11 Everyday Expenses Most Retirees Are Struggling With (You’re Not Alone)

If the last few years of inflation have cut into your spending power, you’re not alone. Increased prices are making budgeting harder for many people across the U.S., but especially for retirees and others living on a fixed budget.

After all, it’s hard to maximize your retirement savings when prices for everyday goods such as eggs and coffee have skyrocketed.

Wondering exactly how much more you’re paying for essential goods compared to five years ago? Below, we go over some of the biggest price hikes in recent years. Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from a price tracker maintained by CBS News.

2019: $1.41

2024: $3.65

Egg prices soared by 160% over the past five years. Adding insult to injury, egg costs were finally starting to drop in 2023 before a deadly bird flu struck chicken populations.

That event sent the price of eggs rocketing back up, making it harder for many to get ahead financially.

2019: $2.26

2024: $4.31

If you love orange juice in the morning, a recent surge in prices has made it difficult to get your day off to the right start.

Frozen orange juice nearly doubled in cost between 2019 and 2024, rising 90%. Most of that price jump occurred in 2023.

Between 2019 and 2020, frozen OJ went up an average of just 3 cents. It inched up another 2 cents between 2021 and 2022, before exploding in 2023.

2019: 59 cents

2024: $1

As with orange juice, you’re now paying close to double for sugar what you did five years ago.

Dry weather is one of the main culprits behind the 70% price hike: Drought ruined sugar crops across the globe at the tail end of 2023 and the start of 2024.

2019: $4.20

2024: $6.87

Even if you’re used to paying a premium for coffee at Starbucks, it might still be a shock to pay close to $7 for a bag of ground coffee from your nearest grocery store.

Of course, even with that 64% increase, it’s still cheaper to brew your coffee at home — you’ll likely get multiple cups for the price of one Starbucks beverage.

2019: $3.81

2024: $5.63

An unfortunate combination of high grain prices and dry weather drove ground beef prices up to a record-breaking $5.67 this fall.

Average prices have gone down a few cents since then, but ground beef is still 48% more expensive now than it was in 2019.

2019: $1.06

2024: $1.49

Utility gas prices aren’t quite as bad now as they were in 2022, when the average cost was $1.62. Still, the 41% price hike in utility gas costs from 2019 to 2024 means utility bills are harder to pay this year.

That is especially tough news if you’re in a part of the country hit hard by snow storms or cold weather this winter.

2019: $1.14

2024: $1.51

Eggs, orange juice, coffee, and yogurt — Americans’ favorite breakfast foods have gotten quite a bit pricier in recent years.

Eight ounces of yogurt costs 33% more now than it did in 2019.

2019: 13 cents

2024: 18 cents

A 5-cent price hike in electricity costs might not seem too terrible, but it represents an increase of 32%. Combined with higher utility gas costs, the electricity price increase isn’t doing your budget any favors.

If prices remain high through next summer, you’ll need to keep a careful eye on your air conditioner to avoid going over budget on electricity costs.

2019: $3.19

2024: $4.14

A half-gallon of milk cost $4.22 in 2022, so dairy fans can celebrate the fact that prices aren’t quite that high at the end of 2024.

Still, that 30% change between 2019 and 2024 almost adds up to a dollar — and if you buy just one half-gallon of milk per week, that extra dollar starts to add up fast.

2019: $2.69

2023: $3.61

According to data from WalletHub, the average cost of a gallon of gas went up 34% between 2019 and 2023.

It’s no wonder that the average American spends $2,449 on gas per year, according to WalletHub.

Fortunately, gas prices have declined a bit recently, and were around $3.04 in late December, AAA says.

2020: $27.91

2023: $39.56

Data compiled by GOBankingRates found that Amazon’s most popular dog food brands jumped in price by an average of 45.5% between 2020 and 2023.

With the cost of veterinary care rising over the same time period, it’s understandable why pet owners might be struggling to make ends meet.

Whether you’re a year or a decade into retirement, inflation is an unfortunate financial fact of life. But even with inflation taking a bite out of your savings, it’s still possible to enjoy a stress-free retirement.

Accounting for increased costs when you set a monthly budget, cutting unnecessary spending, and taking advantage of grocery store discounts can help you steer clear of major financial trouble while enjoying a hard-earned retirement.