this forum is so funny

everyone is rich
screw Trump!


the reality is, people here don't know how to manage money or think clearly about the government

Hi OP, yes. Move forward with the TSP Loan-the rate is reasonable and you pay yourself back the interest minus the $50 for the loan.
As for the amount, if you take out the money USE IT TO PAY OFF your CC debt and don't go into debt again. Seriously, you need to get control of your spending. If the shut-down ends in the near future-DO NOT SPEND that extra cash, immediately pay it back to your loan. There are extra payment options, only use what you need.

I can't believe how many of you idiots live paycheck to paycheck on HHI over 100k

Many of the banks that cater to federal employees are doing no or low interest loans for federal employees that are furloughed.
Navy Federal Credit Union and Democracy first Credit Union are offering interest-free loans.
First Command is offering its members who are federal employees interest-free payroll advance.
Members of USAA or Transportation Federal Credit Union can apply for low-interest loans during the shutdown.
Chase is reversing overdraft and monthly service fees for those affected and Wells Fargo is considering a similar move.
Those who have mortgages, loans or credit cards with Wells Fargo, can also check to see if they qualify for forbearance – a temporary reduction or stoppage in payments.
At Bank of America, they’ve set up an assistance line and encourage customers to give it a call.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I hope this is a wake up call to start living below your means. We make a middle income salary by DCUM standards but in order to save we have to live like we are struggling. It’s hard but we are able to use our emergency fund in this situation. Living below our means also meant that we didn’t screw up our credit, so if this shutdown goes past our 3 months of savings, we can do cc’s if necessary. I know I sound like an asshole but this situation that you’re in isn’t wholly the fault of the government.

Federal employees should not have 3 months expenses in an emergency fund. That's a poor use of money.

I disagree and it has almost nothing to do with the possibilities of shutdowns. While Fed jobs are much more secure than other positions, you could still get sick or have some other reason that you and/or your spouse would not be able to work for a while. Three months of expenses doesn't seem like an excessive amount, even for a Fed.

+1. Even beyond not being able to work you may need a major home repair or car repair. Things happen and you don't want to have to liquidate portions of your investment accounts in a down market.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I hope this is a wake up call to start living below your means. We make a middle income salary by DCUM standards but in order to save we have to live like we are struggling. It’s hard but we are able to use our emergency fund in this situation. Living below our means also meant that we didn’t screw up our credit, so if this shutdown goes past our 3 months of savings, we can do cc’s if necessary. I know I sound like an asshole but this situation that you’re in isn’t wholly the fault of the government.

Federal employees should not have 3 months expenses in an emergency fund. That's a poor use of money.

I disagree and it has almost nothing to do with the possibilities of shutdowns. While Fed jobs are much more secure than other positions, you could still get sick or have some other reason that you and/or your spouse would not be able to work for a while. Three months of expenses doesn't seem like an excessive amount, even for a Fed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP- I hope this is a wake up call to start living below your means. We make a middle income salary by DCUM standards but in order to save we have to live like we are struggling. It’s hard but we are able to use our emergency fund in this situation. Living below our means also meant that we didn’t screw up our credit, so if this shutdown goes past our 3 months of savings, we can do cc’s if necessary. I know I sound like an asshole but this situation that you’re in isn’t wholly the fault of the government.

Federal employees should not have 3 months expenses in an emergency fund. That's a poor use of money.

I'm the PP you're quoting. DH and I are both feds. We're making very good use of that money right now. When we receive our back pay, we will replenish what we've used. People can say what they want, but I'm not the one who will have to borrow living expenses from my TSP or lose my kids' daycare spot. Rainy days come, it doesn't matter who you are. It's those that plan for them that stay out of debt.

Anonymous wrote:OP- I hope this is a wake up call to start living below your means. We make a middle income salary by DCUM standards but in order to save we have to live like we are struggling. It’s hard but we are able to use our emergency fund in this situation. Living below our means also meant that we didn’t screw up our credit, so if this shutdown goes past our 3 months of savings, we can do cc’s if necessary. I know I sound like an asshole but this situation that you’re in isn’t wholly the fault of the government.

Federal employees should not have 3 months expenses in an emergency fund. That's a poor use of money.

I left the government about a year and a half ago. I’ve already been promoted in my new job. Sure it’s more work but I’m paid a lot more. Maybe it’s time to start looking.

Anonymous wrote:OP- I hope this is a wake up call to start living below your means. We make a middle income salary by DCUM standards but in order to save we have to live like we are struggling. It’s hard but we are able to use our emergency fund in this situation. Living below our means also meant that we didn’t screw up our credit, so if this shutdown goes past our 3 months of savings, we can do cc’s if necessary. I know I sound like an asshole but this situation that you’re in isn’t wholly the fault of the government.

If this shutdown goes 3 months, then it won't matter. It will be the collapse of our government, riots and violence and anarchy.

But I'm sure OP appreciates your helpful advice.

OP- I hope this is a wake up call to start living below your means. We make a middle income salary by DCUM standards but in order to save we have to live like we are struggling. It’s hard but we are able to use our emergency fund in this situation. Living below our means also meant that we didn’t screw up our credit, so if this shutdown goes past our 3 months of savings, we can do cc’s if necessary. I know I sound like an asshole but this situation that you’re in isn’t wholly the fault of the government.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why dont you work??? Uber, taskrabbit, dogwalker, handiman etc.

Stop. You have no idea what OP has been dealing with in his/her life. Have some empathy.

Retail, restaurants too.

And from another thread, there are apparently a ton of people at whole foods these days. I'm betting they need employees.

But don't Feds have to have special permission to work elsewhere?

Yes, and you can't get approval to do so because the people that do the approvals aren't working either.

+1 So much ignorance on this thread. Feds aren't allowed to take part-time jobs without permission in most cases. No one is there to grant permission to do so because the government is shut down. People wouldn't need to plan for all these contingencies if the USA wasn't functioning like a banana republic at the moment.

Well I can imagine if your approvers aren't working then you can't be pinged for working a second job since there's no one there to punish you. Besides, has anyone EVER been punished for working a temporary second job during a government shutdown? Half of you sound like you're just making excuses to sit around and wallow in self-pity.

Op here. Yes at my agency people have been fired.

Op again. AND I’m actually working. Just not getting paid.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:why dont you work??? Uber, taskrabbit, dogwalker, handiman etc.

Stop. You have no idea what OP has been dealing with in his/her life. Have some empathy.

Retail, restaurants too.

And from another thread, there are apparently a ton of people at whole foods these days. I'm betting they need employees.

But don't Feds have to have special permission to work elsewhere?

Yes, and you can't get approval to do so because the people that do the approvals aren't working either.

+1 So much ignorance on this thread. Feds aren't allowed to take part-time jobs without permission in most cases. No one is there to grant permission to do so because the government is shut down. People wouldn't need to plan for all these contingencies if the USA wasn't functioning like a banana republic at the moment.

Well I can imagine if your approvers aren't working then you can't be pinged for working a second job since there's no one there to punish you. Besides, has anyone EVER been punished for working a temporary second job during a government shutdown? Half of you sound like you're just making excuses to sit around and wallow in self-pity.

Op here. Yes at my agency people have been fired.

Anonymous wrote:why dont you work??? Uber, taskrabbit, dogwalker, handiman etc.

Secondary job has to be approved by full time job. The people that do that approval... you guessed it are furloughed.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP. The shutdown is bad timing for us too. My job tends to slow down in December/January and I've already missed two paychecks. Missing DH's fed paycheck is going to be tough. Missing two of DH's fed paychecks means calling the mortgage lender and begging.

So, your emergency fund doesn't even cover one month of expenses? I'm sorry. That is a tough position to be in.

And not so bright for someone with a white collar job.

Baffles me that people aren't getting PT jobs. At the very least if I did not have an emergency fund and had racked up 10s of thousands in debt, I'd be on rover, care, uber...whatever to make the ends meet. I'd actually be doing that anyways if I lived paycheck to paycheck.

New poster here - Because I am working without pay. Trust me, I thought about it but my boss decided they needed me. Sucks.