MOLLETTE
From page A4
state (gas prices vary by state), lifestyle (factors such as driving habits can affect how much is spent on gas), and vehicle type. For example, drivers of full-size SUVs pay more on gas than drivers of subcompact or compact cars.
In 2023, the average cost of health insurance in the United States was $8,435 per year for single coverage and $23,968 per year for family coverage. This was a 7 percent increase from 2022 (Source: KFF, Oct. 18 2023).
The United States has one of the highest costs of healthcare in the world. In 2022, U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.5 trillion, which averages to $13,493 per person. By comparison, the average cost of healthcare per person in other wealthy countries is less than half as much.
For children attending public school from kindergarten to 12th grade, parents can expect to spend a total of roughly $162,899.86 on their child’s education and related activities Source: Gradepowerlearning. com.
Unfortunately, it takes money to pay the bills. Living a modest lifestyle requires a monthly intake of cash – a lot of cash.
You might survive for a while on a small income, but you can see from any of the items above that a modest income makes life a strain when it comes to paying the bills.
The cost-of-living increase needs to come to a halt so that Americans can catch up. Until this happens, millions of Americans will continue to experience financial strain.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including Uncommon Sense, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook: Insights from a Fellow Minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. Learn more at glennmollette. com.
