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Surging Inflation Cripples the Nation
2024 was a tumultuous year…as a full time, freelance SEO Strategist, I rely on steady work from clients; unfortunately, several long-time projects dwindled suddenly; either that, or they took forever to pay, so I was left to my own devices. I hit the focus group circuit hard, participating in anywhere from nine to 15 in-person and virtual studies per month, which meant that a quarter of my income came from being an opinionated, smooth talker. I also published frequently here.
I’m also a prolific, published author and poet. Last November, I covered my travel to Philcon via Amtrak with this death essay. Several artists and authors I know use Ko-fi, to help fund their creative endeavors with relative success, so I’ve created my own Ko-fi page in the hopes of bridging inevitable financial gaps.
I’ve cut back significantly recently — I got rid of premium channels on Verizon FiOS, paused Amazon Prime and Hulu. I also seldom eat at restaurants or go to the movies. My gas bill for cooking increased and phone bill also went up, so I stopped eating lunch. During the Halcyon of yore, I’d treat myself to groceries at Whole Foods a couple of times a year. Four years ago, that to set me back $65.00 for one bag; three years ago, it climbed to $82.00; two years ago, it shot up to $100.00. That’s when I started shopping at Trader Joe’s…