EDITORIAL↓
If you’re like me, there are economic factors that prevent you from slightly upgrading your life. I suspect that some of these factors — if not all — are common for millions of middle-class households in America.
By Chris Boutros
Here are the 7 things that I cannot afford anymore.
1- Vacation
I haven’t had a real vacation in a long time. I try to go hiking, sometimes backpacking, just to escape the brunt of day-to-day life, but deep down, I still yearn for that “real” vacation, where I escape it all to a far new world for an extended period of time.
2- Saving
I haven’t had a savings account for three years now, and that’s all due to the fact that I’ve been living month-to-month since the recession started and recently “ended.” (Does anyone know the official expiration date of this ongoing recession?)
3- A new car
My old car will do for now. I’ll remain hopeful of getting a brand new one . . . soon. I’ve been dreaming of this happening since the great recession rolled over back in 2008. Possibly two years before that.
4- Paying off my debt
Introductory interest rates are helping me catch my breath a little, but I don’t know how long I can hold on. The road to flipping credit cards and transferring what I owe to another card with a low introductory interest rate is getting narrower and narrower every day.
5- Medical care
Simply put, I cannot afford the deductible, and I don’t qualify for Medical. Nuff said.
6- Dental work
Luckily, I have a dentist friend who takes care of my basic dental needs, but how many are as lucky as me? Even with my dentist friend around, I still can’t afford to take care of future big emergencies and surgeries, nor pay to prevent them.
7- Retirement
What retirement? It’s closing time, and I’m still working, trying to finish writing this “free” article at the local coffee shop.
! I glance at my computer screen, and I see reports about the economy bouncing back and cash being sprinkled — again — all over the housing market and on Wall Street.
The recession is over, but not for me — yet.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, please consider supporting the Colorado Boulevard’s journalism.
Billionaires, hedge fund owners and local imposters have a powerful hold on the information that reaches the public. Colorado Boulevard stands to serve the public interest – not profit motives.
While fairness guides everything we do, we know there is a right and a wrong position in the fight against racism and climate crisis while supporting reproductive rights and social justice. We provide a fresh perspective on local politics – one so often missing from so-called ‘local’ journalism.
You can access Colorado Boulevard’s paywall-free journalism because of our unique reader-supported model. People like you, informed readers, keep us independent, beholden to no outside influence, and accessible to everyone.
Please consider supporting Colorado Boulevard today. Thank you. (Click to Support)
Leave a Reply