For the past decade, since the birth of her first daughter, Tiffany Tagbo has worked two jobs to make ends meet. A few months ago, her part-time employer increased her overtime hours to 40 a week.
Even with two jobs, her income still falls short. She has now started training for yet another part-time role. “I work more than 80 hours a week just to support my family during these tough times,” said Tagbo, 41, who lives in Oklahoma City.
Her work as a suicide prevention hotline operator for autistic children brings in $800 a month, but half of that goes to health insurance. At the grocery store, even the smallest purchases require calculation — whether to buy eggs or her daughter’s favorite cheese sticks. While daily expenses are not as alarming as they were a few years ago, they remain burdensome. In August, consumer prices rose 2.9% year-over-year, far below the 9% peak in June 2022. Yet many essentials are still climbing faster than the overall average.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, rents rose 3.8% last year — the sharpest increase since 2011. Nearly half of renters now spend more than 30% of their income on housing, surpassing the recommended threshold.
“When you live paycheck to paycheck, nothing really feels easier, even if inflation is technically down,” Tagbo said.
Others share similar struggles. Adriana Barradas used to spend about $40 a month on diapers. Today, the cheapest pack she can find at Costco costs more than that — and doesn’t last through the month. “Having a baby these days is incredibly expensive,” she said.
Since moving to Los Angeles in May, she has also been shocked by gas bills. Her most recent bill reached $800, compared to a previous average of under $250. Her family is also behind on rent.
For Maria Madera, 38, who lost her job at a clothing store in Los Angeles, rising food prices have been especially painful. “Chicken used to be cheap. Now it takes nearly $20 worth just to feed my husband and two kids,” she said. Recently, she visited a food bank for the first time in her life.
“I felt guilty, asking myself, what am I doing here? I was so embarrassed. But then I saw so many others like me. When everything is this expensive, you realize you’re not alone,” Madera explained.
Economists note that concerns about high costs — a factor that once helped Donald Trump return to the White House — have not faded, even as inflation has eased significantly under Joe Biden. Prices surged in 2022 and 2023 and never truly came down, and new increases continue in sectors such as energy.
Experts say the heaviest financial strain comes not from occasional purchases like clothes or furniture, but from recurring household bills: rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and health insurance.