Seeking encouragement due to tariff/price increase anxiety

[u/ChiMara777]

I’m extremely frugal and only purchase necessities, often procrastinating on purchases (due to analysis paralysis) or just making do without things I need. I am low income and have financial anxiety due to growing up in poverty.

Trump’s tariff orders this week have been causing me a lot of anxiety. I’ve been feeling a lot of pressure to make purchases now in order to avoid potential price increases in the future. I’ve been spending a lot of time considering what purchases I’ve been putting off or will need to make in the coming months and trying to make decisions.

One positive is I bought a new pair of running shoes yesterday (it’s time for a new pair anyway and I was able to get them on sale; they are made in Vietnam where a 46% tariff has been announced).

Does anyone have any feedback or encouragement for me related to the anxiety surrounding tariffs and price increases? One thing I’ve thought of is to consider if I can find a way to make do without these things if necessary.

[u/whitefuton]

The only current purchases I could think of being helpful now are car repairs before the auto tariffs get any worse. Other than that your future self will thank you for being frugal and keeping money in the bank for later.