Opposites attract, as they say. That's true of my husband and me, especially when it comes to money.
I want to spend it. He doesn't.
At least that's how it used to be. Lately, I've grown more cautious about how often we pull out the credit card. Perhaps 20-plus years of marriage to a financial adviser have rubbed off on me.
Or maybe it's just how darn expensive everything is right now, from restaurant tabs to gas. That's terrible timing for Republicans, with the midterm elections just weeks away.
We've never been big on pricey entertainment like ball games and concerts; we'd rather save for travel. But we do love hitting our favorite breweries and neighborhood pubs.
Now even a casual weekend lunch or weekday date night regularly runs $80 or more
– and that's with just a beer or two. More often than not, we split a burger or another basic entrée. Driving there? Factor in the exploding cost at the pump, too.
Talk about a killjoy.
Plenty of other Americans have noticed, too, and like us, many are staying in rather than going out. You can bet they'll remember it when they vote in November.
Fuel prices are off the charts and likely to stay high
Unless you never leave the house, you've probably been shocked by how much fuel prices have jumped in recent weeks. Regular gas now averages close to $4.50 a gallon nationwide.
Diesel is a whopping $6.53, up from $3.69 just a year ago. And lucky me, I drive a diesel Jeep. Lately, it has spent a lot more time in the garage.
Record diesel prices will ripple through the rest of the economy, too, because the trucking industry runs on diesel to move goods around the country.
The spike is directly tied to the war in Iran; prices have climbed more than 40% since it began Feb. 28.
But voters don't care why. They just know what they're paying now.
President Donald Trump isn't helping by belittling those concerns. He recently told voters in North Carolina that higher gas prices were “a very inexpensive price to pay” for the war.
Inexpensive for whom? A few weekends ago, I drove 200 miles each way to northern Michigan to celebrate my birthday. I can tell you the sticker shock is real.
Trump has promised prices will come down "like rocket ships in reverse," but he hasn't said how.
No wonder voters are growing frustrated and pinning the blame on him. After all, a big reason he won in 2024 was his promise to right former President Joe Biden's economic wrongs.
In a new NBC News poll, 55% of voters say Trump's policies have hurt the economy, while only 26% say they've helped. Back in 2018, 41% said his policies had helped.
Republicans running in midterms struggle with messaging on prices
In Michigan, home to a key race for an open Senate seat, both candidates are taking on high fuel prices. For Democrats, there's no better billboard than those jaw-dropping numbers.
"Michiganders are now paying a staggering $5 a gallon for gas and $6.79 a gallon for diesel – raising prices for groceries and everything else," progressive Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed said in a Sept. 17 statement. "I am the only candidate in this race running to bring down costs for Michiganders."
Former Rep. Mike Rogers, El-Sayed's Republican opponent, has made a bold break with the White House: He'scalled for the war in Iran to end.
“The war with Iran needs to end, and end quickly,” Rogers said in a video published on social media Sept. 21. “Michigan families can’t afford to wait.”
In the meantime, he's proposed a temporary ban on diesel exports, arguing that "American energy should provide relief to American families first." He's also called for suspending federal and state gas taxes.
I realize much of the economy is doing well, from strong retail numbers to job growth. But most voters will be moved by what they see and feel firsthand.
Right now, that's the price of a fill-up or a night out.
That reminds me: I need to figure out what to make for dinner.
Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X: @Ingrid_Jacques
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: High prices are killing date night – and GOP's midterm hopes | Opinion
