Groceries don't seem too bad right now. For example, I can still buy a whole pork loin for $1.99 a pound, which is the same price I paid, on sale, 8 or 9 years ago. Spam has just now passed $4, when it was about $3.69 for years.

Gasoline doesn't affect me much, as I only fill up about once a month.

My electric bill is less than $100 a month, and our computers run 24/7, and our TVs are plugged in all the time. We have two freezers. We cool with electricity, so our electric bill may approach $200 a month during the summer. We might start getting a bit higher bill next month. July, August, and September bills will be the highest. I have already budgeted for them, so I won't be surprised when the bills come.

I think the biggest problems people have is too much unnecessary debt, too much house for their station in life, too many vehicles, and too many toys they think are required. My wife and I have one car, as we almost always go places together. It's almost 6 years old, but I bought it new. It has less than 30,000 miles on it, so we could conceivably drive this same car until I can no longer drive.

I have always tried to live within my means. I have a budget spreadsheet that runs out to 2030. I have every single bill and income listed, along with its date and a running balance. This way, I can see ahead where money might be tighter. I keep a cushion of money in another account that can always be moved in an emergency.