Government Shutdown and Finances , observation and effect on DMV area

[Anonymous]

We are a 2 fed household. Although we both work for fee funded agencies, DH is working without pay. My salary covers almost all the bills, but we will probably still need to take a little from savings each month and won't be eating out, taking a planned trip, or Christmas shopping for now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t going to impact us even though DH and I are feds. We have savings to last us six months at least.

It will impact you in the loss of savings. You're not going to starve but you're not untouched.

Are you assuming we won’t get back pay???

That would be the last straw for me in the federal service but a valuable lesson about working in public service in the United States.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised by all the responses. Based on most threads in the money and finance section I came to understand everyone on dcum are dual income big law partners. Hmm

Well most of us poor feds don't hang out on DCUM because most of the advice given doesn't apply to us.

My household has really pulled back on spending, because this looks like it's going to be a long shutdown. We have canceled all travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t going to impact us even though DH and I are feds. We have savings to last us six months at least.

It will impact you in the loss of savings. You're not going to starve but you're not untouched.

Are you assuming we won’t get back pay???

That would be the last straw for me in the federal service but a valuable lesson about working in public service in the United States.

Who knows. The people in charge seem to be nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the small businesses in the region. They are taking a beating.

We really are. It’s been tough all year though.

[Anonymous]

I was at the Target tonight in Rockville. It was amazingly empty. Is that normal for a Friday at 6pm? We usually visit on Saturdays and it's quite packed then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the small businesses in the region. They are taking a beating.

Didn’t most of them vote for Trump? FAFO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised by all the responses. Based on most threads in the money and finance section I came to understand everyone on dcum are dual income big law partners. Hmm

If you notice, some are big spenders (i.e. birthday poster). Contractor/single-income family that will not get paid. We are used to this and plan accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised by all the responses. Based on most threads in the money and finance section I came to understand everyone on dcum are dual income big law partners. Hmm

Well most of us poor feds don't hang out on DCUM because most of the advice given doesn't apply to us.

My household has really pulled back on spending, because this looks like it's going to be a long shutdown. We have canceled all travel.

If you have plans like travel, you aren't that poor and where is all your savings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the small businesses in the region. They are taking a beating.

Didn’t most of them vote for Trump? FAFO

There are so many Trump voters in this region. I am surprised it isn't solid red.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This isn’t going to impact us even though DH and I are feds. We have savings to last us six months at least.

It will impact you in the loss of savings. You're not going to starve but you're not untouched.

well loss of interest accrued- they will get the back pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel so bad for the small businesses in the region. They are taking a beating.

We really are. It’s been tough all year though.

Three more years to go..

[Anonymous]

If this extends into the new year, I hope people understand that this will completely shut down domestic air travel and no one will be able to take Thanksgiving and Christmas trips. I don’t know people think that TSA agents who make $40,000 a year will stay on the job if this keeps going and they aren’t getting paid. They will walk away and get a different job when they can’t afford to eat or pay for gas to get to work.

I think the pain point is going to be sooner with the expiration of SNAP benefits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What burns me up - and must learn to let go — is that when this mess is over - and we are given our money (the feds who’ve had to go into office and pretend nothing is going on) they will pay us in one lump sum. This is basically giving them an interest free loan (as we will be taxed at the highest rate - so they win. Too late to get out. Thanks for the vent!

I thought about the interest part the other day. If this situation continues into the new year, the lump sum/back payment will count towards our earnings for 2026. This will increase our overall income for 2026 and may push some into a higher income tax bracket when you file in 2027. Additionally, it could lead to complications with the Thrift Savings Plan, causing the maximum contribution limits for the year to be reached more quickly because of the lump sum

I thought TSP contributions would be credited to the current year. I max yearly but have only contributed 19k so far this year. That would be several thousand short if they don't credit it.

[Anonymous]

I’m not gov, but all my gov employee friends are upper middle class and have enough savings or spouse’s incoming to afford them to comfortably ride out the furlough. This is a free extended vacation for them, and we know everyone will all get full back pay as usually.

These furloughs are just another huge waste of our tax dollars and only hurt low-income households which generally are not gov employees.