How do low income people survive? (best, schools, food stamps, hospital)

[AliceT]

Originally Posted by gardener34

Oh yeah, and NO pets - even if your kids beg you for one. Buy them a goldfish.

I fully disagree with this. My dogs are a large part of my recreation, home security system, bed warmers and friends.

I am semi-disabled and would never consider walking anywhere alone. I can walk just about anywhere with my big dog. My little dog helps to keep my lap warm on chilly evenings and my parakeets always attract wild birds to the yard. I am a birdwatcher so this is really very exciting for me. My big dog helps to clean my plate when my eyes are bigger than my stomach and is always ready to help out when my cooking leaves something to be desired. Nothing goes to waste with him around here. Both of them keep my bed warm for me. It wouldn't occur to me to not have my dogs vaccinated, neutered, on heart worm prevention and wearing an ID tag and rabies tag. I travel with my dogs and keep their health certificates current and in my car in the event I ever have to leave in a hurry due to forest fire, flood, landslide or any other calamity.

I am very sorry that you seem to think "poor" is synonymous to "irresponsible." It is not.

Oh, and for the record, my annual income is $10,800 and not one penny of it is any kind of public assistance. My car and house are paid for. It gets tight at times, but my dogs come first and their vaccinations are a top priority.

[Jesse69]

Originally Posted by AliceT

Oh, and for the record, my annual income is $10,800 and not one penny of it is any kind of public assistance. My car and house are paid for. It gets tight at times, but my dogs come first and their vaccinations are a top priority.

I don't see how you afforded all that on $10,800. Maybe you have a husband that pitched in or inherited.

[AliceT]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

I don't see how you afforded all that on $10,800. Maybe you have a husband that pitched in or inherited.

Afforded all what?

Are you assuming I have always only made $10,800? I am not sure what your assumptions are. My husband died and there was nothing to inherit. I only recently joined the ranks of "low income" but that doesn't take away the knowledge I attained during my schooling. Not everyone was born into poverty. Some of us are newcomers and a few, such as myself, are eager to help other newcomers.

When I was working, I worked many double shifts, 7-day weeks and a second job. That was in FL. I moved to WV where my health failed almost from the time I got here

[Jesse69]

I don't see how someone making $10,800 a year can afford a car and house!

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

I don't see how someone making $10,800 a year can afford a car and house!

I do. It is a different area of the country than you. House and car is paid for. Heat in WV won't be to bad. She lives with-in her means. Good for her!!!!!!

[AliceT]

I traded a 2001 SUV for a 2003 minivan in 2007, paying a difference of $800.

I saved while I was working in FL and invested well. The house I bought in WV was $18,000 in a coal mining area. I bought it while I was still working and living in FL. Took a trip up to see it, liked it and paid for it with a personal check. I later moved to WV and things have not gone well ever since.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Jesse69

I don't see how someone making $10,800 a year can afford a car and house!

Rent is about $7200 a year. Car's paid for with cash. Minimal insurance.

it works out.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by TKramar

Rent is about $7200 a year. Car's paid for with cash. Minimal insurance.

it works out.

In this case, her home is paid for. Of course, there are repairs and insurance, land tax but, still doable.

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by Driller1

In this case, her home is paid for. Of course, there are repairs and insurance, land tax but, still doable.

My proposal considered $600 a month rent. A mortgage is usually cheaper than that...if you have one.

[115db]

Ive lived pretty comfortably on 25k year jobs. didnt have a lot, but didnt need a lot. You simply learn to live cheap, dont buy name brand stuff (which I never did anyway) and conserve everything. It also depends on where you live. Some states wages may be lower or higher, but then, for the most part cost of living pretty much matches. It sometimes depends on the type of lifestyle you live as well.