The Sentinel

Guest Commentary |
Americans are living under greater financial burden

by Glenn Mollette, Guest Commentator

The average monthly car payment for a new vehicle is $734 according to second-quarter 2024 Experian data — up 0.1% year after year. Used cars have an average monthly payment of $525, down 2.1%. Meanwhile, new lease payments average $586, a 2.3% decrease.

The average house payment is around $2,700 per month.

The average rent payment is between $1,300 and $1,789 per month.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the average single person can spend between $238.46 and $434.33 per month on groceries. Many factors will impact a given individual's expenses, such as location and eating style.

The average family spends about $270 at the grocery store per week, but that number increases when children are taken into account. Families with kids spend an average of $331 a week on groceries or 41% more than families without kids. USA Today Jan. 20, 2024

The average cost of utilities in the U.S. is $500 to $600 per month or $6,000 to $7,200 per year, including electricity, gas, water, sewer, phone, internet, and streaming or cable TV services. Utility bills depend on your location, home and household size, individual utility usage, and your home's efficiency. March 13, 2024 Home Guide

On average, Americans spend between $150 and $200 per month on gas. The amount spent on gas depends on a number of factors, including:

State: Gas prices vary by state.
Lifestyle: Factors such as driving habits can affect how much is spent on gas.
Vehicle type: The type of vehicle a person drives can impact how much they spend on gas. For example, drivers of full-size SUVs pay more on gas than drivers of subcompact or compact cars.

In 2023, the average cost of health insurance in the United States was $8,435 per year for single coverage and $23,968 per year for family coverage. This was a 7% increase from 2022.

The United States has one of the highest costs of healthcare in the world. In 2022, U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.5 trillion, which averages to $13,493 per person. By comparison, the average cost of healthcare per person in other wealthy countries is less than half as much.

For children attending public school from kindergarten to 12th grade, parents can expect to spend a total of roughly $162,899.86 on their child's education and related activities.

Unfortunately, it takes money to pay the bills. Living a modest lifestyle requires a monthly intake of cash - a lot of cash.

You might survive for a while on a small income but as you can see from any of the items above that a modest income makes life a strain when it comes to paying the bills.

Many Americans are already working two jobs. The runaway cost-of-living in America has made it almost impossible for average people to keep their heads above water. Anything that you buy costs a fortune. The cost-of-living increase needs to come to a halt so that Americans can catch up. Until this happens millions of Americans will continue to experience financial strain.

Glen Mollett is the author of 13 books including Uncommom Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states. The views expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily representative of any other group or organization. We welcome comments and views from our readers. Submit your letters to the editor or commentary on a current event 24/7 to editor@oursentinel.com.

Oakwood-Salt Fork soccer advances to Sweet Sixteen after regional shutout

HOOPESTON - Oakwood-Salt Fork (OSF) claimed their second consecutive IHSA regional soccer title Wednesday with a commanding 6-0 victory over Georgetown-Ridge Farm-Westville (GRFW) in the final at Hoopeston Area High School. Led by a standout performance from Ethan Merritt, who tallied three goals and an assist, the Comets controlled the match from start to finish, adding yet another chapter to an impressive season under head coach Eric Fenton.

The win improved OSF’s record to 22-3, with a perfect 12-0 mark in the Vermilion Valley Conference, as they continue to build momentum heading into the Class 1A sectional semifinals. Their next challenge will be Fisher-Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley (FGCMS), a formidable opponent riding an eight-game win streak. OSF will look to avenge their October 8 loss to FGCMS in the upcoming showdown.

Comet striker Macen Phillips pushes the ball away from St. Joseph-Ogden's Tyler Hess during their early season match in August. Macen delivered two goals in OSF's title victory.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

From the opening whistle, OSF dominated possession and created multiple scoring opportunities, finishing the first half with a comfortable 3-0 lead. The Comets struck early when Macen Phillips connected on a pass from Merritt to open the scoring. Merritt then added two goals of his own before the break, converting assists from Saul Carrillo and Mason Swartz to put OSF in complete control.

In the second half, the Comets picked up where they left off. Phillips scored his second goal of the match, once again assisted by Carrillo, while Merritt completed his hat trick just minutes later, courtesy of another assist from Carrillo. Swartz rounded out the scoring, netting the final goal on a pass from Cooper McCrae, capping off a dominant offensive display.

The Comets outshot GRFW 32-8, with 17 of those shots on target, compared to just five from the Buffaloes. Goalkeeper Matt Darling of GRFW faced constant pressure throughout the match, making 11 saves to keep the score from getting even more out of hand. Meanwhile, OSF keeper Jakob Rupp had a quieter night but still managed five saves to preserve the shutout.

For GRFW, the loss marked the end of a season in which they finished 7-10 overall and 4th in the Vermilion Valley Conference with a 5-7 record. The Buffaloes were unable to find the offensive spark they needed, as their leading scorer, junior forward Simonas Ankstutis, was held scoreless. Ankstutis, who averages 2.5 goals per game and leads his team with 75 shots on goal this season, struggled to break through OSF’s organized defense. Senior midfielder Elijha Jones and freshman forward Landon Heck were similarly stifled, as GRFW managed just eight total shots, with few clear scoring opportunities.

The regional title represents a continuation of OSF’s upward trajectory under Fenton. Last season, the Comets finished 17-8-1, winning the conference with a 10-2 record before falling to Bloomington Central Catholic in the sectional semifinals. Now, with a deeper squad and more experience, OSF appears poised for a deeper postseason run.

Standing in their way is a rematch against FGCMS, who boast a 19-3-1 record and have not lost since September 25. FGCMS is known for its defensive discipline, having allowed only a handful of goals during their current winning streak. Their only recent loss came against Coal City in a 1-0 defeat decided by a late second-half goal.

Saturday’s match, set for 10 a.m. at Monticello High School, will offer OSF a chance to avenge their previous 2-0 loss to FGCMS and continue their quest for a sectional title. With Merritt and Phillips in top form, the Comets will look to test the Bunnies’ defense while relying on their own balanced approach to maintain control of the match.

For OSF, this postseason run represents more than just an opportunity for redemption. With their sights set on a potential state tournament appearance, the Comets are riding a wave of confidence and form as they enter the final stretch of the season.