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Working hard.
Still not getting ahead. We're not alone.

Affording Life is a group of neighbors. We share the truth about why everything costs so much. And we talk about what we can do about it.

No spam. Just neighbors talking honestly.

1 in 2
Renters across America spend more than they can afford on housing
1.2M
Parents miss work every month because of childcare
9 in 10 of them are moms
1 in 3
Americans skipped a doctor visit last year because they couldn’t afford it
Housing Energy Childcare Healthcare Groceries Our neighborhoods Real information Honest conversation Housing Energy Childcare Healthcare Groceries Our neighborhoods Real information Honest conversation
What's happening

2 in 5 families are working hard, doing everything right, but the American Dream has failed us.

All across the country, almost half of all families don't make enough to pay for the basics: rent or a home, food, watching your kids, doctor visits, and your utility bills. Even though we work hard every day.

This isn't about being poor. It's about everything costing too much. It hits people who are doing everything right.

The hardest part isn't the bills. It's feeling like something is wrong with us. It's not. This is happening everywhere. We're not alone.

"A lot of us feel like nothing will ever change, no matter what we do. That feeling is real. We're not here to tell anyone what to think. We're here to share what we all deserve to know, and to help each other out, because we didn't cause this."

~25%
Rent went up across PA since 2019
Some areas went up 40% or more
$11K+
Cost of watching one child per year in PA
That's more than college tuition
26%
Jump in heat and electricity bills since 2020
The fastest rise in 40 years
What Affording Life is

A neighbor-to-neighbor conversation.
Because we're all in this together.

Affording Life started with one simple idea: we deserve the truth about why things cost so much. And we deserve a place to talk about it with people we trust.

We're neighbors looking out for each other. We work with everyone, because rent, childcare, and grocery bills don't care where any of us come from.

Community-driven Built by neighbors, for neighbors.
01Real Information

We break down why your rent, groceries, heat, childcare, and doctor visits keep going up. No spin. No confusing language. Just the truth, in plain English.

02Honest Conversation

Small get-togethers, 8 to 10 people, where we talk openly and feel heard. Kitchen table, not town hall.

03Local Action

Helping our neighbors find help, ask the right questions, and hold local leaders to their word on what matters most: the cost of living.

The costs have names

Here's what's behind them.

Plain-English guides on the five biggest costs that weigh on working families. Free. Written by neighbors, for neighbors.

⚡ Energy
Our energy bills went up. Here's exactly why.

Why your heat and electricity bills keep going up, and what you can do about it right now. Covers help programs, extra charges on your bill, and your rights as a renter.

🏠 Housing
Rent keeps going up. This is how it works.

Why rent and home prices keep going up, and what you need to know about your rights.

👶 Childcare
Childcare costs more than college. Here's why.

Why watching your kids costs so much, what help is out there, and why so many families can't get it.

🛒 Food
Our grocery bills aren't our fault.

Why food prices keep going up, and the hidden costs that make eating well harder than it should be.

💊 Healthcare
Having insurance isn't the same as being able to afford care.

What you need to know about deductibles, doctor networks, and the real cost of staying healthy.

Resources

We found what helps.
We want to share it.

Affording life around here is hard. But there is real help out there. Most families can get it but never hear about it. We put it all in one place so you don't have to search. Whether it's help with your utility bills, groceries, rent, childcare, or medical bills, there is probably something here for you.

Find Resources Now

Not looking for programs right now? That's okay too. If you want to meet neighbors who are going through the same things, we'd love to help you do that.

Host a Gathering in Your Community
Stay connected

Get the information.
Pass it along to a neighbor.

We send updates now and then: new guides, local help, and real stories from families like yours.

No rallies. No fundraising. Just the facts we all deserve to have.

We will never sell your information or contact you about anything that isn't about the cost of living.

Know someone who needs this?
Just forward this page and say: "thought of you." That's the whole ask.

You're in. 🎉

We'll be in touch with information that's actually useful, and nothing else.