Why is it hard for some privileged people to realize that saving is hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

And here you have it, ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t want to end up homeless in America, you simply have to sign up to get your ass shot off in a war that makes billionaire traitors even richer.

What war makes which billionaires richer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

And here you have it, ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t want to end up homeless in America, you simply have to sign up to get your ass shot off in a war that makes billionaire traitors even richer.

And, what's a better option? Please, do share. Let me guess, college was the only option and you got help going. Not everyone got help going, even something as simple as someone taking the time to explain financial aid. Having health care for life is a huge deal if you have health issues.

No kidding. That’s my point. You have to sell yourself to the govt to find “opportunity.” The better choice is universal health care, tax the rich, low cost higher ed, stop letting the 1% get rich on the backs of the working class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

And here you have it, ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t want to end up homeless in America, you simply have to sign up to get your ass shot off in a war that makes billionaire traitors even richer.

And, what's a better option? Please, do share. Let me guess, college was the only option and you got help going. Not everyone got help going, even something as simple as someone taking the time to explain financial aid. Having health care for life is a huge deal if you have health issues.

You don't have healthcare for life sweetie. Your H does. If he leaves you, you have no healthcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

And here you have it, ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t want to end up homeless in America, you simply have to sign up to get your ass shot off in a war that makes billionaire traitors even richer.

What war makes which billionaires richer?

Ever hear of Erik Prince?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

And here you have it, ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t want to end up homeless in America, you simply have to sign up to get your ass shot off in a war that makes billionaire traitors even richer.

What war makes which billionaires richer?

You seriously don't know that we go to war for economic reasons. Wars are a huge money maker.

Watch Ken Burns' documentary on Vietnam.

You need to educate yourself.

Google it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

And here you have it, ladies and gentlemen, if you don’t want to end up homeless in America, you simply have to sign up to get your ass shot off in a war that makes billionaire traitors even richer.

What war makes which billionaires richer?

You seriously don't know that we go to war for economic reasons. Wars are a huge money maker.

Watch Ken Burns' documentary on Vietnam.

You need to educate yourself.

Google it.

You need to work on reading comprehension. Asking what PP was referring to is very different than not knowing that economic issues factor into wars. And saying that economic factors contribute to decisions to go to war is very different than saying we go to war to enrich billionaires.

[Anonymous]

DH and I have lived in utter misery of a white collar low wage scenario for several years. We were the unfortunate H1B visa types who were given 35K a year and the spouse could not work. We lived in a cheap apartment, had a cheap 2nd hand car but also carpooled, and never ate out or could afford to give our clothes for dry-cleaning. We lived with minimal furniture, a suitcase full of clothes and agonized when the gas price went up. We did not save any money because my husband still needed to work in an office and dress professionally. I get how difficult it can be for people to have savings. Of course now we are in a better situation, but it is so easy to live paycheck to paycheck even if you are doing everything right and not feeding a starbucks addiction.

i also think that there is a large subset of people who have a starbucks addiction and spend without discrimination on things that are wants not needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The modern redefining of luxuries as necessities makes it hard to see that saving is doable for many people who claim that they can’t save a dime (while typing away on their smartphones).

+1

One word: Starbucks.

Stopping Starbucks won’t change a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The modern redefining of luxuries as necessities makes it hard to see that saving is doable for many people who claim that they can’t save a dime (while typing away on their smartphones).

+1

One word: Starbucks.

Stopping Starbucks won’t change a thing.

Sbux is a metaphor for anything unnecessary: organic, Whole Foods, not aldi, Netflix, faster cable, iPhones, going out to eat, new clothes, electronics, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have found that most parents with babies or toddlers, rather do daycare or a sitter than ask nearby family or friends for favors.

It isn’t a favor when you can’t afford daycare or a nanny. You need someone to watch your kids while you work. Or you don’t work. That is
A favor at my income level. It’s a necessity for many people. It isn’t like the government will pay for childcare for those who can’t afford it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You should reduce your expenses then because if that’s the case you’re only one emergency away from bankruptcy or total poverty. It’s simple math, people!

You know, you’re right. My wife shouldn’t have gotten cancer last year. I shouldn’t have gotten laid off five years ago and I certainly shouldn’t have waited eight months to get a job after that. And then, we’ll the house flooding, boy was I stupid to let that happen. I should’ve been born into a family who could pay for my college education. And most of all, I should’ve never helped my mother not get evicted in2009. Boy what an ass I am. I deserve to lose my house and my kids don’t deserve to eat.

With all due respect, PP (which is very little), f you.

You are completely missing the point.

Um, so what is the point? Let’s go back to the point of this thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole thread is nuts. It is hard to DIY when you don’t own a house. You can’t own a house if you can’t save the money. My sister pulls together odd jobs and has no future earning potential. She pays next to nothing in rent but I know I’m her emergency plan.

Starting out, I had to drop out of college because my finances got screwed up in loans (long story) and I couldn’t get out of the debt hole for almost 10 years (and that includes living with roommates and only having a phone when needed). When my $1700 car needed a new clutch, that was a crisis I couldn’t afford. When it died, I could have lost my job if I didn’t have a miracle happen. I had a paycheck screwup (it went to the wrong office) and I didn’t have metro fare to go get it. So I walked everywhere (luckily I could walk 2 miles to work in the summer) and skipped food (not eating out, actual food, unless one of my friends shared) for 2 weeks while I waited for the check to come to the right office so I could cash it.

Friends of mine from growing up are working one underpaid job with a second job, relying on parents for child care. One is an emt, but isn’t in a position to ever buy a house. Emergencies do put them underwater.

Another family member was in a debt tailspin for medical bills. Hell, an er copay for me was unaffordable, so I didn’t pay and it stayed on my credit report (along with a hell of a lot of other bad things) for years.

In this thread, I really wonder how many people posting have ever been in any position where they ever experienced any of that.

And, when my husband was 18, no opportunity for college, he joined the military. You have options.... you just may not like them. Because of his military service, we get low cost health care for life..takes away that issue.

Ok, so play this out. Did he enlist? Directly? Great. Why do you think the enlisted ranks have more
People of limited means than the general population. Because they feel compelled to do so for financial reasons. Then they are put into harms
Way for the priorities of others. I’m sincerely glad your husband wasn’t killed or injured for life. Because the healthcare and college benefits wouldn’t go very far then. And that is the risk people take, and from what you say, should be compelled to take for the privilege of financial sustainability. .

[Anonymous]

Most people eat out, buy coffee, buy extra clothes they don’t wear or need. The little things add up . I live very frugally. Most people probably couldn’t live how I live. I think about everything I buy. I go without so I can save.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Especially if you make barely enough to cover the bare minimum. I am honestly disgusted by people online and in real life saying that govt employees (and everyone) should have 3-6 mons of expenses saved. That's mighty hard seeing as a lot of people live check to check. If I can barely make it to payday, where is the "savings" money coming from? We don't all have surplus funds at the end of the month to put away. And 6 months of expenses? That's a lot of money when most people don't even have $1000 for an emergency.

OP. I feel exactly the same way. It makes me sick and I’ve been trying to process it. The best I can figure is that there is a serious lack of empathy and a surplus of smugness. They also miss the point that some people earn just enough to cover BASIC expenses, some are bad with money due to mental health issues, others have medical bills and debt. And even if someone was just plain stupid and overspent all the time - should we use this shutdown to shame them and teach them a lesson? Make sure they are homeless and starving...they will definitely learn to save next time, right? I got a sense of it before, but it’s become more real now that our family is affected by the shutdown. DH is a contractor. The comments from people like the Commerce Secretary and Lara Trump suck. But when you get those same comments from family and friends - it’s plain hurtful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most people eat out, buy coffee, buy extra clothes they don’t wear or need. The little things add up . I live very frugally. Most people probably couldn’t live how I live. I think about everything I buy. I go without so I can save.

And some people do the exact same thing - but make very little money so they don’t have a ton or savings.