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

[Anonymous]

People trade higher salaries for stability so saving isn't needed

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:People trade higher salaries for stability so saving isn't needed

If this is true, people are not that bright. It is one thing not to save because all of your money goes to necessities. It is a whole different thing not to save because you don't think you need to do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me say first I totally oppose the shutdown and think the Reublicans driving it are insane and idiotic.

Having said that...I have a lot of friends who are gs 13 to 15, single with no kids, who are saying they cannot afford to miss a paycheck.

Wtf? Really? Do people who get paid over 100 thou and have no dependents really have no emergency savings?

Am I the only one thinking when people say this, "um, take this as a sign you should reconstruct your budget so you are saving more?"

FYI, I am a gs 13, no kids, and I have a three month emergency fund.

One of the friends who was stressing about the shutdown last night spent sixty bucks on dinner, ordered two drinks, went to a movie after, etc. I nodded sympathetically but really wanted to say, "so drink water, order a ten dollar appetizer, and go home and watch TV."

While you're at it, put yourself in other's shoes and get some compassion. Not everyone has such charmed lives as you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

"My paralegal is a GS 12 and a single dad to five kids (his wife died in an accident several years ago)."

Does he receive Social Security benefits for the kids?

I have no idea, that really wouldn't be an appropriate thing for me to ask him.

Then you may be worrying for nothing. Really stupid.

[Anonymous]

"My paralegal is a GS 12 and a single dad to five kids (his wife died in an accident several years ago)."

Does he receive Social Security benefits for the kids?


I have no idea, that really wouldn't be an appropriate thing for me to ask him.

Then you may be worrying for nothing. Really stupid.

And the award for least compassionate poster goes to .......

[Anonymous]

I am surprised about young, single, no kids government employees with student loans who are not from wealthy families and they have new Beamers and Benzes.

[Anonymous]

Sure, we can weather a shutdown by dipping into our emergency fund. I suppose that's what it's there for. However, we built that emergency fund up prior to having children and now are not able to save at the same rate due to childcare and other child-associated expenses. So anything that has to come out of it is going to take that much longer to put back in and then if another real emergency comes about and there's less money as a starting point for that emergency...I can see it snowballing into being a big deal.

It really gets my goat that if there's any shutdown of substantial length I'll have to keep paying for daycare that isn't open since the daycare is in a federal building.

[Anonymous]

I'm a GS-12, but I have been not been able to get a deserved promotion for a year due to sequestration. My spouse makes $45K a year. We have been working really hard to save because we're expecting. It will add insult to injury to have to spend that savings on some other bullshit from Congress not doing its job when I continue to excel at my job and not be compensated for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Op here. People are missing my point!

I am talking about people who have paid off their loans to the point of being down to the low interest government loans (people in their late 30s etc), have no kids or sick parents to take care of, and no major health issues.

And yes, I do go out and live life. I go to free museums and openings and other events. I go to dinner and order water and an appetizer or cheap entree. I go to hh and stop after one drink. I don't have a car. I have health issues but they are not hugely expensive.

No, people are getting your point. You are very self satisfied about how you spend your money and you assume to know details of your coworkers' lives and, even more obnoxiously, you think it's fine to judge them. I'm not sure why you started this thread. Was it a humble brag? If so, go you! You are so very much better than your coworkers!

But really, here's your clue stick. Life is complicated. People do the best they can and there will be a day you will hope that someone will not judge you. Think of that day and cultivate some mercy. It's a great antidote to your ugly.

+1
Get used to living by yourself, OP. You are insufferable.

Yeah, how totally insufferable to expect people to act like rational adults.

You sit there and act sympathetic while judging your friends. Obviously you have no one to commiserate with in your life, so you come on an anonymous forum. You are no friend.

I am not OP, idiot.

But my real-life friends make grown-up decisions, too. Maybe it's just you who thinks everyone is an irresponsible child with money, and being a good person means giving them a pass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, we can weather a shutdown by dipping into our emergency fund. I suppose that's what it's there for. However, we built that emergency fund up prior to having children and now are not able to save at the same rate due to childcare and other child-associated expenses. So anything that has to come out of it is going to take that much longer to put back in and then if another real emergency comes about and there's less money as a starting point for that emergency...I can see it snowballing into being a big deal.

It really gets my goat that if there's any shutdown of substantial length I'll have to keep paying for daycare that isn't open since the daycare is in a federal building.

This would be me, too. I really don't like using savings.

The daycare issue is really crappy!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sure, we can weather a shutdown by dipping into our emergency fund. I suppose that's what it's there for. However, we built that emergency fund up prior to having children and now are not able to save at the same rate due to childcare and other child-associated expenses. So anything that has to come out of it is going to take that much longer to put back in and then if another real emergency comes about and there's less money as a starting point for that emergency...I can see it snowballing into being a big deal.

It really gets my goat that if there's any shutdown of substantial length I'll have to keep paying for daycare that isn't open since the daycare is in a federal building.

You are stupid.

So you don't want to use your emergency fund for an emergency because there might be another emergency? How about you appreciate that you have an emergency fund you entitled idiot. Some people have NOTHING. But since you want to be such a martyr just go cry your ass to the welfare line. I am sure that is so much easier than breathing a sigh of relief that you have an EMERGENCY fund for what could be an emergency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a GS-12, but I have been not been able to get a deserved promotion for a year due to sequestration. My spouse makes $45K a year. We have been working really hard to save because we're expecting. It will add insult to injury to have to spend that savings on some other bullshit from Congress not doing its job when I continue to excel at my job and not be compensated for it.

This is very similar to us.
Also, the savings rate in this country continues to go up but not for your people who have, generally, crippling student loans.

An emergency fund to me, should be for emergencies not for broken promises. But maybe I believe I people doing their jobs for the handsome salary they make (congress)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, we can weather a shutdown by dipping into our emergency fund. I suppose that's what it's there for. However, we built that emergency fund up prior to having children and now are not able to save at the same rate due to childcare and other child-associated expenses. So anything that has to come out of it is going to take that much longer to put back in and then if another real emergency comes about and there's less money as a starting point for that emergency...I can see it snowballing into being a big deal.

It really gets my goat that if there's any shutdown of substantial length I'll have to keep paying for daycare that isn't open since the daycare is in a federal building.

This would be me, too. I really don't like using savings.

The daycare issue is really crappy!

Op here. Yeah, I keep hearing that. That is crazy! Is this in something you signed? Could you all get together and fight it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sure, we can weather a shutdown by dipping into our emergency fund. I suppose that's what it's there for. However, we built that emergency fund up prior to having children and now are not able to save at the same rate due to childcare and other child-associated expenses. So anything that has to come out of it is going to take that much longer to put back in and then if another real emergency comes about and there's less money as a starting point for that emergency...I can see it snowballing into being a big deal.

It really gets my goat that if there's any shutdown of substantial length I'll have to keep paying for daycare that isn't open since the daycare is in a federal building.

You are stupid.

So you don't want to use your emergency fund for an emergency because there might be another emergency? How about you appreciate that you have an emergency fund you entitled idiot. Some people have NOTHING. But since you want to be such a martyr just go cry your ass to the welfare line. I am sure that is so much easier than breathing a sigh of relief that you have an EMERGENCY fund for what could be an emergency.

My emergency fund is for my 19-year-old HVAC system, my only modest car, paying for health bills because my stupid federal insurance keeps finding more ways to justify not paying for procedures. I'm not expecting to get paid back this time, so it's just gone. Why should I have to contemplate taking a HELOC loan to deal with eventualities I prepared for because Congress is a bunch of useless morons? Oh, and I'm pretty sure that im not going to be granted extensions on all the projects that are due by 1 December or 1 January so well just have to work more uncompensated hours once we're back to work.

[Anonymous]

I am a GS 13, and a single parentwith no child support. I know several people about whom I have asked the same question as the OP. I don't live from paycheck to paycheck, so why do they? THe answer, I suspect, is a number of things. One is student loans - I did a PhD program at a public
university, and I TA'ed, so compared to a lawyer, I owed little. The other is spending decisions - bigger house, car, wedding, and in at least one case, choosing to have three kids.