Now I understand why people are on welfare

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone I know back home in a LCOL part of VA that isn't $0 income but probably isn't more than $40K. Their kids get to go to private school for free and are probably getting a much better education than I could afford to give my kids.

Most private schools in the US are absolute garbage. They are usually religious institutions and accreditation is done by fly-by-night companies, with no oversight by the government.

At least with a public school there are minimum requirements and you can sue.

I don't know how good it is or not. The school is St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville. Like I said, I don't know if the educational quality good but it has a reputation as being a "prestigious" school and lots of wealthy people send their kids there for whatever that is worth.

[Anonymous]

My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

although presumably she will have to pay off the loans at some point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

although presumably she will have to pay off the loans at some point.

True.
Also, She gets $900 per month child support from her ex- husband. Sis saves $450 for her DD college money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

although presumably she will have to pay off the loans at some point.

True.
Also, She gets $900 per month child support from her ex- husband. Sis saves $450 for her DD college money.

That part is huge if she lives in a low COL area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone I know back home in a LCOL part of VA that isn't $0 income but probably isn't more than $40K. Their kids get to go to private school for free and are probably getting a much better education than I could afford to give my kids.

Most private schools in the US are absolute garbage. They are usually religious institutions and accreditation is done by fly-by-night companies, with no oversight by the government.

At least with a public school there are minimum requirements and you can sue.

I don't know how good it is or not. The school is St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville. Like I said, I don't know if the educational quality good but it has a reputation as being a "prestigious" school and lots of wealthy people send their kids there for whatever that is worth.

Are they boarders?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

although presumably she will have to pay off the loans at some point.

True.
Also, She gets $900 per month child support from her ex- husband. Sis saves $450 for her DD college money.

That part is huge if she lives in a low COL area.

Unfortunately,

She lives in Montgomery county.
Rockville MD. Rent is $1600. My sister cooks, clean, dog walk and Uber people for cash on her free time. She knows how to live cheap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

although presumably she will have to pay off the loans at some point.

True.
Also, She gets $900 per month child support from her ex- husband. Sis saves $450 for her DD college money.

That part is huge if she lives in a low COL area.

Unfortunately,

She lives in Montgomery county.
Rockville MD. Rent is $1600. My sister cooks, clean, dog walk and Uber people for cash on her free time. She knows how to live cheap.

Okay you left a lot OUT of the original story. First, that she gets 900 in child support. Second, SHE ACTUALLY WORKS. You can make a decent amount ubering and dogwalking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone I know back home in a LCOL part of VA that isn't $0 income but probably isn't more than $40K. Their kids get to go to private school for free and are probably getting a much better education than I could afford to give my kids.

Most private schools in the US are absolute garbage. They are usually religious institutions and accreditation is done by fly-by-night companies, with no oversight by the government.

At least with a public school there are minimum requirements and you can sue.

I don't know how good it is or not. The school is St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville. Like I said, I don't know if the educational quality good but it has a reputation as being a "prestigious" school and lots of wealthy people send their kids there for whatever that is worth.

Are they boarders?

I don't think so, they live down there so it would be kinda odd to board their kid but I'm not totally sure. I didn't ask them if any meals are otherwise provided by the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone I know back home in a LCOL part of VA that isn't $0 income but probably isn't more than $40K. Their kids get to go to private school for free and are probably getting a much better education than I could afford to give my kids.

Having grown up lower income, now upper/middle who can't afford private school around here, I assure you, your situation is a lot better off than the other person's. If you think being low income and having your child in private school is great, there is nothing stopping you from downgrading your job and taking lower pay, then qualifying for private school for your kids. Please.. try it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister is a single mom and she told me she is better off not working. She goes to school full time and she lives off student loans and savings.
My niece is 11 years old and they both live in a nice area with excellent school. Sister does not received public aid. As of today, she is working on her second master degree.

although presumably she will have to pay off the loans at some point.

True.
Also, She gets $900 per month child support from her ex- husband. Sis saves $450 for her DD college money.

That part is huge if she lives in a low COL area.

Unfortunately,

She lives in Montgomery county.
Rockville MD. Rent is $1600. My sister cooks, clean, dog walk and Uber people for cash on her free time. She knows how to live cheap.

Okay you left a lot OUT of the original story. First, that she gets 900 in child support. Second, SHE ACTUALLY WORKS. You

can make a decent amount ubering and dogwalking.

sorry,

I just meant she is able to get a decent job working 9 to 5 but she thinks, she's better off not working and living off loans. Plus child support and her odd jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way you are better of with a hhi if 0 versus 75,000. That is just absurd.

agree - i don't understand how OP was getting more and more in debt while working - but somehow isn't in debt with no income?

Really you can't understand?

Here is an example - while working, you have to pay for food, if your budget gets tight, you might use a credit card to pay for groceries because that's they only way you can buy them, if not working, you qualify for food stamps and can go to food banks, if your budget gets tight, you do not need to worry about using your credit card to buy groceries because it's covered for you.

OP is not wrong in her assertions. I once read somewhere that a person living in this area who is getting housing assistance, food assistance, medical coverage for kids etc from the state are getting about $80K in benefits. So imagine if that's your starting point, and most of your housing, food , and medical is covered, reduced electric bills cable, free school supplies, uniforms and so on then whatever you make even if it's $20K can cover the rest of your bills.

[Anonymous]

The people really gaming the system are the ones getting benefits while also getting unreported income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no way you are better of with a hhi if 0 versus 75,000. That is just absurd.

agree - i don't understand how OP was getting more and more in debt while working - but somehow isn't in debt with no income?

Really you can't understand?

Here is an example - while working, you have to pay for food, if your budget gets tight, you might use a credit card to pay for groceries because that's they only way you can buy them, if not working, you qualify for food stamps and can go to food banks, if your budget gets tight, you do not need to worry about using your credit card to buy groceries because it's covered for you.

OP is not wrong in her assertions. I once read somewhere that a person living in this area who is getting housing assistance, food assistance, medical coverage for kids etc from the state are getting about $80K in benefits. So imagine if that's your starting point, and most of your housing, food , and medical is covered, reduced electric bills cable, free school supplies, uniforms and so on then whatever you make even if it's $20K can cover the rest of your bills.

I guess. Assuming OP is getting housing assistance which I find hard to believe after only being out of work 6 months.

[Anonymous]

One of the things that push people into welfare is the rapid acceleration of fees, fines, penalties when you live paycheck to paycheck. Just heard a story that credit card companies offer lots of perks to get customers, but to afford them the company has to increase rates and fees. The wealthy don't carry a balance so they are immune but the poor end up subsidizing those perks for the wealthier folks by owing the interest and penalties that accumulate at lightning speed when one falls behind.