Vee, most likely we all agree with you about this inflation. Sometimes it makes those of my generation's head spin. Being thrifty is also a basis of our generation, something many of the younger ones don't "get". They want what they want when they want it - making credit card debt now a national concern and one reason for the bill before congress about making it harder to file for bankruptcy. We know that everytime someone doesn't pay, the rest of us pay for them (through higher prices). I'm thankful to have been born when I was (1940), for what I was taught and have gleaned through the years. Which of us, IF money was no object, and we didn't have to pinch a few pennies, would be better off. We have a lot to be thankful for, oh yes indeed !! Evelyn > Dear Folks, > > As I mentioned yesterday one of the items I wanted to pick up was a box of > standard size staples. I took my old empty box into Rite Aid to make > certain that I bought the same size. And when I checked the price of the > box they had on the shelf, I almost had a coronary. It sold for $2.19. > > The old box had a price sticker on it and it said "Catalog List price $1.90, > OfficeMax price $.62!" Now mind you, I bought that old box maybe ten years > ago prior to OfficeMax having bar coding. In addition the sales tax at that > time was probably 7% versus the present sales tax of 8-3/4%. > > Granted, every year I get a Cost of Living Allowance added to my Social > Security and my Navy pension but in these recent years I've often wondered > whether what with the $25(?) increase per month I'd even break even. > Somehow I seriously doubt it. > > Nonetheless, I still manage to pay all of my bills promptly, including the > outrageous high cost of gasoline, fuel oil and propane gas. And my bank > account balance is still healthy. Thank goodness for being thrifty! > vee > >