There has been a real disconnect between real income growth and the growth of the real cost of living in the US, for decades.

We're certainly part of that 70%... a large part of the problem remains "invisible" inflation. For example, our homeowner's insurance rates haven't risen much *(as in cost per $100K of coverage), but our premiums are based on property values and since those have risen some 10-15% a year, our actual out-of-pocket insurance has been increasing by 10-15%, as well. But "official" inflation measures "rates" not what you actually PAY.

We're self-employed... and since so many are struggling, our clients/customers are very reluctant to pay any more than they did 10 years ago.

It's ultimately an unsustainable equation, and I don't think "blogging on Hive" is a sufficient side hustle to make up the shortfall!