One of my favorite pastimes is walking around the Dollar Tree picking out things I don’t need, without the guilt of spending a lot of money. I also frequent there when I do actually need things like cleaning supplies, decor or cookware because I am in fact, a frugal gal.

However, I had recently caught wind that the prices would be increasing – which I laughed off. I figured it would only happen in California since everything is so expensive there anyway. But, to my devastation, when I approached my local Dollar Tree, I spotted a large sign from the company with an apology. An increase in 25 cents doesn’t seem like much, but now I have more concern over how much I’m spending.

Now, everything is simply not only a dollar and I can’t even express how sad I am. I’m not saying that I won’t frequent the Dollar Tree anymore, but I am less likely to buy certain things there when they’re now the same price as everywhere else. At this point with inflation, everything has been affected and it is making it harder and harder to buy necessities at a reasonable cost. Your morning coffee is no longer 2 dollars, gas has exceeded 4 dollars a gallon and I presume the nightmare will continue. From now on, I am trying to make the conscious effort to tighten my belt and not spend so frivolously.