before the turn of the millennium things looked very different in california city manager retirees healthcare a ponzi stockton bankruptcy the result of 15year spending binge the worst errors the ones reaping the 125000 payouts fit into three categories the first covers active duty members big bank foreclosure errors have different prices if theres still lifestyle inflation in my world it takes the form of the products i choose to buy it used to be that id pay middleoftheroad prices for middleoftheroad products not anymore today its all or nothing the benihana effect lifestyle inflation in action if you think americans look out of shape you should see their bank statements are consumers finances worse than their health