I fuelled up our 2005 diesel 4 x4 yesterday and the total was $162. That tank of fuel will last us a week because of where we choose to live; nothing is really close by. It is, I think, by anyone’s standard a little bit of money out of anyone’s weekly budget.
As I paid, I asked the guy behind the counter, have you had many drive-offs since the price increase?
He replied with no perhaps once a month. It’s worse though in the city.
I am genuinely surprised I said. Maybe it’s the fact we are still a small town. I mean that’s great but I am surprised $162 is a lot of money and most people here own a diesel vechile.
Despite what he says, as I hear of each “thing” increasing, I wonder how others are doing because let’s be honest not everyone is in our financial position. I wonder how people are, not just financially but emotionally coping. Especially coming off the back of the pandemic and into this worldwide economic crisis.
It seems to be just one thing after another and I genuinely worry about others. Just when we felt we were coming back from the brink, here we are again. And I wonder and often worry about the kids of those whose parents aren’t as financially able to stretch their dollars because there are no dollars, are sick or perhaps don’t know how to manage their money. How are they managing the increases? The continual upheaval that we all seem to be experiencing.
Personally, the only way I can stem my own anxiety is that Im actually reaching out to my friends more and Im giving more to my local community. I’m desperate for company that makes me feel good and so Im rallying my people. Im talking to strangers more because the community is so important right now- as much as it was during the pandemic-if not more so.
Im also finding ways to contribute more to charity. It’s not a lot, it’s what we can afford, but charities such as Share the Dignity, Foodbank and my local animal shelters are now more prominent in my sights. It’s all I can think of to help out my community locally but here in this world wide community village, we have created Im wondering how you are.
So tell me; how are you? What’s happening in your world? What’s worrying you? What are you eating/watching/doing? How’s work/parenthood/the fur babies? What made you laugh?
I would love to know.
image: here with thanks
