Ellen should know that those of us needing to work and pay our own bills while preparing for retirement tend to monitor our finances more closely.

From 2017-20 my home heating costs averaged $1,925 a year. In 2022, I saw a second year of increased cost to where the same home cost me $3,087 to heat (after turning down the heat more) — and 2023 is tracking a similar cost.

My retirement account flourished under Donald Trump, gaining 23.7%, but two years under Joe Biden has wiped out some of those gains to where I lost 6.1%. The equity line on my home, which is based on the rates set by the Fed (controlled by the president), was under 4.5% in 2018-20, but now is breaching almost 8%.

Am I any different than the average individual? Mortgage rates under the Trump presidency averaged 3.1%, but that same 30-year fixed rate loan will now charge 7.58%, meaning the borrower will pay an additional $21,000 over the length of the loan.

Food inflation averaged 3% from 2017-20, but under Biden, 2022 saw 9.9% food inflation, and 2023 is tracking even worse. That is only compounded by the lack of options for food with more empty shelves and product sizes reduced while paying the same or more.

So, when I vote in 2024, I can promise it won’t be for the current president, because like many working Americans, I simply cannot afford to.

Robert Reed, Lewiston