Peace

and am now so fucking glad. I don't know how anyone would want to birth a child into this world today.

'Made in the USA' sticker.

That 64 years ago. Glad I don’t have to worry about that. I do have a ton of step children, grand kids and great grand kids. They are all great and I fear for them.

and likely never will be again in their lifetimes. I wonder if they will ask themselves why we weren't more vigilant to protect and keep our democracy and its freedoms?

I can offer that Costco seems to be doing great, at least in my area! It is more packed than I've ever seen it every time I go there. So here's hoping that means good things for your part-time employment.

I am scared to death about the future. I'm in my sixties and have one child, but no grandchildren. I'm grateful for that because I fear what's to come.

I just wish that someone would do something to stop the asshole. I was excited about what Cory Booker did, but we need much, much more than just that.

I've heard business has been booming because of all the hate generated by Dump and his hate cult. Have you noticed an uptick? Just curious.

...that they have had a lot of new members who have left Sam's club. Good!

But once this tariff stuff takes hold, who knows ?

I shop Union here in Maryland! No exceptions. I'm retired Union so that's where my money goes. Kohl's still has its DEI program in place, so I've been getting big-discounted items from there for my family. Cheers

Maybe they're paying attention to the bigger picture. Best of luck to ya!

southern Oregon, red city blue state.

It's pretty much always like this though, we all love Costco.

I'm 65. Will be Social Security eligible in a year. 66 yrs and 10 mos. Thanks Reagan. Reducing my obligations to stay withing my small pension and part-time budget. My house is paid off and car loan manageable. I worry about younger folk, especially those saddled with student loans. For many folk Trumpism is doomsday. All their long-term plans and goals have been upended. The market is topsy turvy and retirement funds are shrinking. The malignant narcissist in DC is reveling in the destruction. He loves how folks are groveling and begging him for favors. It is sick. I'd follow the original poster's advice. Hunker down and hope Trumpism dies a spectacular and permanent death. Then rebuild.

My spending is so low by now that it’s hard to see! There’s just nothing I really need anymore, except for food, a regular supply of tea bags, and maybe a little chocolate every day. Thank You, God!

And that’s how it’s gonna stay. Grateful that neither my husband nor I have any big bills to pay down anymore, other than the mortgage. Plus, both kids are PLENTY old enough to handle all their own needs by now, and they actually seem to be enjoying it. Thank You, God, for THAT, too!

Simplification is a good thing. A VERY good thing!

Well, I had 10 decent years of retirement before this befell our nation. If only we had been more vigilant in defending our democracy.

More if you wait till 70 or so, less if you take it at 62. Like Dorothy, you're always had the chance to flee the Land of Oz once you turned 62

Sadly, Democrats and the Left were not vigilant in protecting our democracy, evidently thinking it was a permanent fixture and too many of us were complacent and overconfident about this. We underestimated Trump and maga as just being stupid and whining about a stolen election when for years they have been planning what is happening now.
I hope that young, preschool children may learn about what America once was, a shingle beacon to the world if the books still exist for them to learn this.

My hat goes off to those people handing out those samples all day!! What a job! I do get to speak more Tagalog there than I usually speak in my whole time in Washington. I'm surprised there are any Anglos left doing that job!

Pretty white here If food is seasoned with pepper here it's too spicy for many!!

White Anglos are a small minority of the folks in the Costco where my brother shops (and I, when I'm there). Both immigrants and diplomats mixing--logical since they like to eat the same stuff. Spicy food is omnipresent and welcome. Since my brother and I like it too, we are frequent and willing targets for the offerings. If it's Asian (Turkey to Vietnam, it doesn't matter) or South American, we're in!

and will never be again. We will be a pariah, a second world nation with nukes among the free nations of the world and hopefully a lesson to them as well to be vigilant in protecting their freedoms and not become complacent in believing things will always be the same.

But I think there is still enough will and initiative out there to bust out of this dark mode. I remember the optimism when Bill Clinton, then Barack Obama, and then Joe Biden took office. Each time, the Republicans managed to sour the mood, but each time, we bounced back, too. I'll maintain a glimmer of hope. The Europeans are such pessimists, I get enough of that here already.

I'd be . . . not rich . . . able to buy a decent steak. Never thought I'd see such a clusterfuck in my lifetime and I remember getting an 11% mortgage when we bought our first house.

If it's still there, benefits will probably be cut for all of us because privatizing it will skyrocket administrative costs.

My employer won't let me take all of my 401 (k) out, but I took half out. Now, I'm sweating what's going to happen to the rest and wondering what the hell Social Security will be like in two years.

UGH.

This is a BAD, BAD time for anyone to be near retirement. I mean stressful, fear-inducing, and hair-raising (those who still have hair).

Medicare will probably be privatized too. Pfft.

so I might as well have a year or two of freedom before they do it.

My savings are my key focus right now. No revolving debt.

Putting off expensies. Was going to rebuild my deck, I'm painting it instead. Was doing a week vacation for an anniversary, going camping now instead.