Multiple organizations are proclaiming a similar message: Americans are having a difficult time keeping up with the cost of living. An August study done by the Pew Institute revealed that “70% of U.S. adults say they have cut back on spending for extras – such as eating out, streaming services or other entertainment – in the past year.” The Urban Institute’s American Affordability Tracker found that “49 percent of people in American families don’t have the resources to cover essential expenses to live securely in their community.” Health insurance premiums on the Marketplace rose by 22 percent between 2025 and 2026.
I’ve always been a person of modest means. Growing up in a family that managed to get by, the messaging was that as long as we had each other, we had enough. I recently found a card that my maternal grandmother wrote on the occasion of my birth. Part of the handwritten text says she “feels as rich as Fort Knox.” My family did an effective job instilling the sense that love and family are what matter most in living a life. Money never received top billing. “Do what you love and the money will take care of itself” was the supplemental message.
Flash forward five decades. The messages were mostly true, but not without some struggle. My financial life might be rosier had I made some different choices along the way. Recalling the conviction of older generations, who firmly believed in pulling themselves up by their bootstraps, it’s clear those straps are not a viable option.
Whether I’m reading fiction or nonfiction, there’s often a sense of relief as I recognize myself in someone else’s experience. In What America is Living Without, a New York Times opinion piece by Alissa Quart, readers were asked what they can no longer afford, or have given up on having. Eating out, vacations, quality vanilla, date nights, contact lenses, repairing appliances… It was like looking at a mirror. I’ve lived like this for years. “…The high costs of child care, housing, medical care and other necessities make their incomes feel paltry. So they are trimming, reining in the lives they once expected for themselves.”
There’s no magic solution to the cost of living crisis in which so many of us find ourselves. There are, however, resources available that can help ease some of the pain. Rethink your sources of entertainment by taking advantage of library events. If you’re in need of a computer or wifi, visit us in person or put a hold on a mobile internet kit. There are a number of items that appeal to adults and children in our Library of Things collection. Explore the Museum Pass program for free admission to a variety of organizations. Consider canceling your Wall Street Journal or New York Times subscription and take advantage of access from the library. Did you know you can print from home without having a printer of your own? Use LinkedIn Learning to upskill for new career opportunities.
As the saying goes, there are helpers if you know where to look. Sometimes they look like libraries.
Illustration by Space Stock on Unsplash