Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Please, you are delusional. The US is headed to developing country status and if you look at all other developing countries, you'll see what's happening here. There's a small and privileged upper class, a huge lower class, and a middle class that's doing barely better. The wealthy are good at adapting to this situation, and keep the lower classes in line by throwing out scapegoats and manufactured issues to fight over like dogs. So no, the French Revolution will not be happening again.
Not really. The % of young people earning college degrees is considerably higher than it was 20 years ago. What type of jobs will they be working? Middle class jobs.
The issue is with low-skilled workers. Factories are become more automated, and the people that do work in them need advanced skills. With that, they can do OK as a middle class worker, but without those extra skills, they'll definitely be lower class.
We need to increase apprenticeship and vocational training.
The facts on the ground disagree. Half of young college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed, and it's been that way for several years now. A full 50% of graduates either can't find work or can't find work that required the last four years of their lives.
+1. Dream on PP. I wonder where you've been the last 10 years. Just because you have a college degree doesn't mean you'll transition into a job. More than likely, you will have no job or a shitty one, but still be required to service the huge loan you took out for your wonderful education.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Please, you are delusional. The US is headed to developing country status and if you look at all other developing countries, you'll see what's happening here. There's a small and privileged upper class, a huge lower class, and a middle class that's doing barely better. The wealthy are good at adapting to this situation, and keep the lower classes in line by throwing out scapegoats and manufactured issues to fight over like dogs. So no, the French Revolution will not be happening again.
Not really. The % of young people earning college degrees is considerably higher than it was 20 years ago. What type of jobs will they be working? Middle class jobs.
The issue is with low-skilled workers. Factories are become more automated, and the people that do work in them need advanced skills. With that, they can do OK as a middle class worker, but without those extra skills, they'll definitely be lower class.
We need to increase apprenticeship and vocational training.
The facts on the ground disagree. Half of young college graduates are either unemployed or underemployed, and it's been that way for several years now. A full 50% of graduates either can't find work or can't find work that required the last four years of their lives.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:
Please, you are delusional. The US is headed to developing country status and if you look at all other developing countries, you'll see what's happening here. There's a small and privileged upper class, a huge lower class, and a middle class that's doing barely better. The wealthy are good at adapting to this situation, and keep the lower classes in line by throwing out scapegoats and manufactured issues to fight over like dogs. So no, the French Revolution will not be happening again.
Not really. The % of young people earning college degrees is considerably higher than it was 20 years ago. What type of jobs will they be working? Middle class jobs.
The issue is with low-skilled workers. Factories are become more automated, and the people that do work in them need advanced skills. With that, they can do OK as a middle class worker, but without those extra skills, they'll definitely be lower class.
We need to increase apprenticeship and vocational training.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you know any of us to say, "unlike the rest of you..." that YOU realize how lucky you are? Translation: the rest of you aren't grateful like I am? What a judgmental person!
Can't say that for you personally, obviously, but there are enough people on this thread and on the finance pages every day that claim that $300k, or $500k is not enough to live on in DC. Not only are they wring they are obnoxious and insulting to most of America. Look at the way the women whose family helped with her down payment is slammed on this thread. So much snobbery and so little understanding of how real people live.
+100.
Anonymous wrote:
Please, you are delusional. The US is headed to developing country status and if you look at all other developing countries, you'll see what's happening here. There's a small and privileged upper class, a huge lower class, and a middle class that's doing barely better. The wealthy are good at adapting to this situation, and keep the lower classes in line by throwing out scapegoats and manufactured issues to fight over like dogs. So no, the French Revolution will not be happening again.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Do you know any of us to say, "unlike the rest of you..." that YOU realize how lucky you are? Translation: the rest of you aren't grateful like I am? What a judgmental person!
Can't say that for you personally, obviously, but there are enough people on this thread and on the finance pages every day that claim that $300k, or $500k is not enough to live on in DC. Not only are they wring they are obnoxious and insulting to most of America. Look at the way the women whose family helped with her down payment is slammed on this thread. So much snobbery and so little understanding of how real people live.
Anonymous wrote:Do you know any of us to say, "unlike the rest of you..." that YOU realize how lucky you are? Translation: the rest of you aren't grateful like I am? What a judgmental person!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I thought most people we know likely think we have a much higher income than we do.
We live in a house we bought for $200k that is now worth nearly $1m. We eat out a lot and we go on a lot of trips and vacations. A LOT. But we use points and deals all the time and I'm an excellent frugal travel shopper. We've had some amazing trips, including a two week trip to the SW for less than $2k incl air fare (family of four), regular trips to Europe and to Maine every summer. But our vacation budget so far this year has been less than $3k. If it comes up I'll share my travel tips, but sometimes I'm embarrassed how our travels may appear to others.
Our income is actually about $95k with a stay at home spouse.
None of this means you're wealthy. Indeed, your lack of telling others upfront what good deals you're getting it for (unless it comes up) means you want people to think you're richer than you are.
I LOVE telling people about our deals but 1) talking about money is gauche and 2) it sounds awkward to be apologizing for your vacation, 3) I regularly DO tell people about our deals, but only if it seems appropriate (see 1 and 2). Four, I didn't claim to be wealthy based on our income. However, relatively we are and unlike the rest of you I recognize how lucky we are. (We have a net worth of close to $2m and no one, not even our families has any idea).
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I thought most people we know likely think we have a much higher income than we do.
We live in a house we bought for $200k that is now worth nearly $1m. We eat out a lot and we go on a lot of trips and vacations. A LOT. But we use points and deals all the time and I'm an excellent frugal travel shopper. We've had some amazing trips, including a two week trip to the SW for less than $2k incl air fare (family of four), regular trips to Europe and to Maine every summer. But our vacation budget so far this year has been less than $3k. If it comes up I'll share my travel tips, but sometimes I'm embarrassed how our travels may appear to others.
Our income is actually about $95k with a stay at home spouse.
None of this means you're wealthy. Indeed, your lack of telling others upfront what good deals you're getting it for (unless it comes up) means you want people to think you're richer than you are.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We have no debt, zip, zilch, zero. I am a fed and my parents gifted me a large down payment, which I used to buy a house in PG outright. I still drive my car from college but we bought our newer car with cash. It is easy to accumulate money without a mortgage and a lot of my friends with fancier jobs see that I am frugal and think I am poorer than them. Recently my child was sick and my friend asked if I needed money. I told her insurance covered everything and I am fine, but it was nice of her to offer.
Why do you need your parents to give you money?
Wanted to add: you are debt free because your parents float you. So you can sit down and shut up.
Anonymous wrote:H inherited several million from his mom. I will inherit similar amts from each my mother & my father. We have 3 kids & one car (Volvo wagon). We both work. No cleaning lady. We keep $hit real. We also live with /around people who have much more than we do.
Anonymous wrote:I thought most people we know likely think we have a much higher income than we do.
We live in a house we bought for $200k that is now worth nearly $1m. We eat out a lot and we go on a lot of trips and vacations. A LOT. But we use points and deals all the time and I'm an excellent frugal travel shopper. We've had some amazing trips, including a two week trip to the SW for less than $2k incl air fare (family of four), regular trips to Europe and to Maine every summer. But our vacation budget so far this year has been less than $3k. If it comes up I'll share my travel tips, but sometimes I'm embarrassed how our travels may appear to others.
Our income is actually about $95k with a stay at home spouse.