiously_anxious Report

Final score:
75points
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#13

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Having kids…sorry but a horrible decision from a financial stand point. One parent at home used to be possible now both parents have to work leaving strangers to take care of and raise your children

Maleficent-Type6300 , Eldar Nazarov Report

Final score:
74points
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#14

Being a stay-at-home mom. We originally did it because we couldn't afford daycare, but now he's starting kindergarten this year and I've already started looking for jobs because we can no longer afford for me to stay home.

tiptomom Report

Final score:
69points
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#15

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Subscriptions like Netflix and streaming services, Amazon prime, and Patreon. Coffees from the cafe, most fruit (unless frozen) and pretty much all veg (there’s a massive shortage in Australia and it’s so expensive if available at all). Given up driving due to cost of petrol too

Weenisssssssssss , Jonas Kakaroto Report

Final score:
64points
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#16

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Impromptu road trips

intrepidcaribou , averie woodard Report

Final score:
57points
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#17

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers After three years of trying for a baby, with one ectopic, one chemical pregnancy, and two failed IUIs, it seems like I need to start coming to terms with the fact that we just cannot afford more fertility treatments. Insurance doesn't cover a penny. With the prices of everything going up, how can I afford to spend $1k in medications alone (for one cycle supply) for another IUI? If we decided to do IVF, it would cost us around $12k. It would be worth it if we knew either treatment would work, but there's no way to know that. It's heartbreaking. I had to call up the clinic to tell them we are sitting it out for now.

_hasnoname , 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič Report

Final score:
56points
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#18

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Doing things spontaneously. Now, I need to sit down and look at my budget before getting in the car and driving to the beach or going out for a meal.

Pickandmixdreams , Rames Quinerie Report

Final score:
56points
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#19

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Concerts are a thing of the past

Emu_with_attitude Report

Final score:
53points
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#20

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Makeup. I used to be the person that wore it every day and enjoyed application, and practicing techniques/experimenting with colours. I can’t afford to paint my face for fun when cauliflower is $8 a head (not that I can afford fresh produce now either, but you catch my drift).

tvbookpastaworm , Raphael Lovaski Report

Final score:
52points
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#21

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers I've found that freezing and meal-prepping as much food as possible saves money. If you can dilute what you cook with water or a cheap ingredient, you can add more seasonings to help with the lack of flavor. Half of my meals are now either rice, beans, chopped salads, and soups. If you also cook with more seasoning and spices, it keeps leftovers from spoiling as quickly.

Critical_Plate_4008 , Jason Jarrach Report

Final score:
52points
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#22

My grocery list has shorten.

hotchocolate216 Report

Final score:
51points
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#23

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers No more lash extensions. Also not going out to eat as often, stopped getting drinks at coffee shops unless I don’t have time to make my own and cut out a lot of online shopping.

Sleepyalways_ , Hayley Kim Design Report

Final score:
50points
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#24

Sex has an astronomical price tag. I can’t afford the stress and financial strain of a UTI and the government thinks I'm going to have a human?

speedyblankenship Report

Final score:
50points
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#25

Fresh food. Even though it's not the best for my body, frozen foods are a good investment for preserving most fruits and vegetables these days.

The_Special_Teacher Report

Final score:
44points
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#26

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Doggy daycare. I know it’s a luxury & we’ll be fine but not being able to do that for my pups has been a downer.

FutureMrsConanOBrien , Canine To Five Report

Final score:
44points
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#27

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers I've cut down on how much coffee I drink. I don't buy expensive coffee but the coffee I like has doubled in price in the last couple months. Instead of having 3ish cups a day, I have maybe one. Maybe. Some days I don't have any.

taylorsway2527 , Emre Report

Final score:
44points
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#28

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Vaping. For my health mostly but I don’t wanna pay for it anymore either

Ddyvonteese678 Report

Final score:
43points
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#29

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers My roommate is terrible, but every time I look at rent prices for a one-bedroom, I start to think that maybe my situation is not so bad

idontcook , Jeremy Bronson Report

Final score:
43points
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#30

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers I've kind of given up on being proposed to right now. We have more important things like gas, bills, and food.

cautiously_anxious , Austin Pacheco Report

Final score:
35points
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#31

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Sushi, but also bird seed for the wild birds...my cats prescription cat food. Canceling my health insurance.

Desirai , Vinicius Benedit Report

Final score:
20points
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#32

Hot showers.
Gas prices in Germany rise in an insane amount, so no more hot water. Lukewarm will have to do

AlHazard33 Report

Final score:
19points
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#33

Eating healthier. I had just gotten to the point where I could buy organic produce and non-processed foods that I felt much better about eating. I can no longer justify it. Seriously, have you looked at fruit prices? Let alone organic

LongRodVonHugeEnDong Report

Final score:
18points
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#34

I’m actively eating more vegetarian dishes because meat is so expensive. Learning to make more bean and lentil dishes to save on grocery costs. My boyfriend and I will be first-time homeowners this summer and I definitely foresee us losing a bit of weight due to changes in eating.

puzzlesofclouds Report

Final score:
18points
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#35

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers I’ve changed to a cheaper hairdresser, no longer have gel nail treatments, bought no new clothes for Summer, no takeaways, no Netflix, no new plants for the garden…. and it’s just a drop in the ocean. Not even close to enough.

Southern-Ad379 , Giorgio Trovato Report

Final score:
13points
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#36

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers My personal trainer/gym membership. I am slowly trying to build a mini at home gym at least.

iiMarii , Victor Freitas Report

Final score:
12points
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#37

Will be taking my hair extensions out in the next few weeks (nano rings) had them for years and they make me feel so confident because my hair is thin. (£70 maintenance per 8 weeks) I just can’t justify it anymore. I’ll have to accept my natural hair for the first time in my life.

Daisyfreshgirl111 Report

Final score:
11points
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#38

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Cigarettes, coloring my hair, going out to eat, and don’t go up north to our cabin as much. Basically we do nothing and go nowhere.

piggy__wig , Maksim Chernishev Report

Final score:
7points
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#39

People Are Revealing Everyday Things They Had To Cut Back On Due To Rising Inflation, Here Are 30 Of The Saddest And Most Honest Answers Spotify. And I always have to reconsider if I was thinking of driving somewhere more than 30 miles round trip

sludgepro , Sara Kurfeß Report

Final score:
7points
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#40

I no longer get my nails done, and I use boxed hair gloss instead of getting my hair dyed at a salon. It doesn’t cover my grays or look particularly good, but it’s a tenth of the cost of hiring a professional to balayage my waist-length hair:(

m0nstera_deliciosa Report

Final score:
2points
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