Over the past year, people have seen a steady increase in the cost of everything: groceries, gas, utilities, etc. In fact, food prices have increased 10.4%, gasoline has increased 59.9%, and the energy index rose 41.6%, all in just a year’s time.
The overwhelming inflation has caused a severe deficiency in many people’s pocketbooks. With the struggle most people are facing, it is even more of a concern for people who are on a fixed income who were already struggling to make ends meet before the price increases starting happening.
Since the cost of living has increased, everyone, including businesses and government entities, have noticed a change in budgets and have had to make adjustments or find other ways to remain financially stable.
“Small Hands Academy has been affected by the steady increase in the price of paper products and food items, as all businesses have,” declared owner Carla Goodwin. “Currently, we can meet these challenges without increasing tuition due to receiving a grant in February. We are evaluating different ways to lower cost without going up on the teacher/student ratio or increasing tuition. Small Hands Academy met the challenge of remaining open during the shutdown despite the uncertainty of the economy. Our center has been blessed with wonderful teachers and parents. As a team, we will pull through once again.”
Restaurants in the area have had to make changes to deal with the repercussions from the inflation.
“We’ve fought it and tried not to raise prices, but we had no choice but to raise them,” proclaimed Shane Simmons with Bridge Street Grill and Bakery. “Everything you can think of has increased: utilities have increased with gas and electricity, water, all of our insurances, etc. Everything associated with our business has cost us more to get it in the door than it used to. It was either raise prices or just not operate. We’re trying not to raise prices too high. We’ve seen a difference in the number of customers we have. When gas prices go up and people have to start choosing what to cut out so they can continue to buy gas to get to work and all, eating out is usually one of the first things to go.”
Municipalities have also noticed a difference and had to make changes to compensate for the inflation.
“Inflation is impacting our budget like crazy,” informed Stonewall Mayor Jerry Rich. “Everyday prices of stuff we need to use like electricity, gas, buying parts, chemicals for the water, and everything else have just skyrocketed. We’re having to cut back on what we’re buying. We don’t want to do a tax increase because we just did one two years ago and don’t want to do another one this quickly. We’ve done a lot of stuff using infrastructure money we received and money from ARPA.”
Even the county has noticed a difference in the cost of everything.
“Inflation has definitely had an impact,” informed Board of Supervisors President Mickey Long. “We have ARPA money coming in and user taxes coming in now that has really been a good shot in the arm to us. What we’re doing to combat the inflation is just taking the money we’re getting and trying to earmark it to use it well where we need it. Our fuel is where we see inflation the most right now.”
Individuals in the county have even taken to making some different lifestyle changes to offset the cost of inflation.
“The price of everything is going up these days,” stated Jennifer Bishop. “I drive my parents to work because it’s cheaper on gas. Before gas prices started coming down a little, I was seriously considering riding a bicycle to work. The cost of houses is so expensive, and I’m getting married in November and trying to think of a cheaper way to live.”
Not everyone is letting the inflation have a negative impact on their lives. Some see it as a passing thing and choose to continue living as they have always done instead of being so concerned with making changes and doing without.
“The biggest way inflation has affected me has been on gas because I spend a ton of money on gas. In regards to anything else, we live as we normally live,” proclaimed Judge Tobey Bartee. “It’s a choice between living or lasting, and we choose to live. With so much happening in the world, if I sit around and let the inflation depress me, then I’ve already given up. Our mindset is just to live while we are here with the means that we’ve been blessed with and have faith that the prices will come down pretty soon.”
While everyone has handled inflation differently—some eating out less, planting gardens, raising prices of products so businesses can survive, etc.—so far everyone is making choices to best benefit their families, businesses, and towns. There is no telling how long prices will remain at an increase, but it is important to maintain a positive attitude and look for prices to hopefully come down in the future.
