Many older people complain about high prices, and inflation keeps increasing the cost of lots of things, especially since the COVID pandemic. I thought I had gotten used to these increases, but wow- some prices still shock me.
I am first generation born in America. My parents were born in Eastern Europe, came to the US in the early 20th century, lived through the depression, and were always careful with money. Perhaps this is why I am startled at some current prices. My mother would go to a food market out of our immediate neighborhood if they had sales on Heinz ketchup or Bumblebee chunk tuna, even if the savings were just pennies. She would stock up when these items were on sale, and sometimes this wasn’t a great idea. I remember using very dark red ketchup that clearly had been aging.
It seems to me bagels cost about 50 cents for a long time. It took many years to get to $1.00 a bagel, and even though that seemed high, the stores I went to generally had big fat bagels, very filling, so I didn’t resent it too much. And when you bought a dozen, you got 4 extra for free, and 2 extra when you bought 6. But the last time I bought a plain bagel it was $2.50! I could hardly believe it. I don’t mind the high cost of the lox, white fish or salmon salad, perhaps because they were always the most expensive items in bagel stores, but it seems especially strange for the lowly bagel to cost so much.
And what about pizza! I remember it being $1.00 a slice. Now at my local pizza store, even a plain slice with no toppings, is $4.30! I suppose the prices for many fast foods, regardless of ethnic association, seem too high if you remember what you paid for them decades ago.
And I remember when train fare was $1.00, and we used tokens. But I don’t complain about bus/train fares anymore, since as a senior I pay half-fare, so I consider that a bargain. But cabs- they were always expensive, and only used for special events, when I was running late. But now, after various surcharges have been added, they feel like a luxury, and it usually costs well over $20 for a ride within Manhattan. And I can’t help sharing my outrage that the cost of a first-class postage stamp is now $0.78! It doesn’t seem that long ago that it was $0.05 (actually, I just looked it up, it was 1968; I guess that is a long time ago). No wonder that there’s so much texting, and paying bills online- to save postage costs.
There’s lots of talk these days about the difference between “needs and wants.” When I was a child, I don’t recall this being a topic my family discussed. Generally, my “needs “– food, clothes, school supplies – were taken care of. “Wants” were for special occasions, like birthdays and Hannukah.
It’s no wonder that one of the biggest concerns of older people are increasing costs. I feel there’s not much I can do about the costs of basics, like food and transportation, so I just will be mindful of what I spend on these items, and make sure I take care of my “needs” as well as some “wants” too. And in terms of saving on the cost of postage, I now do a lot of texting and on-line bill-paying. But sometimes it feels good, and the right thing to do for personal matters, to handwrite a letter or note, put on the postage stamp, and just put it in a mailbox. And it’s worth the cost.
Reflections on Aging 