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

[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.

I need some of what you’re smoking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Starbucks is not the reason people don't have much leftover after paying rent, school loans, car loans, and medical bills.

Starbucks is a metaphor for regular unnecessary expenditures that add up.

Starbucks or the like absolutely is the issue.

5 x 5. 25 5 dollar drink 5 days per week

25x 52. 1.300 5 dollar drink for the year

1300. X 10 5 dollar drink for 10 years. 13,000


13,000 is a lot of money when you think about your 5 dollar drink per day .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are basically furloughed for 2 months and need to save to get themselves through the summer months. Many school systems don’t have 12 month pay options, only 10 month. It’s a bit different as it’s not a surprise, but considering the volatility of today’s government, fed workers should always put themselves in a position to be able to weather a shutdown. Of course saving is hard—but it is a skill that’s a necessity.

What?! No. Feds make 68k on average and work year round. Not the same as teachers who are off for 2-3 months.

Let’s see. In LCPS last year, I was off from about June 15 to about August 15. That’s two months. And we aren’t paid for that time. (We can have our salary spread out over 12 months instead of 10 though.)

We are contract employees and do not have that time factored in as “vacation.”

[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.

In my neck of the woods, people work full time - including my own parents. I have a few friends who are stay at home moms. Should I just pawn my children off on them everyday? Maybe that’s how things work in Stepford - but that won’t fly where I live.

[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.

Hon, I made 60k one year and saved 20k of it. I had my expenses down to 2k/mo. Ans yes, this is in the DC area. I was than a. SAHM, DH made 110k/yr (less than thr average federal worker) supporting 3 people and managed to save 25k/yr, not including 401k, so even more.

Unlike many, we know the difference between a want and a need.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Hon, I made 60k one year and saved 20k of it. I had my expenses down to 2k/mo. Ans yes, this is in the DC area. I was than a. SAHM, DH made 110k/yr (less than thr average federal worker) supporting 3 people and managed to save 25k/yr, not including 401k, so even more.

Unlike many, we know the difference between a want and a need.

It’s awesome that you were able to do that! So what about people who haven’t - should they starve?

[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.

Yup.

My sister makes 35k/yr. Has roommates, doesn't have a car and goes out to eat once a month and its somewhere like cava. She gets clothes at thrift stores and even calls me over to cut her hair. Her healthcare is fully subsidized because she qualified for that on the exchange. I think she lives on close to 1200/mo

[Anonymous]

OP I think you should just ask Jeff to lock this thread. The answer is selfish people will always be selfish. We can’t change them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I understand what you're saying OP. That said, many MANY people who claim to live paycheck to paycheck actually spend their money on useless crap. Not at all saying this is you! Just that so many people bitch and moan about not having enough money, and they do it while texting on their $1000 iPhone, while standing in line at Starbucks. You get my point.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don’t pay for your own graduate education, live further out and commute, send kids to public school, don’t eat at restaurants, have fewer kids...there are many ways to live within your means and save. Most don't.

Yup

People on DCUM look down on where I live but I save a lot and never worry about money

[Anonymous]

It's not how much you make as much as how good your saving habits are.

Cost of living in this area is high to begin with.

Catching furloughed employees on the news complaining about not getting a paycheck while sitting at a restaurant or Beer Pub is the first sign!

[Anonymous]

If your saving habits suck...instead of complaining about how you are not getting a paycheck why not go out and drive an uber/lyft to make ends meet.

[Anonymous]

Judgemental much? Check your privilege. If you are a minimum wage earner, hell even if you're making $15 per hour, so let's say $30,000 a year, and have a child, as a single mom, but you have to work oh, but your child needs daycare, I promise you, that parent is not going to Starbucks, not having $1,000 iPhone.

Your assumptions about poverty and poor people are misplaced. Get a clue!

[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.

I think the problem is that there are so many people who do make enough to save and don't and then complain about 'barely making it'. They outnumber the truly poor who are just squeaking by.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teachers are basically furloughed for 2 months and need to save to get themselves through the summer months. Many school systems don’t have 12 month pay options, only 10 month. It’s a bit different as it’s not a surprise, but considering the volatility of today’s government, fed workers should always put themselves in a position to be able to weather a shutdown. Of course saving is hard—but it is a skill that’s a necessity.

What?! No. Feds make 68k on average and work year round. Not the same as teachers who are off for 2-3 months.

Let’s see. In LCPS last year, I was off from about June 15 to about August 15. That’s two months. And we aren’t paid for that time. (We can have our salary spread out over 12 months instead of 10 though.)

We are contract employees and do not have that time factored in as “vacation.”

There are plenty of summer job opportunities for a teacher to add to their salary.