Food is ridiculously expensive, don't you think??

[edjr 6,736]

12 minutes ago, HellToupee said:

$17.99 at my Publix

 

JFC  Was 8.99 not long ago  

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

7 hours ago, lickin_starfish said:

Inflation didn't start with Biden or Trump.

This might explain it to some of you:

Visualizing the Purchasing Power of the U.S. Dollar Over Time https://share.google/V1gRxdbgqKXijlLkE

It amazes me people don’t understand how inflation works. 

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

Also, you guys should’ve invested in crypto when I posted it about it almost ten years ago and everything was dirt cheap. You could be rich like me instead of using coupons at fast food restaurants. Sad. 

[Ron_Artest 1,877]

10 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

It amazes me people don’t understand how inflation works. 

It's these same people that got Trump elected, so you should thank them.

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

10 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

It's these same people that got Trump elected, so you should thank them.

Every generation b!tches about how cheap things used to be like clockwork. Inflation isn’t the issue, there will always be inflation, ALWAYS. The issue is wage growth and wage growth has been sh!t the last 30 years because Juan from Mexico will work for 5 an hour when no naturally born American would ever do that. Same with all the Indians in IT and Nigerians in STEM.

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

19 minutes ago, edjr said:

JFC  Was 8.99 not long ago  

Time to raise your tenants rent!

[Ron_Artest 1,877]

3 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

Every generation b!tches about how cheap things used to be like clockwork. Inflation isn’t the issue, there will always be inflation, ALWAYS. The issue is wage growth and wage growth has been sh!t the last 30 years because Juan from Mexico will work for 5 an hour when no naturally born American would ever do that. Same with all the Indians in IT and Nigerians in STEM.

Agree with you on inflation and wage growth, however instead of blaming wage growth on illegals, we should look at how executives run corporations.  Executives have done amazing the last 30 years.  Middle class not so much.

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

7 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

Agree with you on inflation and wage growth, however instead of blaming wage growth on illegals, we should look at how executives run corporations.  Executives have done amazing the last 30 years.  Middle class not so much.

It’s an executives job to be profitable and cutting costs and hiring cheap labor is one of the easiest and quickest ways to do that. 

[jerryskids 6,965]

10 hours ago, WhiteWonder said:

McD's app,  BOGO any breakfast sammich. So around me that 2 sausage egg mcmuffins for $5.  App also has free hashbrown with sammich. So another $5 roughly.  Been that way for the past 2-3 years that I can recall. 

Thanks, I'll check that out.

 

[edjr 6,736]

23 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

Time to raise your tenants rent!

I'm not that much of a richard

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

2 minutes ago, edjr said:

I'm not that much of a richard

Genuine question.. when you are deciding what to charge your tenants for rent, do you look at what other similar places in the area charge and go from there or do you look at what it costs you and calculate a fair price from there?

[Hardcore troubadour 15,721]

Don’t buy it. I’m eating a lot more turkey and chicken now. Let it rot on the shelves. 

[WhiteWonder 2,860]

3 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

Genuine question.. when you are deciding what to charge your tenants for rent, do you look at what other similar places in the area charge and go from there or do you look at what it costs you and calculate a fair price from there?

any smart person would be doing both. 

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

Just now, WhiteWonder said:

any smart person would be doing both. 

I agree and disagree. Hard to gauge what is fair if you’re just looking at the market, maybe not where you are from but where I live tons of companies are buying up entire neighborhoods and they’ve completely manipulated the market. 

[edjr 6,736]

8 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

Genuine question.. when you are deciding what to charge your tenants for rent, do you look at what other similar places in the area charge and go from there or do you look at what it costs you and calculate a fair price from there?

it is a condo so mortgage + hoa fee = 1700 - Rent is 2200 - I have raised it once in 5 years. That rent includes electricity which can vary from 75 to 400 a month

Should be paid off before 2030. I went from 30 year to 15 year in 2017 (I paid extra to shorten the length)

I don't really care to make a profit while renting. When it is paid off. My son will be graduating HS and I plan to let him live there. He can pay the taxes and hoa and sh1t

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

1 minute ago, edjr said:

it is a condo so mortgage + hoa fee = 1700 - Rent is 2200 - I have raised it once in 5 years. That rent includes electricity which can vary from 75 to 400 a month

Should be paid off before 2030. I went from 30 year to 15 year in 2017 (I paid extra to shorten the length)

That’s fair, you’re a good dude. I think a lot of people would be more greedy than that. 

[Alias Detective 1,435]

On 8/25/2025 at 5:22 PM, Bier Meister said:

beef is about to have a increase  rise in September.

 

discussing strategy with several clients

The people who have money have even more money and will pay the price regardless - Markets and savings rates are through the roof.  Lower tier restaurants are the ones who should address strategy.

[WhiteWonder 2,860]

1 minute ago, iam90sbaby said:

I agree and disagree. Hard to gauge what is fair if you’re just looking at the market, maybe not where you are from but where I live tons of companies are buying up entire neighborhoods and they’ve completely manipulated the market. 

Well, property management companies are a bit different but Ed is just a landlord.  So on one hand, he needs to look at his costs and if he can't charge enough to make a decent profit each month / year, then it's time to sell the property.   At the same time, if he only goes by his costs and what he feels like he wants to make and he outprices versus comparable rentals in the area, he will have a harder time getting a tenant and any time the property spends vacant is a total loss for him. So he needs to take it all into consideration. The market around him probably plays a bigger role in his decision.

[Alias Detective 1,435]

On 8/25/2025 at 5:23 PM, Ron_Artest said:

What's the cause?

Swing and a miss!

[edjr 6,736]

2 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

That’s fair, you’re a good dude. I think a lot of people would be more greedy than that. 

My tenants have not been late in 5 years (who pay cash).  Having good/reliable tenants outweighs trying to gouge people.

I also know what they do for a living (work in kitchens slinging food) so I try to be fair.

[edjr 6,736]

 

Quote

 

How much do I need to live in Gloucester, Massachusetts?

$9,750 / month
for a family, 80.6% more expensive than the national average A total of $117,000 for the year for a family.

$5,833 / month
for a single person, 22.4% more expensive than the national average A total of $70,000 for the year for a single person.

 

Gloucester cost of living score

131.5
More expensive

 

31.5% higher
than the US average

 

3.1% higher
than the Massachusetts average

Gloucester, Massachusetts gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 131.5, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 31.5% higher than the U.S. average and 3.1% lower than the average for Massachusetts.

 

Housing costs in Gloucester?

A typical home costs $611,500, which is 80.9% more expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 9.7% more expensive than the average Massachusetts home, at $557,300. Renting a two-bedroom unit in Gloucester costs $2,140 per month, which is 49.7% more than the national average of $1,430 and close to the state average of $2,140.

 

 

Can I afford Gloucester?

To live comfortably in Gloucester, Massachusetts, a minimum annual income of $117,000 for a family, and $70,000 for a single person is recommended.

 

What does A.I. say about Gloucester?

The cost of living in Gloucester, MA is fairly reasonable compared to other towns and cities in the region. The median home price is around $442,000, which is higher than the national average but still well within reach and lower than many of its neighboring cities. The overall cost of groceries, transportation, healthcare, and housing are all considered to be moderately priced when compared to other areas in Massachusetts. Utility bills tend to be slightly above the national average but are still relatively low compared to most places in the state. All-in-all, Gloucester offers a good balance between affordability an

 

 

Absolutely gross

[Alias Detective 1,435]

On 8/27/2025 at 12:11 PM, Ron_Artest said:

Food prices obviously spiked post COVID.  Had a brief respite, but are now going up again thanks to tariffs and labor shortages, both trump policy.

On beef too or is it due to smaller herds like you asked and were told earlier?  Just keep saying it over and over.  Eventually it will become your truth.  You are focking obsessed.

[Ron_Artest 1,877]

5 minutes ago, Alias Detective said:

Swing and a miss!

What are you talking about?  I was curious why the increase and he sounded like he knew.

A quick google search returned this...

So, what’s driving the beef price surge?

Experts say there isn’t a single cause, but rather a confluence of factors. Among them: the U.S. cattle herd is at its lowest level since 1951 – just 86.7 million cattle and calves as of January 2025-  while consumer demand remains strong.

Additionally, drought conditions in the West since 2020 have driven up the cost of feed and forced many ranches to cull their herds. A flesh-eating parasite discovered in cattle herds in Mexico prompted the U.S. to stop imports from south of the border last year, further tightening supply.

U.S. cattle ranchers say they have no choice but to pass along the increased cost of doing business to consumers to protect their margins.

“I went up roughly a dollar a pound,” said Jim Richardson of Richardson Farms in Texas, speaking to the Texas Standard. “My processor went up that much or more. So, without kind of keeping up, it erodes your profitability.”

The American Farm Bureau also points to President Trump’s tariffs as slowing U.S. beef exports.

“While exports to countries like South Korea and Canada have remained strong, tariffs have slowed sales down, particularly to China,” the Farm Bureau noted in a report in May.  “Total export sales to China are currently 32% behind 2024.”

https://ktla.com/news/nationworld/beef-is-more-expensive-than-ever/

[Alias Detective 1,435]

48 minutes ago, Ron_Artest said:

Agree with you on inflation and wage growth, however instead of blaming wage growth on illegals, we should look at how executives run corporations.  Executives have done amazing the last 30 years.  Middle class not so much.

 

53 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

Every generation b!tches about how cheap things used to be like clockwork. Inflation isn’t the issue, there will always be inflation, ALWAYS. The issue is wage growth and wage growth has been sh!t the last 30 years because Juan from Mexico will work for 5 an hour when no naturally born American would ever do that. Same with all the Indians in IT and Nigerians in STEM.

In politics no one is willing to accepts 2 things can both be true.  I think both have valid points.

[Alias Detective 1,435]

26 minutes ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Don’t buy it. I’m eating a lot more turkey and chicken now. Let it rot on the shelves. 

Pork is very reasonable as well.

[Alias Detective 1,435]

22 minutes ago, edjr said:

it is a condo so mortgage + hoa fee = 1700 - Rent is 2200 - I have raised it once in 5 years. That rent includes electricity which can vary from 75 to 400 a month

Should be paid off before 2030. I went from 30 year to 15 year in 2017 (I paid extra to shorten the length)

I don't really care to make a profit while renting. When it is paid off. My son will be graduating HS and I plan to let him live there. He can pay the taxes and hoa and sh1t

A good real estate investment should be paid off with a 10 year note and the tenant pays the mortgage for you.

[edjr 6,736]

4 minutes ago, Alias Detective said:

A good real estate investment should be paid off with a 10 year note and the tenant pays the mortgage for you.

Sure, if you purchased before 2020 (which I did) 

10 year note. cmon man

[Herbivore 1,152]

42 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

I agree and disagree. Hard to gauge what is fair if you’re just looking at the market, maybe not where you are from but where I live tons of companies are buying up entire neighborhoods and they’ve completely manipulated the market. 

my son was looking at a place in NC. PE came in a bought every property in that area. something needs to be done about that.

[Fnord 2,376]

31 minutes ago, edjr said:

To live comfortably in Gloucester, Massachusetts, a minimum annual income of $117,000 for a family, and $70,000 for a single person is recommended.

Absolutely gross

I bet these numbers are stupid low. I live somewhere considerably cheaper, and I don't know how a single person would live here for $70k/year. They sure as shlt don't own a house unless they bought 10+ years ago.

[Fnord 2,376]

Just now, Herbivore said:

my son was looking at a place in NC. PE came in a bought every property. something needs to be done about that.

Yes. This makes what is already a big problem into a crisis. These companies (and private owners taking advantage of Air B&B and VRBO) are demolishing the market for those making under 6 figures.

[edjr 6,736]

5 minutes ago, Fnord said:

I bet these numbers are stupid low. I live somewhere considerably cheaper, and I don't know how a single person would live here for $70k/year. They sure as shlt don't own a house unless they bought 10+ years ago.

My tenants both make far less than 70k.  Talking 22 an hour.  Combined they barely make 70

[TheNewGirl 1,582]

We are trying to figure out how to increase our tenants rent as well; CA has a lot of strict laws about it. 

So, how to terminate her current lease form the landlord end and do a new one to increase her rent. Or, tell her the other option is eviction/she needs to move as we are going to sell? 

Not sure. 

[Frozenbeernuts 2,292]

1 hour ago, Hardcore troubadour said:

Don’t buy it. I’m eating a lot more turkey and chicken now. Let it rot on the shelves. 

Birds are very stressed animals unless raised well. Even then all it takes is a hawk attack to scare them. I try to avoid the stressed animal meat.

[HellToupee 2,008]

55 minutes ago, edjr said:

 

 

Absolutely gross

It’s sad that anywhere 30ish miles of Boston , owning a house you need to make 200k to live comfortably without worry. The $117k mentioned is living frugally. Real estate taxes ,utilities, water etc are outrageously high

[MikeMatt 232]

2 minutes ago, Frozenbeernuts said:

Birds are very stressed animals unless raised well. Even then all it takes is a hawk attack to scare them. I try to avoid the stressed animal meat.

Why do they call it a tuna fish sandwich ? They don’t call it a chicken bird sandwich? 

[Alias Detective 1,435]

42 minutes ago, edjr said:

Sure, if you purchased before 2020 (which I did) 

10 year note. cmon man

Buy a double.  Don't forget, where i live a double house will run $200,000.  Rent each side at $1,250 and its achievable.

[iam90sbaby 2,714]

32 minutes ago, Herbivore said:

my son was looking at a place in NC. PE came in a bought every property in that area. something needs to be done about that.

Agreed. It should be illegal for companies or corporations or own and rent property or there needs to be a hard cap on the amount of properties they can own.

[Herbivore 1,152]

7 minutes ago, iam90sbaby said:

Agreed. It should be illegal for companies or corporations or own and rent property or there needs to be a hard cap on the amount of properties they can own.

not sure about the hard cap, cause i feel like it would just lead to shenanigans to get around the cap in some way, but could also see how it might slightly help rebuild an area.

[Bier Meister 1,738]

1 hour ago, Alias Detective said:

The people who have money have even more money and will pay the price regardless - Markets and savings rates are through the roof.  Lower tier restaurants are the ones who should address strategy.

Even my michelin clients are price conscious with their prime, wagyu, kobe, etc. they still are trying to suppress their food costs

[Hardcore troubadour 15,721]

Tim Hauck told us last year that PE buying homes. Is a very small pct and blaming it on them was a right wing talking point.