Well paid government employees who can't afford a one or two week shutdown

[Anonymous]

I think one thing that is missing is that in the meantime since OP posted, cost for many goods and services has about doubled but Fed salaries have not kept up. Even if you're not capped out, health insurance cost is rising faster than the pay raises, so it's essentially a pay cut year after year.

[Anonymous]

The majority of Americans are in debt. This is a consumerism economy. We teach our kids the importance of savings. Not judging others but agree with OP that it’s not hard to cut spending on discretionary things to build savings. That doesn’t mean less fun. “Fun” doesn’t need to be costly. In any case, it’s certainly not fun to not have savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of Americans are in debt. This is a consumerism economy. We teach our kids the importance of savings. Not judging others but agree with OP that it’s not hard to cut spending on discretionary things to build savings. That doesn’t mean less fun. “Fun” doesn’t need to be costly. In any case, it’s certainly not fun to not have savings.

This area is very expensive. Unless you are high income, It is possible to spend one’s entire paycheck on basic housing and necessities without anything else for “fun”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The majority of Americans are in debt. This is a consumerism economy. We teach our kids the importance of savings. Not judging others but agree with OP that it’s not hard to cut spending on discretionary things to build savings. That doesn’t mean less fun. “Fun” doesn’t need to be costly. In any case, it’s certainly not fun to not have savings.

Oh puh-leeze!

You yourself imply it right in your post: it’s normal to not have an emergency savings. Why would bother working for my money if I couldn’t enjoy my money?

So what if I have a big car; I earned it.

[Anonymous]

This is why Feds are in the food lines now.

[Anonymous]

I can’t read the whole thread but it seems like the usual trolls crapping on public servants. What else is new?

[Anonymous]

I completely understand what OP is saying and many of you are missing the point of the OP’s original post, either unintentionally or intentionally. Yes, there are exceptions. Most people don’t fit into one narrow category. Op made clear through multiple posts that he/she was not talking about someone with a major health issue or family member with a major health issue or something catastrophic. OP was referring to a narrow category of feds making a decent salary with no major expenses yet who had no savings but continues to spend all while complaining about not having money. I too know people like this and it’s baffling. They are high up on the GS scale, single, no major medical issues (and yes I know this for a fact), and yet have no savings or two weeks max. Yet they travel a lot, drive expensive cars, go out to eat routinely, shop A LOT, etc. And their spending hasn’t changed much despite the lack of a paycheck and not having savings! I don’t feel sorry for them. They were and are irresponsible.

I feel for the people with kids, with medical expenses, with unexpected expenses, those helping family, etc.

But to OP’s point, people are either not taught or are incapable of economizing. I have a friend who is currently out of work and has been for months. Yet she still goes out to dinner routinely, buys expensive coffee daily, purchases event tickets, etc. But then turns around and says how she doesn’t have any money. It’s mind boggling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand what OP is saying and many of you are missing the point of the OP’s original post, either unintentionally or intentionally. Yes, there are exceptions. Most people don’t fit into one narrow category. Op made clear through multiple posts that he/she was not talking about someone with a major health issue or family member with a major health issue or something catastrophic. OP was referring to a narrow category of feds making a decent salary with no major expenses yet who had no savings but continues to spend all while complaining about not having money. I too know people like this and it’s baffling. They are high up on the GS scale, single, no major medical issues (and yes I know this for a fact), and yet have no savings or two weeks max. Yet they travel a lot, drive expensive cars, go out to eat routinely, shop A LOT, etc. And their spending hasn’t changed much despite the lack of a paycheck and not having savings! I don’t feel sorry for them. They were and are irresponsible.

I feel for the people with kids, with medical expenses, with unexpected expenses, those helping family, etc.

But to OP’s point, people are either not taught or are incapable of economizing. I have a friend who is currently out of work and has been for months. Yet she still goes out to dinner routinely, buys expensive coffee daily, purchases event tickets, etc. But then turns around and says how she doesn’t have any money. It’s mind boggling.

This is not unique to feds. Losing multiple paychecks matters to everyone except the independently wealthy. Mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand what OP is saying and many of you are missing the point of the OP’s original post, either unintentionally or intentionally. Yes, there are exceptions. Most people don’t fit into one narrow category. Op made clear through multiple posts that he/she was not talking about someone with a major health issue or family member with a major health issue or something catastrophic. OP was referring to a narrow category of feds making a decent salary with no major expenses yet who had no savings but continues to spend all while complaining about not having money. I too know people like this and it’s baffling. They are high up on the GS scale, single, no major medical issues (and yes I know this for a fact), and yet have no savings or two weeks max. Yet they travel a lot, drive expensive cars, go out to eat routinely, shop A LOT, etc. And their spending hasn’t changed much despite the lack of a paycheck and not having savings! I don’t feel sorry for them. They were and are irresponsible.

I feel for the people with kids, with medical expenses, with unexpected expenses, those helping family, etc.

But to OP’s point, people are either not taught or are incapable of economizing. I have a friend who is currently out of work and has been for months. Yet she still goes out to dinner routinely, buys expensive coffee daily, purchases event tickets, etc. But then turns around and says how she doesn’t have any money. It’s mind boggling.

What are you saying? I saved up for the down payment on my vehicle! So what if I got a large monthly payment. It’s mine, OK?

It’s still not right to stop paying us like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I completely understand what OP is saying and many of you are missing the point of the OP’s original post, either unintentionally or intentionally. Yes, there are exceptions. Most people don’t fit into one narrow category. Op made clear through multiple posts that he/she was not talking about someone with a major health issue or family member with a major health issue or something catastrophic. OP was referring to a narrow category of feds making a decent salary with no major expenses yet who had no savings but continues to spend all while complaining about not having money. I too know people like this and it’s baffling. They are high up on the GS scale, single, no major medical issues (and yes I know this for a fact), and yet have no savings or two weeks max. Yet they travel a lot, drive expensive cars, go out to eat routinely, shop A LOT, etc. And their spending hasn’t changed much despite the lack of a paycheck and not having savings! I don’t feel sorry for them. They were and are irresponsible.

I feel for the people with kids, with medical expenses, with unexpected expenses, those helping family, etc.

But to OP’s point, people are either not taught or are incapable of economizing. I have a friend who is currently out of work and has been for months. Yet she still goes out to dinner routinely, buys expensive coffee daily, purchases event tickets, etc. But then turns around and says how she doesn’t have any money. It’s mind boggling.

What are you saying? I saved up for the down payment on my vehicle! So what if I got a large monthly payment. It’s mine, OK?

It’s still not right to stop paying us like this.

No one said it was right and people will take this irresponsible behavior of the federal government into account before accepting job offers in the federal government. Everyone has different conditions in their families and responsibilities they have--I would never judge anyone who said they needed to have their paychecks on the schedule they were promised--particularly now as the shutdown drags on for many weeks. People saying that this wouldn't be an issue if people would stop eating out at restaurants are entirely missing the issue.

[Anonymous]

It could be that they can afford to buy groceries right now but are trying to draw down savings as little as possible given uncertainty about how long the shutdown will continue, whether they will be RIF'd, and the bad job market given the massive amount of displaced federal workers and contractors looking for work.

[Anonymous]

Also, there are many dual Fed families where the income drop off is double.