“Can’t Afford to Do It Anymore” — Woman Shares the “Things She’s Given Up” Due to Cost of Living

Nov. 12 2023, Published 9:42 a.m. ET

A woman went viral on TikTok after highlighting what she's had to give up in her existence due to their prices turning into prohibitively dear. Heather, (@heathersidehustleskeptic) says that she's seen a number of people on the platform add equivalent clips, and as "terrible" as they are, she "absolutely loves them," as it makes her really feel as though she isn't the only one having a hard time upholding the similar high quality of life after inflation rates skyrocketed within the United States.

What's more is that Heather says a large number of the stuff she's had to section ways with enjoying/doing don't seem to be the rest prohibitively pricey or extravagant, but have been "basic" things she used to do "all the time."

She goes on to say that she's going to focus on best 3 things in her clip, despite having "way more than that."

The first regular buying addiction she stated that she had to alter used to be a product that many would consider a day-to-day staple: olive oil. Heather explains why she merely elects no longer to purchase it anymore, and it sort of feels like there are different home cooks following suit as neatly, as the cost of the stuff has jumped up not just from inflation, but because Spain's production of olives has recently been halved.

"First thing I've given up because the cost of living in 2023 is absolutely insane is unnecessary expensive food purchases, like olive oil. I don't buy olive oil anymore it's f------ expensive. We just go with the off-brand vegetable oil or whatever's on sale. I used to buy olive oil all the time cause it's better for you and I was trying to be all healthy and stuff and I could afford to do that back then. Can't do that anymore now," she says.

While Heather said that she's in the long run decided to simply change olive oil for every other type of cooking oil, the next item she elected to give up is considered a dietary staple around the world: bread. She says that she makes her personal now instead.

"I don't buy bread anymore, I learned how to make it. It's a lot easier than what you think, if you want a recipe let me know."

She adds that it's not most effective less expensive than buying sliced/pre-made bread from the store however that it also tastes way higher: "It's kind of fun, you get to knead it and punch it and take some aggression out. And it tastes a lot better. And things like mixes, you know like pancake mixes, cornbread mixes, don't buy any of that s--- anymore, It's convenient yeah it's nice, but, you can make that s---for a lot cheaper"

The TikToker is going on to say that charge of residing will increase in the US have also seriously inhibited her skill to purchase people "random presents," noting that she simply doesn't have the disposable income to randomly get anyone a little particular one thing now and again.

"Back in the day back when s--- didn't suck so much I would just...take my kids out on a Saturday or something when they were out of school and be like hey guys...you've been really good this week you want to go and get a toy or do you want to go out for ice cream or something like that or if I happen to be out shopping for myself which I can't do that anymore either, but if I happen to be out like, you know, going to get myself a little something or other and I saw something I thought my husband would like I would buy it."

She also highlighted how being in a position to simply scroll via Amazon to get herself a gift or randomly wonder any person is now out of the question as she merely does not have the money for it and that's the reason because everything else just prices such a lot.

Heather then says that the 3rd "thing" she's had to in the long run give up is "getting [her] hair done." She can no longer come up with the money for salon products and services thanks to inflation jacking up the cost of just about the entirety in the country. She even pokes amusing at herself within the video as she tests out her hair within the digicam: "I know you see I'm struggling here."

She then says that simply a few years in the past, things were a lot different: "My hair used to be white. Like I got it like, bleached to the max all the time I've been having my hair highlighted heavily since I was 12 years old I'm 36 now that's a good portion of my life. But I haven't had my hair done in like 2 years and this is its natural color now and at this point it's like well you're finally at your natural color after I don't know how many years."

Judging from the comments left via audience of Heather's video, she isn't the only one who's had to scale back. One commenter shared the entire little niceties they are able to now not have enough money to enjoy due to the current state of America's economic system: "No candles, no decor, no desserts or snacks, soda, nails, hair, name brand items, gifts, postage, Amazon, shoes, fast food."

For any person else, it is a basic commuting necessity: "Having a full tank of gas every week"

Things were given in point of fact darkish, truly fast, as any other consumer on the platform wrote: "the will to live... I've given that up. I work 70 hrs a week just to survive."

And then for others, they have got decided to purchase lower-cost versions of household basic necessities: "Nice hand soap from bath & body works…I dump dollar store hand soap into my nice soap containers"

"We don’t eat out at restaurants any more," any individual wrote

"Buying new clothes! we’ll go to thrift stores!" some other penned.

If you might have been feeling particularly penny pinched as a result of inflation, what are one of the vital pieces/studies you've got had to scale back on nowadays?

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