UPS driver has a blunt take on America’s economy after delivering Christmas packages |
Certain professions have an inside look at the economy because they’re on the ground floor and see things change firsthand. For example, the advertising business knows that a recession is coming six months ahead of time, and realtors often get a good idea of how the economy is changing before the shock hits everyone else.
Delivery drivers are another group of people who can get a good idea of how the average person is doing. They have more packages to deliver when the economy is doing well and fewer when things take a turn for the worse. That’s why a TikTok by UPS driver Dontay McCauley (@dontaymccauley) has so many views. After delivering Christmas packages, he thinks things are going well for most people at the end of 2024.
@dontaymccauley credit card debt going crazy. #ups #peakseason #Texas #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Dontay McCauley
credit card debt going crazy. #ups #peakseason #Texas #foryoupage ♬ original sound – Dontay McCauley
“I thought everybody was broke. I thought we were trending towards a recession, and y’all been complaining all year about finances, and y’all say that until Christmas,” the UPS driver said in a video with over 100,000 views.
“I see y’all actually do got money. And y’all making us pay, for every house got, like, 3, 4 packages. I’m loaded up,” McCauley continued. “Every day I’m going out with 400 packages on this truck, and y’all killing us, man, give us a break. But I thought you ain’t have no money, though?”
Was the U.S. economy good or bad in 2024?
The post received many comments; some said they are having difficulty getting by this year, while others say they are doing pretty well these days. It’s another example of the lukewarm way that people have viewed the U.S. economy since the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.
“Broke as in it costing me a whole helluva lot more to live than it should. I will always have money for Christmas one way or another,” Lisa Marie wrote. “We’re using After Pay. I did LOL,” Juanita added.
“I have been saying this ALL YEAR. Every restaurant, every tourist attraction, special event, and retail store is PACKED most of the time in my small ‘poor’ city,” SteelersGirl wrote. “I said this to my husband a few weeks ago. Everywhere I go, people are buying stuff. Car dealership was packed last week, too. The economy seems ok,” Wiat What wrote.
Another delivery driver chimed in, and she shared McCauley’s sentiment. “USPS here. I have been saying this for the last year,” ChicagoGirl wrote.
Did Americans spend more in 2024 on Christmas?
The confused delivery driver who says that people are saying one thing but spending in another tracks a pre-election poll. Pre-election surveys taken in late 2024 consistently found that a majority of Americans viewed the economy negatively, even as consumer spending remained strong.
Regardless of how individuals feel about the economy, the numbers don’t lie. 2024 was a strong holiday season for retailers. Visa says that spending is up this holiday season 4.8% over 2023. “This holiday shopping season, we’re seeing increasing consumer confidence as people sought out in-store experiences – and went online – to purchase gifts and celebrate the holidays with friends and family,” Wayne Best, chief economist at Visa, said in a statement. This spending growth demonstrates the adaptability of both consumers and retailers and the overall strength of the economy.”
What happened with Christmas spending in 2025?
Despite predictions of a tighter season, 2025 holiday spending still rose 4.2% year over year, according to Visa. Pre-season forecasts had noted inflation, tighter credit, and tariff pressures: Zeta’s research found a 27% drop in shoppers planning to spend $1,000 or more, and those planning to spend less than $100 grew from 32% to 34%. In the end, consumers were more deliberate, but still spending.
This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.
A single door can open up a world of endless possibilities. For homeowners, the front door of their house is a gateway to financial stability, job security, and better health. Yet for many, that door remains closed. Due to the rising costs of housing, 1 in 3 people around the world wake up without the security of safe, affordable housing.
Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has made it their mission to unlock and open the door to opportunity for families everywhere, and their efforts have paid off in a big way. Through their work over the past 50 years, more than 65 million people have gained access to new or improved housing, and the movement continues to gain momentum. Since 2011 alone, Habitat for Humanity has expanded access to affordable housing by a hundredfold.
A world where everyone has access to a decent home is becoming a reality, but there’s still much to do. As they celebrate 50 years of building, Habitat for Humanity is inviting people of all backgrounds and talents to be part of what comes next through Let’s Open the Door, a global campaign that builds on this momentum and encourages people everywhere to help expand access to safe, affordable housing for those who need it most. Here’s how the foundation to a better world starts with housing, and how everyone can pitch in to make it happen.
Globally, almost 3 billion people, including 1 in 6 U.S. families, struggle with high costs and other challenges related to housing. A crisis in itself, this also creates larger problems that affect families and communities in unexpected ways. People who lack affordable, stable housing are also more likely to experience financial hardship in other areas of their lives, since a larger share of their income often goes toward rent, utilities, and frequent moves. They are also more likely to experience health problems due to chronic stress or environmental factors, such as mold. Housing insecurity also goes hand-in-hand with unstable employment, since people may need to move further from their jobs or switch jobs altogether to offset the cost of housing.
Affordable homeownership creates a stable foundation for families to thrive, reducing stress and increasing the likelihood for good health and stable employment. Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs homes with individual families, but it also strengthens entire communities as well. The MicroBuild® Initiative, for example, strengthens communities by increasing access to loans for low-income families seeking to build or repair their homes. Habitat ReStore locations provide affordable appliances and building materials to local communities, in addition to creating job and volunteer opportunities that support neighborhood growth.
Everyone can play a part in the fight for housing equity and the pursuit of a better world. Over the past 50 years, Habitat for Humanity has become a leader in global housing thanks to an engaged network of volunteers—but you don’t need to be skilled with a hammer to make a meaningful impact. Building an equitable future means calling on a wide range of people and talents.Here’s how you can get involved in the global housing movement:
Speaking up on social media about the growing housing crisis
Volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build in your local community
Travel and build with Habitat in the U.S. or in one of 60 countries where we work around the globe
Join the Let’s Open the Door movement and, when you donate, you can create your own personalized door
Shop or donate at your local Habitat ReStore
Every action, big and small, drives a global movement toward a better future. A safe home unlocks opportunity for families and communities alike, but it’s volunteers and other supporters, working together with a shared vision, who can open the door for everyone.
Visit habitat.org/open-door to learn more and get involved today.
For many, the biggest pain point in American life since the COVID-19 pandemic has been the rising cost of everyday necessities: rent, gas, and groceries. There’s been a perfect storm of government spending, tariffs, wars, labor disruptions, and supply-chain problems that have made costs rise with no end in sight.
It’s easy for the average American to look at their bank balance just a week after payday and wonder where all the money went and whether everyone else is feeling the same budget crunch. It’s normal to question whether you are overpaying for groceries or doing what’s necessary to get by.
How much does the average American spend on groceries?
A recent report by GroceriesTracker found that the average American grocery bill for a family of four is about $1,430, with bills ranging from $950 to $1,760. It arrived at these numbers using the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s official food plan data, which has four tiers of grocery shoppers, ranging from “thrifty” to “liberal.” The average number chosen by GroceriesTracker reflects how much the average American family spends on the moderate tier.
Of course, these numbers can fluctuate wildly based on where you live, whether you’re in the most expensive state, Hawaii, or the most affordable, Mississippi. It also depends on where you shop, whether it’s at a grocery outlet or an organic store. Families with teenagers are also going to spend much more on food than those with kids in elementary school.
Regardless, your grocery budget has probably steadily (and sometimes rapidly) increased since 2017.
US grocery prices have never been more expensive:The average cost of groceries for a family of 4 is now up to a record $1,030/month.This marks a $280 increase since January 2017, when the average family spent $750 a month.In 2021-2022 alone, grocery costs surged by $150.… pic.twitter.com/A0yPFuW6gL— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) November 15, 2025
US grocery prices have never been more expensive:The average cost of groceries for a family of 4 is now up to a record $1,030/month.This marks a $280 increase since January 2017, when the average family spent $750 a month.In 2021-2022 alone, grocery costs surged by $150.… pic.twitter.com/A0yPFuW6gL
Will inflation end anytime soon?
Unfortunately, trends suggest we will probably never return to 2020 food costs, but inflation should gradually decline to 2 to 2.5 percent over the next year. In simple English, things are going to get more expensive, but not as rapidly as before. A lot of this could change depending on the war in the Middle East, which could drive up transportation and energy costs, leading to more expensive items at the checkout aisle.
How to lower your grocery bills
1. Plan meals before shopping
The USDA says that planning meals helps you save money and choose healthy options. Also, knowing what you need ahead of time can help you avoid overspending.
2. Make a simple list
When you make a grocery list and stick to it, you will be less likely to overspend on impulse buys that you probably don’t need.
3. Use unit pricing to get the best deal
When comparing products, look at the shelf tag below each product. Take a look at the price per ounce, per pound, or per count to get the most bang for your buck. This will tell you whether buying the smaller or larger box saves you the most money.
4. Clip coupons, sign up for loyalty programs
If you’re new to couponing, a great place to start is with digital apps for your local supermarket. There are also plenty of online coupon databases that aggregate coupons. Plus, don’t forget to check your mail and local newspapers for deals in your area.
With a little pre-planning, you can save around 27% by buying products such as frozen meats, canned goods, and toiletries in bulk at your local warehouse store.
Mark Tilbury left school at sixteen with no qualifications and a bunch of haters telling him he wouldn’t amount to much.
He didn’t listen to them. Instead, he did something quite remarkable: he read. And read. And read. Nearly a thousand books on personal finance, investing, mindset, and business strategy—not because it was easy, but because he believed that if he could just understand how money and success really worked, he could build a different kind of life.
Guess what? He was right. Today, Tilbury celebrates life as a self-made millionaire with multiple businesses and a social media following of millions who tune in for exactly that kind of hard-won wisdom.
He’s also dropping nuggets of wisdom on his channels, particularly about those books: out of 997 that he read, only five truly moved the needle for him.
Who is Mark Tilbury, exactly?
Tilbury had a different upbringing than many of today’s millionaires—not a rich kid with trust funds and endless connections. He started from scratch with humble beginnings. What he lacked in monetary assets, he made up for in curiosity, grit, and an almost obsessive belief that knowledge is the great equalizer.
That’s what makes his reading list so compelling. These aren’t recommendations from someone who got lucky or was born into the right family with the right name. They’re the books that genuinely shaped how he thinks: about people, power, money, and himself.
The 5 books that changed everything
1. Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert B. Cialdini
Here’s a slightly uncomfortable truth: every financial interaction you’ve ever had—every negotiation, every sale, every ask for a raise—is also a persuasive event, whether you knew it or not.
Robert Cialdini spent years undercover on sales floors, in fundraising groups, and in advertising agencies to discover why people say “yes.” He identified seven universal psychological principles that quietly influence most decisions, including:
Reciprocity (we feel a strong urge to return favors)
Scarcity (we desire what we might lose)
Social proof (we follow others when we’re unsure)
What does this book have to do with wealth? Two aspects to consider: First, understanding these triggers makes you a dramatically better negotiator and communicator. That’s key in the world of personal finance. Second, when you’re able to recognize these tactics in........