The Generation X Files

Citizen Jane’s question time again! 📣

Are you struggling with the everyday costs of 2025? Can you see it getting any better in the future?

It seems like the whole world is experiencing a “cost of living crisis”. The price of almost everything seems to be on the rise and we’re struggling to keep up. 🚀💰

It wouldn’t be so bad but it’s not even as if we’re getting value for our money. What are all those taxes for?

I epecially hate those ones that sneak up on us. They have words that are new but they’re treated as if they’ve existed for years. It’s just you that’s never heard of them before.

Things like ‘shrinkflation‘ for example. As far as I can tell that’s a fancy word used to explain that extra puff of air (you can’t eat!) that ‘fills’ your favourite bag of crisps (chips for my American readers 😉).

It’s funny how it seems like the biggest companies get to give you less but charge you the same, or even more sometimes. Like there are special rules for some and not for others.

It reminds me of what happened during that pandemic that a lot of people seem to have forgotten about. Was it real or was the whole thing just a ‘fever dream’? 😷

I remember (if it did happen) that during the time when we were all ‘voluntarily’ locked in our houses, there were some larger companies that seemed to be ‘immune’ to the virus. I can’t quite remember the name of them now as they all went out of business. Oh no, sorry, I’ve got that wrong. It was all the little companies that didn’t survive. The ones that really needed support.

Somehow, the ones where the owners already had more money (but less taste in the wardrobe department!) than your average Bond villain, all survived. Not only that, some of them actually thrived if you can believe it! (I have linked here to a press release from Oxfam with more details.)

That reminds me of another time there was a large transfer of wealth. And just when we all really needed it. In 2008, I seem to recall. When we stupidly broke the banking system and then had to pay to fix it. Because it was our fault.

But, afterwards the banks said “thanks” and paid us all back….with interest remember? Oh no, I’ve got it backwards again haven’t I?

It’s weird how two events like that have had such wide-spread effects across the globe isn’t it? It’s almost like the odds are stacked against us or something.

It’s strange how quickly people forget. It’s almost as if it’s by design.

It’s crazy how fast the news cycle whizzes past nowadays. It’s almost as if it’s trying to keep us at the highest g-force so we don’t have time to think.

It’s funny how I started this year thinking it might be different. It’s almost as if I got caught up in the bread and circuses of it all…..again.

It’s puzzling that every day, people are struggling to pay for things they could afford a year ago. It’s almost as if for most of us, wages have stayed the same while inflation got higher.

It’s most disappointing that the best hope we have are representatives who have lost touch with the lives of everyday people. Are billionaires really best at making decisions on the behalf of all humans?

It’s odd that if you question these things you’re labeled a ‘conspiracy theorist’. I think it’s okay to voice your concerns when it seems like things aren’t right.

I don’t see a problem with trying to come up with solutions to a world that seems to be leaving humanity behind. It’s getting harder to speak up as each day we seem to move a step closer into living in a real-life 1984….

It’s almost as if we don’t have a choice, but to accept the inevitability of it all.

Almost….but, I don’t totally believe that. I don’t think it’s too late to do something about it. I think we’re all just exhausted and this year has taken its toll (more than most). Maybe that’s what ‘they’re’ relying on.

I’m concerned we’ve only seen a glimpse of what can happen when our lives are decided for us. I fear for what it’s going to be like when AI is fully unleashed.

That’s why I think we should do something before it’s too late. There are roughly eight billion of us on this planet. I can’t believe we can’t come up with a better way to live on it than…this.

We need to at least be able to talk about it or how else will we ever find out! Let’s start now…I’d love to hear what you think in my comments section below!

Citizen Jane x

Note: Today’s post title was inspired by the song Common People by Pulp. You can listen to it on YouTube below