Teacher works three jobs to support her family

Kathryn Vaughn, forty-six, works as a primary school art teacher in rural West Tennessee and takes two other jobs to make ends meet as costs rise across America.

Inflation hits three point seven percent in September

Prices rose three point seven percent over the past twelve months, up from three point four percent in the twelve months to August, according to official numbers released on Wednesday.

Energy costs drive up living expenses nationwide

High energy prices have driven up the cost of living in America as diesel prices have hit record highs and the price of gasoline has risen too.

Vaughn takes on gig work to survive financially

Vaughn hand-models for a jewelry store, sells household items on Facebook swap sites, resells clothes on ThredUp and Poshmark, and writes obituaries for extra money.

“I have done some incredibly unhinged things to survive.”

Gas prices block home purchase plans

Punal Bhavsar, thirty-nine, expected to save enough for a house in twenty twenty-six but says rising costs and high interest rates have made that unlikely now.

California gas costs nearly six dollars a gallon

Bhavsar drives a car requiring premium gas that costs almost six dollars, or four pounds fifty, in California. He may become a single-issue voter focused on gas prices.

“For me, it's just like gas prices have got to be under control.”

Ground beef becomes a luxury item

Caitlin Green remembers paying two dollars a pound for ground beef seven years ago in Utah. Now she pays eight dollars and sometimes buys ground turkey or chicken instead.

Families cancel trips and skip homemade lunches

Vaughn cancelled a trip to Florida to see her parents because gas costs too much. She now buys school lunches for her son instead of packing them as groceries have become too expensive.

“It's rough out here. The cost of everything is insane.”