The Cost of Living

Why does everything have to be so expensive? I am not by any means a cheap person but the cost of living has gone up tremendously in the new year. Gas, food, Entertainment and gas to get there....the list goes on. So I have had to resort to being creative and doing things at home. It's not as fun as going somewhere but it will have to do for a while. Anyone have suggestions on hobbies that I could take up or activities that I can do? Please enlighten me with your ideas.....If I lived in NYC then there would be plenty of things to keep me busy. I sooooo want to live there! It will happen one day....I know it!