Tag: gas

Budget Beating

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

Tonight I worked for an hour and half trying to figure out our new budget because I got tentative notification of the date that our checks will be lower.  Our household isn’t going to be doing anything.  All I can afford from this point forward is to just pay the bills. 

A HUGE concern for me is the cost of gas.  If that continues to go up we could be having further issues because it will affect my expenses which are already too tight.  We already buy a minimum for groceries every week so I can’t cut anything there.

Many things are rumbling through my head tonight.  I’m worried for my mom because the new budget which is being projected will raise her premium for her prescriptions coverage.  This will mean she is either spending more on the premium or paying for scripts outright.  I’ll have to figure out which is most cost effective for her.

What happens if the cost of food goes up?  It’s an area I’m already scrimping on.  What happens if the cost of heating / cooling goes up?  Tonight my house is set at 68 and I HURT.  In the heat of summer, I can’t handle the heat and my daughter gets sick from it.  A/C is a necessity for us.  What if we can’t afford to run the a/c though?

I can see a second job in my future but I’m worried there won’t be any available.  With so many people having to scrimp and save it is possible all the part time positions will get snapped up.  Plus I have limitations on what I’m able to do. 

There is definitely a lot to think about right now.  I know I’m not the worst off and I know I’m not the only one.  Still it doesn’t help when I spend my evening trying to figure out where the money is going to come from. 

Naughty Children

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized
I heard on the radio how the Republicans have an agenda now that they are in control of the house.  I think that’s great.  I was hoping to hear how they were going to balance the budget, stimulate the economy, help the poor, and educate our children. No.  The Republicans think they should act like two year olds and stomp their feet till they get their way.  Instead of rolling up their sleeves and getting to work – attempting to work with the President and Senate – they are going to keep their ball gripped tightly in their hands and hold their breath until someone gives them their way. 
Here’s the thing, while they are acting like uncooperative and spoiled children, the everyday people are running out of unemployment, losing their insurance (which was too expensive), losing their homes, paying too much for gas, and going from bad to worse.  What are they going to do about that? 
I’d like to tell our political parties to get their heads out of their asses and do the job they were hired to do.  Run our country and ensure that everyone in the country has a voice.  Everyone doesn’t just include those who pay for your political ads.  It is the child who wakes in the morning to no food or heat in the house.  It is the gay couple who has been together for 20 plus years and isn’t allowed to get married because of the Christian right wing.  It is the two income family who is struggling to make ends meet because their adult kids can’t find work, gas is over $3 a gallon, and there is no public transportation.  It is EVERY individual regardless of color, creed, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or anything other ridiculous classification society has tossed out there. 
Regardless of level of government, all elected members need to work together, compromise and find solutions to the problems we are facing.  Otherwise when the next election rolls around the same thing is going to happen.  If life doesn’t get better for people, they are going to vote out those in office and look for someone new. 
Instead of tooting their own horns and saying we are going to fix this.  Someone needs to step up and actually do it.  I respect President Obama and feel he is trying to get the changes in place that this country needs.  However, when he has to deal with contention instead of cooperation, he can’t make progress.  This means, we can’t make progress.  Where is the cooperation monster from Sesame Street?  Perhaps if this critter showed up in the House and Senate, the representatives might get an idea of how they are supposed to work.
Someone wise once said be the change you want to see in the world.  I see Obama trying to be the change he wants to see in the world.  I see the political opponents saying oh you aren’t part of our group so we can’t play nice with you.  That is ridiculous and the people who get hurt are the everyday people who have to deal with the lack of progress on the issues that matter.
Another famous quote comes to mind – if you aren’t part of the solution, you are part of the problem.  I wish our political parties would stop being the problem and start being the solution.