MIDLAND, Texas — Aquilla Watson has been living in Midland since the late 1960s.
For years, she worked as a caregiver. Now she's retired and is trying to enjoy her retirement, but she can't because she's facing an ongoing battle due to high inflation.
"For about this last year, I have struggled because I finally stopped working and I’m finding now that with the cost of inflation and everything going up, it’s kind of hard for me to balance out based on my income," said Watson. "Now with the cost of insurance, the cost of food, gas, everything that is an everyday need, lights, water. I have to consider those things before I decide to do something out of the ordinary."
At the age of 78, she's even considered going back to work to make ends meet.
"In May, I’ll be 79, which makes it harder for me to go out and try to get back into the workforce," she said. "If I did not have family that works with me to help me understand budgeting even more, I would be in serious trouble."
For Watson, her sole income comes from her Social Security, which is also the case for about 68 million seniors under the age of 65. A large group of Americans, she said, is being ignored at this serious time.
"I feel like we’re forgotten and looked over," said Watson. "There are people even older than I am that are trying to live on the amount of Social Security."
Inflation has not only taken a financial toll on Watson but also a mental one.
"If I were not a believer in Christ, I would go into a state of depression because it is more than a person can handle when you’re alone and on your own and you are limited by the one source of income,” she said.
With the continued price hikes, she's learned to adapt to the best of her abilities.
"We’re placed in a predicament we’ll just have to manage and accept," said Watson.
RELATED: The Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is coming -- but it won't be as big as this year's