Anyone else feel the weirdness of this unprecedented time?

[MissB]

91. yeah, that is true. I'm able to shave my budget a lot

Dh is retired; I'm still working. I make more than enough to cover our expenses and spend without thinking too much about the impacts to the budget. I'm not out buying new shoes every weekend, but I'm not necessarily counting pennies at the grocery store either. I'm comfortably in-between where I can budget X for food but still spend X plus Y if needed without worrying about how I'm going to pay for car insurance.

I think that's a bit more typical of folks in blue areas where they're nearing the twilight of their professional career. Money isn't as tight as it was in my 20s and 30s, kids are grown, house is paid for, college is done etc.

So by January 20, I'm not buying shit. I will cook a lot more from scratch (already do for most meals) and plan to expand my garden next year. I might make a game of it to see how far I can stretch without buying "stuff". It is a privilege to be able to do so, but it's the way I plan on saying screw this next administration. I can afford to step back from this economy.