![\"Becky](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/HL2MR43O6BCJPGCNSLYYWGACII.jpg\")
Becky Minton(WWBT)<\/p>\nMIDLOTHIAN, Va. (WWBT) – Before Becky Minton retired in 2019, she worked for a major insurance company.<\/p>\n
It allowed her and her late husband Pete to build a life for themselves in Brandermill, raising two children in their four-bedroom house.<\/p>\n
\u201cI found it to be quite affordable,\u201d Minton said.<\/p>\n
Since her husband\u2019s passing seven years ago, Minton lives alone in that home with her dog. <\/p>\n
Between Social Security and her pension, Minton has about $2,400 to live off of a month.<\/p>\n
Becky Minton(WWBT)<\/p>\n
While she admits that\u2019s modest compared to other people, in this economy, it\u2019s not getting her as far as she\u2019d like.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is stressful with the prices seemingly no end to them going up. Like I said before, I am in a survival mode,\u201d Minton said.<\/p>\n
While she is grateful her home is paid off, her bills include car and long-term care insurance, gas, utilities and food.<\/p>\n
Gas has gone up nearly 30 cents in Virginia in just one month, according to AAA. <\/p>\n
She just paid a $1,000 utility bill from the winter. <\/p>\n
The average grocery bill has gone up nearly 3% from this time last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s a shock to the system. When you\u2019re a senior, on a fixed income, you know, I can\u2019t go out get a job. I don\u2019t have the energy level to do that anymore to do that,\u201d Minton said.<\/p>\n
Inflation surged to 3.8 percent in April, the highest it\u2019s been in three years.<\/p>\n
Minton not only worries for working families but other seniors who may be living on less.<\/p>\n
\u201cI consider myself to be very fortunate, because I know that there are, Lord knows how many people there are out there that are truly in panic mode,\u201d Minton said.<\/p>\n
Minton says she\u2019s learning to cope with this expensive reality but hopes the younger generations aren\u2019t in the same situation when they\u2019re her age.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wonder if they\u2019ll have to spend their entire life worrying about once they get to their own senior hood and will they be prepared for it,\u201d Minton said.<\/p>\n
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