Quote Originally Posted by ZoraSpook View Post
GEO-SMS. We need the govt to mandate that to news networks.

Observations:
1. Of 40 items on my frequent buy history at Sams, I’ve seen about a 15-20% increase in beef and pork only.
2. 3 months ago gas was 3.25, today it was 2.65.
3. Savings and cd rates are down from rates I saw as high as 2.3 to 1.15. Offsetting that car loans and home loans are less with rates down too, and my small retirement funds are seeing 7- 9% higher returns than a year ago.
4. Used car prices are up, so cost more but your trade is worth more too.
5. Home prices are stupid high and ouch the PVA noticed. But that also means I got more to write off my taxes- fed this year.

So to me it ain’t great, but it don’t stink as bad as the headlines are reading . How about you all? What ya really personally seeing?
Prices for many consumer items are definitely up.

Food prices overall are up.

My retirement accounts in the stock market are on a roller coaster ride lately, once significant upswing amongst mostly downward swings. Two of the main funds lost 20+ cents a share yesterday. Don't know why, too disgusted to watch the news.

My main concern is the backlog of fishing electronics. Humminbird mega 360 is not to be had, and there is no clear date when it can be. My fishing partner bought a universal/deck mount transducer. We cut the shaft down, and my son 3D printed us an Ultrex mounting bracket. Can't even get a universal now. I'll have to get by with my Garmin Livescope setup, which is seriously awesome. Last club derby I found a stack of big spotted bass on the side of a creek channel, and caught a bunch of them on an A-rig as I watched the screen. Didn't get a check in the derby tho, a sack of spots and 16" largemouth ain't gonna win on Guntersville. A fellow club member weighed a 9.2 lb slob anchoring a sack of keepers and pretty much dusted us. Been following him around in case he bends over and that horseshoe falls out.

My home value, which has been skyrocketing has slowed down. That's neither here nor there, because if you sell, you still gotta buy another one.

Don't borrow money, so interest rates don't matter to me. My guess is they'll start up as the government tries to check inflation.

Our senile/benevolent dictator/President is responsible for a lot of things, but the price of gas isn't one of them.

The longer we continue to hole up and backlog due to Covid, the worse the economy will get. Yes it is real, yes it is serious, but we cannot continue to hunker down and operate at less than half capacity. Ky's Uncle Andy would disagree, but there it is.

Free printed government money is a short term bump with a devastating long term price tag.

The vax is a personal choice. Does it work? Indications are it at least helps, and so far known (emphasis on known) side effects are minimal. But then again I have yet to come down with Polio...even a mild case of it.

There are plenty of tragedies, but at some point the country has to accept Covid as part of life now and move on. Hating each other over the media driven politics certainly isn't going to help.

I may get, and it may kill me...but I absolutely refuse to live in fear or give up what freedom I have left. Both my brothers have had it. One of them who is fully vaxed has had it twice. One sister, a brother-in-law, a s-in-law, and nephews have had it. Nobody has not recovered completely. Our victims are from both pro ant anti vax camps, and none have changed their mind one way or the other about it. Hard headedness seems to run in the family, starting with my 85 year old mother who refuses to even discuss getting vaxed.