A bit optimistic aren’t they? I know mine has dropped significantly more than that. Our take-home has been cut (-2%), insurance has gone up, property taxes have gone up (10%), utilities have gone up (7%), groceries have gone up, and education expenses have gone up (about 8% so far and not all the new costs for next fall have been decided).
Don’t forget the price of gas is still up and spiking toward $4.00 a gallon just in time for July 4th, FOFLOL, but the Obie administration says the cost of living hasn’t gone up.
Our income has dropped 75% (hubby working as many temp jobs as he can and I am in school as it’s the only alternative right now. We are currently looking to move even though we have traveled quite a ways outside our state looking for work) and property taxes went up double this year.