Nearly 6 in 10 in NBC 5 Affordability Survey Say They Are Just Getting By or Struggling

Nearly six in 10 respondents to an NBC 5 affordability survey said they were just getting by, struggling to make ends meet, or unable to consistently afford basic needs. The survey was nonscientific and drew 1,083 responses. Groceries were the largest strain on household budgets.

According to the survey, 33.2% of respondents described their finances as “just getting by,” 21.5% said they were “struggling to make ends meet,” and 4.4% said they were “unable to consistently afford basic needs.” By contrast, 27.4% described themselves as mostly comfortable financially, and 13.6% said they were financially comfortable. Asked which expenses weighed most heavily, 27.3% of respondents named groceries, followed by utilities at 19.2% and housing at 17.2%. Among respondents ages 25 to 34 and 35 to 44, housing was the largest financial burden.

For Graciela Montoya, a Frisco mother of three, rising grocery costs have made it harder to stretch her family’s budget. “Now with $100 it’s no longer enough for meat, just the vegetables and fruit and buying a little,” Montoya said. NBC 5 met her over the summer at a free lunch program hosted by Frisco Family Services. The program offered help to families facing financial challenges, and volunteers from Preston Trail Community Church distributed food there. Volunteer Runay Hollis said the need was especially pressing as families faced higher everyday expenses. “We need it right now, and especially the way the world is. The high gas prices and things and stuff, people need help,” Hollis said.

Housing costs are another growing pressure. Census data shows that in Frisco, median gross rent rose from $1,222 per month in 2014 to $2,200 in 2024, an increase of $978 per month, or about 80% over the decade. Adjusted for inflation, the increase was about 36.5%. For families already struggling with grocery bills and utilities, higher rent adds further strain.

Montoya said her husband works, but the family could benefit from a second income. She worked before stopping after the birth of her youngest child and now hopes to return to work while raising three children. A job that fits her children’s school schedule matters most to her, because it would allow the family to avoid the added expense of child care.

“I want to start looking for a job to see if I can accommodate from 9 to 12 and a half so I can have time to drop the kids off at school and pick them up. So I hope that God will give me something to accommodate,” Montoya said.