How county residents are dealing with the economy

EVERETT — Linda Banks used to look forward to her golden years.

In today’s economy, she’s not so sure.

Living on a fixed disability income of $652 per month, Banks, 63, wouldn’t be able to make ends meet without help from her boyfriend. She can’t afford to drive to Eastern Washington to visit her granddaughter. She rarely goes out to eat.

“At Christmastime, I get so depressed because I don’t have enough money to buy gifts for everyone,” said Banks, who found a cheap computer monitor at Value Village on Wednesday after her old monitor broke. “I hate Christmas anymore.”

Snohomish County residents are scrambling to save money as costs for goods and services continue to climb.

Fueled by soaring energy costs, consumer prices in June experienced their second largest monthly increase in 26 years, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Food prices shot up by 0.7 percent, and vegetable prices jumped by 6.1 percent. Energy costs such as gasoline, home heating oil and natural gas climbed by 6.6 percent.

The gas prices have put a damper on Lourdes Cardenas’ summer.

Each year, the Cardenas family drives to California to go to Disneyland, spend time in Mexico and visit friends. However, gas prices have made the trip unaffordable. Instead of a vacation, the family spent some money on materials to work on landscaping their yard. “That’s all we can afford to do,” said Cardenas, 49. “Everything else is too expensive.”

The rising cost of living has already absorbed raises given to Cardenas, a nurse, and her husband, a Boeing engineer.

“It doesn’t match what the prices are,” she said. “I want to know what’s next.”

Despite rising food prices, Dave Green, 39, of Everett said he’s willing to pay more for fresh, organic produce. On Wednesday, he picked up some lettuce, plums, tomatoes, potatoes and a casaba melon at the Country Farms fruit and vegetable stand on Broadway in Everett.

His family is finding other ways to make up for rising consumer costs.

“We don’t go to the movies as much, but we play outside more, and we have really been utilizing the library more,” Green said.

Betty Good, 70, knows a thing or two about living in a poor economy.

Born during the tail end of the Great Depression, Good, who lives in Everett, grew up in a household without money. Now, six months since the death of her husband, she’s saving an estimated half a tank of gas each month by avoiding nonessential car trips.

Good already works weekends at a real estate office, and now she’s looking for another job to help pay her bills.

Several of her friends also need money, but they lack the physical health to get a job, Good said. They’re trimming their spending and selling off their cars and jewelry, but they can only tighten their belts so much.

“Our government has definitely let down the seniors of today,” Good said. “We thought we had enough money put away. We didn’t know things would get this bad.”

The high costs of goods in Washington has been a shock for Calvin MacKnight, 22, who recently moved back to Everett after living in Tennessee for eight years.

Washington’s minimum wage is higher, but food, gas and rent for far more expensive, MacKnight said. As if that weren’t bad enough, he’s having a hard time finding a new job. He estimates he’s sent out more than 30 applications.

MacKnight has cut back on cigarettes, chips and cookies, but he still plans on taking his girlfriend to the new Batman movie.

“You’ve got to entertain yourself somehow,” he said. “You’ve got to have a balance of work, love and play. You’ve got to fit the play in somehow.”

Will the economy improve anytime soon?

“That’s everyone’s question,” MacKnight said. “It’s got to pop eventually, and it’s either going to be really good or really bad.”

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@­heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Olivia Vanni / The Herald 
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County.
The Mukilteo Lighthouse. Built in 1906, it’s one of the most iconic landmarks in Snohomish County. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mukilteo mayor vetoes council-approved sales tax

The tax would have helped pay for transportation infrastructure, but was also set to give Mukilteo the highest sales tax rate in the state.

Marysville Mayor Jon Nehring gives the state of the city address at the Marysville Civic Center on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Marysville council approves interim middle housing law

The council passed the regulations to prevent a state model code from taking effect by default. It expects to approve final rules by October.

x
State audit takes issue with Edmonds COVID grant monitoring

The audit report covered 2023 and is the third since 2020 that found similar issues with COVID-19 recovery grant documentation.

Bothell
Bothell man pleads guilty to sexual abuse of Marysville middle schoolers

The man allegedly sexually assaulted three students in exchange for vapes and edibles in 2022. His sentencing is set for Aug. 29.

Larsen talks proposed Medicaid cuts during Compass Health stop in Everett

Compass Health plans to open its new behavioral health center in August. Nearly all of the nonprofit’s patients rely on Medicaid.

Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Snohomish County Health Department director tapped as WA health secretary

Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

Police Cmdr. Scott King answers questions about the Flock Safety license plate camera system on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Mountlake Terrace, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mountlake Terrace approves Flock camera system after public pushback

The council approved the $54,000 license plate camera system agreement by a vote of 5-2.

Community members gather for the dedication of the Oso Landslide Memorial following the ten-year remembrance of the slide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
The Daily Herald garners 6 awards from regional journalism competition

The awards recognize the best in journalism from media outlets across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.

Community Transit saw a 17% jump in ridership from 2023 to 2024. Photo courtesy of Community Transit.
Snohomish County transit agencies seeking comments on planning docs

Community Transit and Everett Transit are preparing documents that lay out a path for future service and infrastructure improvments.

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen talks with Volunteers of America leadership to discuss the consequences of the federal cuts on Monday, June 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Federal cuts to LGBTQ+ youth hotline to hit Everett center

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, visited the call center Monday to discuss impacts of the cuts, including longer wait times and staff layoffs.

U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene, right, goes over a Chinook Marsh Project map with Snohomish County Surface Water Management’s Michael Rustay, left, and Erik Stockdale, center, at the project site on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County receives $10 million grant for floodplain management

The state Department of Ecology funding will go toward 13 projects across the county working to restore habitat and support climate resiliency.

The Washington state Capitol. (Photo by Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero/Washington State Standard)
These Washington laws take effect July 1

Fee hikes for hunting and fishing licenses, workplace protections for immigrants and… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.