A message for seniors

Are you now having a difficult time making ends meet on your social security pay? Credit card balance going up?

It is reported by the U.S. government that there has been 19% inflation since January 2020. Having a hard time calculating how they arrived at that figure? The cost of brand name coffee is up 38%. Cereal that was $2.25 is now $4.95 across the board and there is less of it. Gasoline for your car has been doubled and remains up one third since the beginning of 2020.

To help you understand government calculations on inflation you have to ignore what you are seeing at the grocery store and at the gas pump. Those are not real inflation indicators. They merely take more and more of your money.

For the real inflation figure that determines the increase in your annual social security payments-the ones you paid into all your life, you need to dig and find the increased cost of the left lug nut of a tug boat. Based on that you can calculate next year’s social security payment.

Next, if you have had for a long time a home telephone that seldom rings now and you are a bit lonely, look up and register on the national “Do Not Call” registry. Shortly after you do this, you will have calls from hundreds of people who want to help you in so many ways. They will sign you up with wonderful health insurance and do repairs on your 1948 Tucker Torpedo automobile for a very reasonable fee. Seems it is part of Federal Government services. Don’t let that “Do Not Call” title fool you.

Bill Folmar

Mineola