A new build floods and the repair runs $33,000. Five stitches cost $1,800 after insurance. The same apartment I rented for about $1,200 a month now costs $1,000 more, and a 62-year-old is working three jobs to keep up. So is America really becoming too expensive to live in, or does it just feel that way?

In this video I react to Americans showing what everyday life costs them right now, then look at the numbers: prices rose 3.7% over the last year, but gas is up 34% and energy is up 20%. Real average hourly earnings fell 0.7%, so the typical paycheck buys less than it did a year ago, and only 63% of adults could cover a $400 emergency with cash. Then I lay out the plan: build a $400 cash buffer first, and go after your biggest fixed cost, not your coffee.

1. Which bill has gone up the most for you this year?

2. Has your paycheck kept up with your bills?

3. Could you cover a $400 emergency with cash today?

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Chapters:

00:00 $33,000 To Fix A Flooded Basement

06:26 Crashing Out Over Being Working Class

08:28 $1,800 For Five Stitches

14:15 Why Your Paycheck Feels Smaller

16:31 Same Apartment, Triple The Rent

20:08 Even Moving Costs Thousands

23:38 No One Can Afford To Live Anymore

25:24 $10 Of Gas In A Rich Suburb

26:01 62 And Working Three Jobs

#costofliving #costofliving2026 #inflation #personalfinance

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