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That seems like more than a middle class lifestyle. In 1950 the average house for a family of four was 960sqft and the average family only had one car. The average family also only went on vacations for long weekends (not 2-3 weeks per year!)
If you want to live like you are wealthy, make more money.
It has gotten a lot tougher to make more money these days. Our government has tied the hands of many start-up entrepreneurs. They can't start businesses without hundreds of dollars of permits, insurance, licensing requirements, and possibly even an attorney to handle frivolous lawsuits. It is ridiculous.
I am reading a book called, "One thousand ways to make $1000." It talks about what people did during previous bad economies when they couldn't find jobs. One man made $1000 during the depression selling tomato juice. He didn't have to worry about permits, start-up costs, and frivoulous lawsuits. He packed up his equipment and went to rich side of town to start selling. If one did this now, Uncle Sam would come in, shut down the business or a disgruntled customer or employee would come up with a frivolous lawsuit. We the people along with our politicians are destroying our country.
Some people have been living like that for years. In some cases (not all), people who live like that do so due to their own poor choices.
Yup, and the government would love to see a day again where people made great money and still lived paycheck to paycheck. Tax the money in and tax the money out. They are doing everything they can to encourage spending, not saving. That type of behavior netted the best and most productive years for the U.S.A.. Yes, the 90's sure were good... On paper anyways!
That seems like more than a middle class lifestyle. In 1950 the average house for a family of four was 960sqft and the average family only had one car. The average family also only went on vacations for long weekends (not 2-3 weeks per year!)
If you want to live like you are wealthy, make more money.
Yes. The question could easily be are there too many people living above their means.
Were you really worth that 30k more that you were making a couple years ago? Maybe that was the time to pay down debt and not purchase more things.
Part of the problem is we fell for her illusion that we'd always see improving standards of living nationally, and we may have to accept our best days are in the past as a nation.
I am reading a book called, "One thousand ways to make $1000." It talks about what people did during previous bad economies when they couldn't find jobs. One man made $1000 during the depression selling tomato juice. He didn't have to worry about permits, start-up costs, and frivoulous lawsuits. He packed up his equipment and went to rich side of town to start selling. If one did this now, Uncle Sam would come in, shut down the business or a disgruntled customer or employee would come up with a frivolous lawsuit. We the people along with our politicians are destroying our country.
Kids are getting their lemonade stands shut down in many states.
I grew up in the seventies, people were really broke back then - major league inflation. In the 80s we had a big recession, like almost as bad as the recent one. So people were not always making it big that's for sure.
Most high paying jobs are at big recession proof companies or the government. Most people I know doing well work for a big recession proof company or the government. Companies like Verizon can afford to pay their employees a lot because cellphones and the internet aren't going anywhere. Federal workers are enjoying some of the highest average wages ever because of irresponsible federal spending. The average federal worker earns roughly double the salary of private sector workers performing the same jobs. Non-coincidentally, many employees in the public sector or workers at huge money making companies do less actual work than someone working at a small business because everyone at a small business has to contribute because company revenue depends on it. Small companies have downsized and less workers are performing more duties than ever. Bureaucracy at a federal level creates no useful product and can hire thousands of people to push paper, surf the internet and take extended breaks at exceptionally high salaries.
Start-up businesses being started by rich people tend to be highly selective in the hiring process because of the over supply of qualified people out of work. Small start-up companies also need to hire the best qualified people because the livelihood of their future businesses depend on it. Huge companies like Verizon and the government wouldn't cease to function even if thousands of cubicle warmers were fired this minute. Also, start-up companies in the private sector need to produce profit to survive before the big pay starts rolling in. Highly skilled people are necessary in building a business. An accountant and a graphic designer at a start-up company better do a good job because they are literally building the foundation new businesses from the ground up. These businesses may fold and often do. It's not like big established businesses like Borders and countless clothing stores aren't going out of business everyday. It also doesn't help that new small businesses are being regulated to death and the average American consumer who isn't rich has little to no purchasing power in this economy. Welcome to the world of corporatism and big government, folks!
Last edited by goldenchild08; 08-22-2011 at 08:29 PM..
Yes. The question could easily be are there too many people living above their means.
Were you really worth that 30k more that you were making a couple years ago? Maybe that was the time to pay down debt and not purchase more things.
"Hindsight is 20/20" and "if I only knew then what I know now" are two popular phrases that could apply. Not me personally, but many people my parents age anyways. I wouldn't dare lecture them about it though. They made their bed and now they are sleeping in it, they don't need a lecture.
It has gotten a lot tougher to make more money these days. Our government has tied the hands of many start-up entrepreneurs. They can't start businesses without hundreds of dollars of permits, insurance, licensing requirements, and possibly even an attorney to handle frivolous lawsuits. It is ridiculous.
I am reading a book called, "One thousand ways to make $1000." It talks about what people did during previous bad economies when they couldn't find jobs. One man made $1000 during the depression selling tomato juice. He didn't have to worry about permits, start-up costs, and frivoulous lawsuits. He packed up his equipment and went to rich side of town to start selling. If one did this now, Uncle Sam would come in, shut down the business or a disgruntled customer or employee would come up with a frivolous lawsuit. We the people along with our politicians are destroying our country.
The problem isn't making money, the problem is we spend too much of it.
Personally? I saved $400/mo working part time as a server in a restaurant. I didn't own a car (I rode a bicycle), I lived with two roommates, had a TV I found on the street for free, etc...
People simply live beyond their means. I made a budget where I could live comfortably on minimum wage ($7.25/hr where I live). I wouldn't get to go on expensive vacations, I wouldn't own a car and I wouldn't have a 2,000 sqft home, but I would live very comfortably.
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