What is Digg?6 Comments
- Skeptica, on 05/28/2008, -0/+2The reason economists don't think we are in a recession is because they only look at numbers, and the numbers they look at are unreal. The unemployment of 5.0% is unreal. They never asked me if I had a job. They consider I have a job the moment my unemployment check stopped coming, and it stops after 6 months. The IRS would know, and the government controls the IRS; but Bush doesn't want to know. Another reason economists got it wrong is they look at the numbers, such as income, and not purchasing power. Purchasing power is the real key. You can make $1 million a year, but you wouldn't feel rich if a meal costs $10,000. The economists are using decades old method, which must be adjusted to reflect purchasing power. When that's done, they will know we are in deep sh!t.
- cindil1975, on 05/28/2008, -0/+1You know, i'm ticked the more I read these types of articles. Everyone worries about the middle class and I know they are feeling the pinch. But what about those of us that are below poverty? Does anyone remember us? We can't afford to send our kids to college, we can barely buy clothes or food for our kids and have to get help doing that. And these are the hard working types. I know some poor people are just poor cause they aren't trying to get out of that class and trying to do better and just want to live off the system. But not all of us are. I am not able to work due to some health conditions, we don't get disability and my husband has to work 2 jobs sometimes and it still isn't enough! Now with the economy I have one pair of shorts, 1 shirt and a pair of shoes that have seen better days, my kids? Well if it wasn't for freecycle they'd be naked! Yes we get help with food and such for the kids and baby but it doesn't stretch far. This time last year we were in a better place. Not even near middle class but with some penny pinching we were at least comfortable and could save for clothes and things of that nature. Now it's hard to even have gas in the car once you pay the bills. His good job closed down and now he's taken a 3.00 an our pay cut, his other job was laying people off and well. Now we live on 8.00 an hour! 6 members in our family. You do the math. I only have internet because it's paid for in advance and we paid for the year with our taxes!! It helps look for jobs and I do make a little income designing scrap kits. Not enough to even put a 1/4 a tank in the gas tank a month though!! There is times when food doesn't stretch the month and the kids eat and my husband eats at work and I don't. Yes I miss meals so my kids can eat. Why not do an article on the poor hard workers of the country as well. We are hard hit as well and struggling to keep the roof over our heads and our kids clothed! We do a lot of what esurrett in the previous post says to do. I never go to the store for one thing, never go places for fun even if it's the zoo (which is free here but you have to drive there), we have an older tv no plans to upgrade, we don't have credit cards, savings accounts and we do have medical bills cause we aren't the privileged with insurance. We pay our bills on time, then have a little left for gas which runs out just going to work and back before the next check. We go to the grocery store once a month. Yep once a month. I'll walk up to the store down the street if I really have to get something. I put the kids in the stroller and take a walk even in the rain. We can't afford to drive there. Working class poor are the most overlooked during times like these. Well that's where these middle class are headed and sometimes I have no sympathy because you don't need big houses that are to big for your family, you don't need to drive bmers (yep he was right), you don't need a pocket full of credit cards and you don't need 20 different types of loans. So now I have to go figure out how to tell my 9 year old that her birthday will be without a cake because I can't afford to buy eggs, flour and sugar to make her one. Nor will she have presents that morning. Remember that there are always people worse than you, I do, I'm thankful for the roof over my head and the little food I do get and I'm thankful my kids are healthy. Those are the important things.
- poetgirl, on 05/28/2008, -0/+0oh cindi, i hear you and i am angry on your behalf. we are older but in the same position. oh brother not being able to go on an expensive vacation what a sacrifice, what a wonderful family that they are just trying to find ways to save money. uh huh. baloney. there are people really hurting and things need to change in this country. in the late 1800s early 1900s, people rallied together in common cause to help each other. now, we can't do that and won't, we lack the courage. they cooperated in strikes against the businessses of the rich who had become even more greedy (leading to a depression- this country has had a few not just one). it changed things for workers, for families, for a time anyway. i asked five of my friends to write to their congressman on behalf of my husband who needs life saving medication that we can't afford and we do have insurance through his work but the medication is unbelievably expensive. the drug company won't tell you how much it actually costs until you commit to taking it because the pharmacy you get it from has to have the ability to mark it up as much as the traffic will bear. they will give you a ballpark figure (anywhere from 1800 to 2500 dollars, no kidding, the medication is copaxone. anyway, i asked my friends, for whom i have done many favors over the many years, loaned money, babysat, listened endlessly to problems, etc. to write a simple letter asking their congressmen to look into this and see if he could help. not one did. ah well, i better start crying for that guy who isn't going to maine this year.
- demicritter, on 05/28/2008, -1/+1Inaccurate
- poetgirl, on 05/28/2008, -0/+0a software engineer and the poor guy can't take his family on vacation? Ah, the daughter has to wear cut-offs. hey nobody ever heard of that right? get over yourselves burris'. there are people with real problems out there. being upset over having to "sacrifice"a vacation is just ridiculous. look around you, there are people who have served their country in the military, worked hard all their lives, paid property, state and federal taxes, never had a vacation, never complained, never asked a dime from anyone,saved their money and find that now they can't get the medication they need to stay alive because of this great government and it's healthcare system. again, get over yourselves there are real people, really hurting.
- esurrett, on 05/28/2008, -2/+1Come on folks, listen, your children do NOT have a god given right of you putting them through college. If you have the means and the inclination then that's great. However, do not put undue financial stress in your life for this reason. Strapped for cash? Sell that new car and get a beater to ride around in. I assure you that you wont find a "rich" person making car payments. Listen, the government and the corporations want you to be in debt. This keeps you working and keeps you paying taxes. Make a budget, keep track of every penny, if you don't tell your money exactly what it should do then it will decide for you. Live beneath your means. If you want a new bauble, do not charge it, wait until you can pay cash. If you have the cash and wish to charge it for rewards points, then fine. I admit that I am on the fringe being a psychotic saver. I probably should get out more and have more fun but ya know what.....I sleep well at night because I know that should disaster strike, my savings can sustain me for a long time. Stop making excuses. If you don't make enough money retrain and find a new job. Get a part time job. Drive the speed limit, keep your oil changed, lay off the jack rabbit starts, don;t tail gate or race up to red lights....you will be amazed how much gas you save. Coordinate your trips...don't go to town to buy one thing..wait until you have many needs. If the store is only a few miles away....WALK for god's sake. Get some exercise and save some gas, and who knows maybe you will even meet one of your neighbors in the process and find out they work down the street from you....CARPOOL!!! Consider public transportation. Get politically active. Get out of debt. Its OK to have credit cards but only if you keep a zero balance and incur no finance charges. Debt is OK for a mortgage but do your homework. It is a wise man who knows what he knows not. Consult a financial planner or a good CPA. The most important thing is to get off your ass, formulate a plan and then stick to it. It took me many years to pay for all the stupid things that I did in my youth. You can do it too. I have no bills and no worries. Do I live a very modest life yes.....so evaluate your true needs. Do you need a 4000 square foot house? Do you need a Bmer? Another bit of advice, you don't have to run out to the best buy and get a new HD TV. If you have cable and have a box from them, your existing TV will work just fine even once the new laws take effect in 2009. Anyway, enough of my rambling, what say you????
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