1. Fast Food on Credit - People are putting McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and gas station snacks on “Buy Now Pay Later” apps like Klarna. - This means folks are financing a $7 meal because they can’t cover it today. 2. Grocery Store Security - Retailers are locking up not just electronics, but basic groceries like baby formula, cheese, and even Spam because theft has surged. - Rising “necessities theft” is a telltale sign of economic desperation. 3. Crowdfunding for Essentials - GoFundMe reports that the majority of campaigns now aren’t for big dreams — they’re for rent, groceries, and medical bills. - When charity platforms become survival tools, it exposes how weak the safety net is. 4. Car Loan Math Doesn’t Work Anymore - Average new car loans are 7 years long, with monthly payments often higher than rent in some cities. - Repossessions are quietly surging, especially for subprime borrowers, despite “strong” employment numbers. 5. People Renting Clothes for Work Interviews - Services like Rent the Runway and even local shops report an uptick in people renting business clothes just to attend job interviews. - A sharp signal that people are strapped for basics while trying to re-enter the workforce. 6. “Invisible Homelessness” - A growing number of people with jobs are living in cars, RVs, or couch surfing, but they don’t show up in official homeless counts. - Teachers, nurses, and gig workers are disproportionately affected. 7. Pet Abandonment & Animal Shelter Surges - Shelters nationwide are reporting record numbers of pets being surrendered because people can’t afford food or vet bills. - A heartbreaking, indirect measure of household stress. 8. Decline in Funeral Spending - Families increasingly choosing cremation without services, or even “direct disposal” options, because funerals are unaffordable. - End-of-life spending is often a hidden barometer of financial strain. 9. Medical Debt on Credit Reports

The fed cut interest rates today in the U.S. How are you feeling about the economy and the jobs market? Hopeful? Hopeless? Somewhere in between? Let us know how you’re faring. ❤️🫂

Welcome @Boris Wilhelmus ! Seems like you also help people overcome trauma and money hurdles. I’m curious to your approach and how you help people (what teaching modalities and stuff do you teach them). Do you care to introduce yourself?

This morning I have the thought, Life is supposed to suck. People get disappointed because they think life is supposed to be easy. It’s marketed to us in the media. It sells more books, courses, ideas, etc. But honestly, we’re lucky if our lives don’t suck. Anything good, any reprieve, happy memory or moment, is a gift. And I don’t mean life is supposed to suck in a pessimistic way. We can handle anything that comes our way. Not to fear bad stuff happening, but to expect good things, and to be fully ready for obstacles. That way, we really cherish all of the blessings. I hope I’m making sense. What do you think? What’s on your mind today? How’s it going? Feel free to share in the comments.

What’s some hobbies you’ve neglected over the years? For me, it’s music production, filmmaking, editing, and acting