WORK: Compared to 2007, the average American now works seven extra workdays yearly to pay for the same basics.

Americans are sacrificing weeks of their lives each year just to stand still financially, according to new analysis from InvestorsObserver.

Despite strong wage growth since 2007, rising costs for rent, groceries and used cars now force many workers to spend up to three months of the year covering only the basics.

Today, the average American works 66 full days a year just to cover rent, groceries and save for a used car. Compared to 2007, that’s seven extra eight-hour workdays a year simply to maintain basic living standards, or roughly one additional work hour every week lost to inflation-driven costs.

“Families are giving up vacations, weekends and time with their kids so they can keep a roof overhead, put food on the table and slowly save for a used car. When a third of the year is spent just earning the basics, the American dream stops being about getting ahead and starts being about trying not to fall behind,” said Sam Borugi, senior analyst at InvestorsObserver.

In the 10 hardest-hit states, workers now spend an average of 15.6 extra days every year paying for the same rent, groceries and saving for a used car as in 2007, adding up to about 2.5 lost years of labor over a 40-year career.

Delaware tops the list with 25.4 additional workdays a year required to afford these three essentials, equivalent to more than five full work weeks of extra effort. Maryland (18.5 days), New York (18.4 days), New Jersey (16.2 days), and California (15.8 days) round out the top five states demanding the biggest extra time sacrifice from workers.