In recent years, you may have felt like you're working harder but getting less. Your paycheck stretches only so far, and more often, you're choosing between saving and covering the basics. That ...

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2024 the cost of achieving a basic but secure American life increased by 4.4%, further stretching household budgets as wages fail to keep pace, according ...

SAN DIEGO — A new study by the United Way of California reveals that nearly one-third of households in San Diego County are not earning enough to cover their basic needs, with the actual cost of ...

A survey from Resume Now, a resume-building platform, found the ability to afford the basics worsened for nearly 4 in 10 (39%) Americans in 2025 (2). A further 35% say it stayed the same, while 26% ...

The price of household necessities rose in December over the previous month, even as inflation overall held steady. The result is that price pressures were unevenly distributed across income groups, ...

This story is part of a Seattle Times focus on the affordability crisis in the Northwest. We explore the high cost of living and wealth disparities that shape our region; examine policies that impact ...

WASHINGTON — Vietnam War veteran Mike Archer of Arizona is about to sell his 2014 Mazda, end his apartment lease and buy a used RV for housing to keep within his budget on a fixed income amid higher ...