Where is your pocket change going

Earlier this month, the Senior Citizens League released a report showing that seniors have lost 20% of their purchasing power since 2000. In other words, $1 from nine years ago is now worth just 80 cents. And when you look at housing and health care costs, that loss of purchasing power is even more dramatic:


2000
2009
% increase Year 2000 Year 2009 % Increase
Homeowners insurance $492 $789 60%
Real-estate taxes $690 $1,224 77%
Heating oil, 1 gallon $1.25 $2.45 96%
Medicare Part B monthly premiums $45.50 $96.40 112%

and you want to know why you don't ever have any pocket change.................................