Comments on: Living Paycheck to Paycheck http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/ Promotional Codes, Coupons & Deals + Money Saving Insights Thu, 24 May 2012 01:21:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Todd http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-40481 Todd Wed, 21 Apr 2010 16:05:08 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-40481 Everyone's situation is different. Anyone who believes they are in a position to dictate how and when someone else spends their money when they are unfamiliar with the every specific detail of someones circumstance is simply arrogant, pretentious and ignorant. The common cry of someone afflicted with this ignorance is "You can do it if you just want to". I am personally well off. I am also aware that many of those who find themselves in bad economic circumstances are in such a position because of conditions beyond their control. These include, but are not limited to: unexpected, catastrophic illness, geographic location with respect to jobs (you've got to have money to move), transportation issues and many, many more. In a sliding economy people in financial distress need real solutions and jobs. Even if they stand ready to take FULL personal responsibility for their situation, spending habits and stand willing to accept a dramatically reduced lifestyle no income is still no income. All the "personal responsibility" cheerleading in the world isn't going to grow money on trees. Again, in the very near future the American people need jobs and wage increases, not more ideological ranting about responsibility. A very clear fact somehow lost in the minds of those who proclaim themselves shining examples of financial accountability. Everyone’s situation is different. Anyone who believes they are in a position to dictate how and when someone else spends their money when they are unfamiliar with the every specific detail of someones circumstance is simply arrogant, pretentious and ignorant.

The common cry of someone afflicted with this ignorance is “You can do it if you just want to”. I am personally well off. I am also aware that many of those who find themselves in bad economic circumstances are in such a position because of conditions beyond their control. These include, but are not limited to: unexpected, catastrophic illness, geographic location with respect to jobs (you’ve got to have money to move), transportation issues and many, many more.

In a sliding economy people in financial distress need real solutions and jobs. Even if they stand ready to take FULL personal responsibility for their situation, spending habits and stand willing to accept a dramatically reduced lifestyle no income is still no income. All the “personal responsibility” cheerleading in the world isn’t going to grow money on trees. Again, in the very near future the American people need jobs and wage increases, not more ideological ranting about responsibility. A very clear fact somehow lost in the minds of those who proclaim themselves shining examples of financial accountability.

]]> By: Kelly http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-35158 Kelly Fri, 11 Dec 2009 04:53:15 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-35158 Thank you for this article. It really gave me a good idea on "living paycheck to paycheck." I am a student and this not only helped me write a paper, but it gave me ideas on how to live in the future! Thank you for this article. It really gave me a good idea on “living paycheck to paycheck.” I am a student and this not only helped me write a paper, but it gave me ideas on how to live in the future!

]]> By: Gregory http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-35024 Gregory Tue, 08 Dec 2009 20:19:26 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-35024 Reading many of the comments it seems people have given up on their dreams or maybe has allowed society to dictate their circumstances. My advice is to look at your future through a different lense and make life happen the way you want it to happen and not accept living paycheck to paycheck as the way it will be. Reading many of the comments it seems people have given up on their dreams or maybe has allowed society to dictate their circumstances. My advice is to look at your future through a different lense and make life happen the way you want it to happen and not accept living paycheck to paycheck as the way it will be.

]]> By: E. http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-34086 E. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:22:01 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-34086 My family lives one step above poverty. By that I mean we get foodstamps,a medical card and have a home which we are lucky enough to be buying. My husband works part-time as a dishwasher and I get disability. We live paycheck to paycheck. We get our bills paid just barely and when the foodstamps run out for the month we get by with VERY little until the next months come in. We never do anything fun because we can't afford to. Once bills are paid we have nothing left. If a car problem were to occur then that would be in catastrophic trouble because then my husband would have no way to get to work and therefore lose his job. If we were in poverty we would be homeless. We are just one step and only one step above that. My family lives one step above poverty. By that I mean we get foodstamps,a medical card and have a home which we are lucky enough to be buying. My husband works part-time as a dishwasher and I get disability. We live paycheck to paycheck. We get our bills paid just barely and when the foodstamps run out for the month we get by with VERY little until the next months come in. We never do anything fun because we can’t afford to. Once bills are paid we have nothing left. If a car problem were to occur then that would be in catastrophic trouble because then my husband would have no way to get to work and therefore lose his job. If we were in poverty we would be homeless. We are just one step and only one step above that.

]]> By: Wealth, Greed, Envy and Shame | Frugal Dad http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-32666 Wealth, Greed, Envy and Shame | Frugal Dad Mon, 12 Oct 2009 10:01:52 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-32666 [...] work hard all their lives, but never get that break that separates those living paycheck to paycheck from those with a seven-figure nest egg. Some acquire wealth through inheritance, through lottery [...] [...] work hard all their lives, but never get that break that separates those living paycheck to paycheck from those with a seven-figure nest egg. Some acquire wealth through inheritance, through lottery [...]

]]> By: The Two Income Trap By Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi — P2P No Bank http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-23445 The Two Income Trap By Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi — P2P No Bank Sat, 25 Apr 2009 11:38:56 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-23445 [...] Half of Us Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck   Photo courtey of Doublep1 The results of an interesting survey recently conducted by CareerBuilder.com indicate nearly half of American workers are living paycheck to paycheck.  Combine this with the news in recent years that we actually had a negative savings rate for the first time since the Great Depression...... [...] [...] Half of Us Are Living Paycheck to Paycheck   Photo courtey of Doublep1 The results of an interesting survey recently conducted by CareerBuilder.com indicate nearly half of American workers are living paycheck to paycheck.  Combine this with the news in recent years that we actually had a negative savings rate for the first time since the Great Depression…… [...]

]]> By: Jen http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-16785 Jen Tue, 27 Jan 2009 05:26:46 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-16785 “21% of those earning over $100,000 also live paycheck to paycheck” Considering I work 40 hours a week and only make $10K a year with a trade license, that f---ing makes me sick. Perhaps they should cut down on their lifestyles a smidge. I can pay my bills, albeit with help from my family, but if I made 12K a year I'd be paying all my own stuff and living more than comfortably. If I can do it at 12K there's no reason in hell someone can't do it at over 100K. Gross. “21% of those earning over $100,000 also live paycheck to paycheck”

Considering I work 40 hours a week and only make $10K a year with a trade license, that f—ing makes me sick. Perhaps they should cut down on their lifestyles a smidge. I can pay my bills, albeit with help from my family, but if I made 12K a year I’d be paying all my own stuff and living more than comfortably. If I can do it at 12K there’s no reason in hell someone can’t do it at over 100K. Gross.

]]> By: Lynne http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-8385 Lynne Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:39:50 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-8385 I live paycheck to paycheck, making a goo0d salary, because of the failure of my marriage. My children are grown, but have been financially irresponsible, due in part to my lack of leading by example. My parents were very closed-mouth about finances; I learned nothing from them, and have passed my lack of knowledge to my children. I do feel great responsibility for their lack of financial knowlege as well as mine. But who do we as a people rely on to teach financial responsibility and methods of prosperity? I live paycheck to paycheck, making a goo0d salary, because of the failure of my marriage. My children are grown, but have been financially irresponsible, due in part to my lack of leading by example. My parents were very closed-mouth about finances; I learned nothing from them, and have passed my lack of knowledge to my children. I do feel great responsibility for their lack of financial knowlege as well as mine. But who do we as a people rely on to teach financial responsibility and methods of prosperity?

]]> By: Monroe on a Budget » Money blog roundup week of Sept. 29 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-8315 Monroe on a Budget » Money blog roundup week of Sept. 29 Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:48:34 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-8315 [...] Dad presents Half of us are living paycheck to paycheck: “I can sum it up by the example of checking your balance the day before payday and breathing [...] [...] Dad presents Half of us are living paycheck to paycheck: “I can sum it up by the example of checking your balance the day before payday and breathing [...]

]]> By: James Lehan http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-8114 James Lehan Fri, 03 Oct 2008 07:28:05 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/2008/09/09/half-of-us-are-living-paycheck-to-paycheck/#comment-8114 Well, living in the south and what used to be a manufacturing sector I can say fully that with this area when those higher paying jobs were cut out around 2001 and were replaced with fast food jobs and other retail jobs and many of these people lost nearly everything. Nearly everyone is under employed making sometimes 1/10 of their former salary. This state went the cheap route and turned down NAFTA job loss assistance. A neighboring state did the opposite and retrained their workforce. This area looks almost like the Great Depression warmed over now. Cars being replaced with bicycles and moped type scooters. Homes abandoned. In Western NC where I lived for a short time their manufacturing jobs were turned out. Not only did the lowly hourly employees suddenly become unemployed but, all the way up the scale from managers to ajoining businesses. So they have unpaid homes etc with the closest place to work being 80 miles one way. Their employment security had three listings for jobs. 1. Waiter 2.25 tips 2. Horse Breaker 7.50 hr 3.Janitor for the court 5.50 hr. I met one lady that worked four jobs. She literally worked 22 hours per day. She claimed that she slept Saturdays only and had done this for 3 years. 8am-2pm fry cook, 2:30pm-3am worked at a gas station. 3:30am-7am a waitress, 7am-7:30am she went home and got cleaned up for work. Had a weekend job on Sundays cleaning a church. She used to be a supervisor making 60k . I do however understand about overburdening one's income though and that does happen way too much. Well, living in the south and what used to be a manufacturing sector I can say fully that with this area when those higher paying jobs were cut out around 2001 and were replaced with fast food jobs and other retail jobs and many of these people lost nearly everything. Nearly everyone is under employed making sometimes 1/10 of their former salary.

This state went the cheap route and turned down NAFTA job loss assistance. A neighboring state did the opposite and retrained their workforce. This area looks almost like the Great Depression warmed over now. Cars being replaced with bicycles and moped type scooters. Homes abandoned.

In Western NC where I lived for a short time their manufacturing jobs were turned out. Not only did the lowly hourly employees suddenly become unemployed but, all the way up the scale from managers to ajoining businesses.

So they have unpaid homes etc with the closest place to work being 80 miles one way. Their employment security had three listings for jobs. 1. Waiter 2.25 tips 2. Horse Breaker 7.50 hr 3.Janitor for the court 5.50 hr.

I met one lady that worked four jobs. She literally worked 22 hours per day. She claimed that she slept Saturdays only and had done this for 3 years. 8am-2pm fry cook, 2:30pm-3am worked at a gas station. 3:30am-7am a waitress, 7am-7:30am she went home and got cleaned up for work. Had a weekend job on Sundays cleaning a church. She used to be a supervisor making 60k .

I do however understand about overburdening one’s income though and that does happen way too much.

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