living paycheque to paycheque

[Cyberian]

That's sounds like a living hell. I don't understand how people can have *no* money. If someone doesn't have any money, then obviously they need to work on their cash flow. You need to spend less than what you bring in. That's basically all it takes.

I've never lived paycheck to paycheck and I will take whatever measures necessary to stay out of that quagmire of misery.

Not always as easy as it sounds.
People get laid off, get hit with staggering medical bills, get injured and can't work in their field, etc.
I've never had to live paycheque to paycheck, but sh|t happens.

 

[Bluga]

Cheque.

Now hit me.

 

[tcsenter]

That's sounds like a living hell. I don't understand how people can have *no* money. If someone doesn't have any money, then obviously they need to work on their cash flow. You need to spend less than what you bring in. That's basically all it takes.

And whether or not ardent union supporters like Barbara Ehrenreich are willing to admit, this is the real problem in the US.

My brother and his wife are a perfect example. Between them, they make in the neighborhood of $100K-$110K annually and have for more than 10 years. I'm willing to bet they have at least one credit card MAXED at all times, have a second mortgage at all times, have no more than $10,000 in savings (including stock, bonds, IRA, etc.) and maybe $1800 in checking.

But do they ever have a lot of neat TOYS! $15,000 in ski equipment, $20,000 in white-water rafting equipment, a Condo for weekend get-a-ways, a touring motorcycle, a classic car, two brand new 2002 model vehicles, $10,000 in salt water setups (about $6,000 worth of their fish have died from not properly maintaning the tanks), $5,000 in fishing equipment, $10,000 in hunting and camping stuff, entertainment system and computers and televisions and VCR's and appliances galore, not to mention their kids have every conceivable goodie.

This is the 'average' American family, and the priorities of the 'working class' are no different, except perhaps on a much smaller scale. I know people who live in the ghetto and have more 'goodies' than their house is worth.

 

[BarneyFife]

Originally posted by: tcsenter

That's sounds like a living hell. I don't understand how people can have *no* money. If someone doesn't have any money, then obviously they need to work on their cash flow. You need to spend less than what you bring in. That's basically all it takes.

And whether or not ardent union supporters like Barbara Ehrenreich are willing to admit, this is the real problem in the US.

My brother and his wife are a perfect example. Between them, they make in the neighborhood of $100K-$110K annually and have for more than 10 years. I'm willing to bet they have at least one credit card MAXED at all times, have a second mortgage at all times, have no more than $10,000 in savings (including stock, bonds, IRA, etc.) and maybe $1800 in checking.

But do they ever have a lot of neat TOYS! $15,000 in ski equipment, $20,000 in white-water rafting equipment, a Condo for weekend get-a-ways, a touring motorcycle, a classic car, two brand new 2002 model vehicles, $10,000 in salt water setups (about $6,000 worth of their fish have died from not properly maintaning the tanks), $5,000 in fishing equipment, $10,000 in hunting and camping stuff, entertainment system and computers and televisions and VCR's and appliances galore, not to mention their kids have every conceivable goodie.

This is the 'average' American family, and the priorities of the 'working class' are no different, except perhaps on a much smaller scale. I know people who live in the ghetto and have more 'goodies' than their house is worth.

That's nuts. I know people like that who always have to own a brand new car and fancy clothes etc... They'll figure out their mistake when they turn 65 and they have to retire on $1500 on a month from Social Security. They'll either be working at CVS or collecting bottles at the park.

 

[cmdavid]

I'm only 20 and live with my parents when im not in school so excuse me if im ignorant on the subject,(btw, I am a fulltime college student at Georgia Tech, and when I'm living at home im usually doing co-op at an engineering firm..) but.. i work hard and i hope to succeed in life because I would like to have the security of not living pc to pc... I would like to know that by the time i'm 25, 26, that if id like to get married, have kids, buy a home, whatever, that I will be able to and support all of us.. it doesnt matter if my wife works or not, Id like her to not if she doesnt want to and still be able to have the things that she wants and needs, and for my children too.. if one is living pc to pc, its nearly impossible to secure these promises to the people's lives that one will affect in the future.. now to some people these promises or guarantees aren't important.. but to me they are very important, probably because they were so important to my parents, who had to work extremely hard to get where they are now... good example i guess...

 

[Chaotic42]

Living paycheck to paycheck is not fun at all. I've had to do it. I just got a promotion, and therefore more money. I've bought some crap (upgrades), but now I must save. These last two weeks are the first that I haven't been living pc to pc since I moved out on my own.

My money is going into IRAs. I told myself that I must save while I can.

 

[Mani]

So every country wants to learn how to speak english? Its "check." We run sh*t. Get over it.

And people wonder why folks in other countries hate Americans...

 

[Willoughbyva]

I've lived pc to pc in the past. It's not very fun.

 

[aphex]

Originally posted by: Mani

So every country wants to learn how to speak english? Its "check." We run sh*t. Get over it.

And people wonder why folks in other countries hate Americans...

The truth hurts, dosent it? 😀

LONG LIVE THE WORD 'CHECK' !!!!!

 

[PsychoAndy]

Nah. Right now I just fall ass backwards into money, so my supply and reserves aren't dry yet.

 

[tcsenter]

That's nuts. I know people like that who always have to own a brand new car and fancy clothes etc... They'll figure out their mistake when they turn 65 and they have to retire on $1500 on a month from Social Security. They'll either be working at CVS or collecting bottles at the park.

They will both have pensions, my sister-in-law already has a full military pension having retired from the Army after 22 years. But it isn't wise to rely 100% on employer-provided pension plans, ask the employees of Enron.

I was the same way until a few years ago. I spent virtually every dollar I made and allocated nothing to savings, retirement, investments, or trying to actually get AHEAD by two or three months on various monthly payments (there's a novel idea - being AHEAD on your bills). :Q

 

[pyonir]

i've been living PC to PC for the last year and a half, and see NO end in site. my money is gone before i ever even get the paycheck. now new bills (read: college loans) have reared their ugly head again, when i was supposed to still be on deferrment cause i was in school this spring. if i have to pay that extra $400 i might have to think about filing for bankruptcy. 😱