#129 Shrinkflation Nation

Jason and John are back for Episode #129 of I Shower After Work, and this week they’re talking about the cost of living, the stuff we need, the stuff we want, and all the sneaky little ways everything seems to cost more. The episode starts with Jason apologizing for missing last week after dealing with another kidney stone, then the guys jump into a wild relationship honesty story: is “100% honesty” actually healthy, or are some thoughts supposed to stay inside your head where they belong? From there, they talk Stitch Fix, clothing that actually fits, John’s graphic tee collection, and then get into the main topic: inflation, rising costs, food prices, gas, energy, shrinkflation, and the consumer side of getting squeezed. Jason and John break down how groceries, fuel, fast food, subscriptions, streaming services, phone bills, and food delivery apps all hit differently when prices creep up a little at a time. They talk Gatorade bottles getting smaller, Doritos bags shrinking, fast-food deals quietly changing, and why companies should have to be more obvious when they give you less for the same price. They also get into Disney adding ads, paying extra to avoid commercials, algorithms going sideways, Star Wars Halloween costumes, expensive lightsabers, LARPing, Renaissance Festival sword rules, Wi-Fi entitlement videos, European cost-of-living comparisons, Chick-fil-A being great but closed on Sundays, and why sometimes the little service details still matter. Later, the guys talk about job security, AI, making yourself harder to replace, skilled trades, certifications, being valuable at work, warning signs that your job may be getting bird-dogged, and why being asked to document every single thing you do may be a bad sign. They also set up a future Part Two about corporate profits, CEO pay, big companies, and how businesses can keep making money while consumers feel the squeeze. The episode closes with practical ways to cut costs: make coffee at home, drive less and plan errands better, use cash for groceries, delete the food delivery apps, and send in your own money-saving tips. Question for the Showerheads: What’s one thing you’ve changed, cut back on, or completely stopped buying because the price got stupid? 00:00 Cold Open and Setup 00:58 Too Honest Marriage Story 03:33 Relationship Honesty Rules 06:33 Do I Look Fat Debate 07:23 Stitch Fix and Style 10:28 Rising Costs Two Parter 11:17 Gas Food and Work Trucks 15:56 Grocery Inflation Numbers 18:24 Shrinkflation Examples 25:12 Streaming Ads Double Dip 28:51 Canceling Disney Bundle 29:10 Digital Xbox Upgrade 30:01 Algorithm Costume Chaos 31:20 Lightsaber LARP Rabbit Hole 32:57 Ren Fest Reality Check 33:55 WiFi Karen Ring Cams 35:56 US vs Europe Costs 40:01 Chick-fil-A Dilemma 43:11 Career Proofing Advice 47:50 Gas Prices and Chevron 51:02 Everyday Cost Cutting 56:25 Wrap Up and Contact Check out everything ISAW: Website: https://isawpodcast.com/ Be a Guest: https://isawpodcast.com/be-a-guest Support the Show / Buy Us a Beer: https://buymeacoffee.com/isaw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/isawpodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isawpodcast/ Threads: @isawpodcast Call or text the show: 507-607-4729 Your Work Keeps the World Working. #IShowerAfterWork #ISAWPodcast #Shrinkflation #Inflation #CostOfLiving #BlueCollarPodcast #TradesPodcast #SkilledTrades #ElectricianPodcast #ConstructionLife #FoodPrices #GasPrices #StreamingAds #CorporateGreed #CareerAdvice #TradeLife #YourWorkKeepsTheWorldWorking https://www.bls.gov/charts/consumer-price-index/consumer-price-index-by-category.htmhttps://www.businessinsider.com/shrinkflation-grocery-stores-pringles-cereal-candy-bars-chocolate-toilet-paper-cadbury-2021-7#walmart-great-value-paper-towels-dropped-from-168-sheets-per-roll-to-only-120-while-the-price-stayed-the-same-5