How do low income people survive? (employment, 401k, unemployment, job)

[fnord]

Oh yeah - and if you're already on a tight budget or perpetually struggling for whatever reasons, here's a concept: don't bring another life into the world. It's a downward spiral in most cases.

[prim2007]

Originally Posted by sapphire

Some people go to the public library. Some people "piggyback" illegally off their unsecured neighbors. That's kind of a silly post there.

I get his point. Most libraries aren't open 24/7 and many of these folks post all kinds of hours. Maybe they are stealing the service but I think this is rare. I have a younger sibling that's always broke and has had the car repossessed but the cable (for adult movies),internet, and cell phone bills eventually get paid even if it's borrowed from family and friends. Cigarettes are also quite a necessity. I guess where there is a will, there's a way.

[fnord]

Originally Posted by gardener34

Ramen noodles and peanut butter.

Throw in some kidney beans and chopped spinach, and you have a nutritious, inexpensive meal!

[20yrsinBranson]

Originally Posted by fnord

Oh yeah - and if you're already on a tight budget or perpetually struggling for whatever reasons, here's a concept: don't bring another life into the world. It's a downward spiral in most cases.

Yep. Statistically the expenses associated with child rearing/care usually lower the standard of living considerably. Children ARE one of the leading causes of poverty in this country.

20yrsinBranson

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by prim2007

I get his point. Most libraries aren't open 24/7 and many of these folks post all kinds of hours. Maybe they are stealing the service but I think this is rare. I have a younger sibling that's always broke and has had the car repossessed but the cable (for adult movies),internet, and cell phone bills eventually get paid even if it's borrowed from family and friends. Cigarettes are also quite a necessity. I guess where there is a will, there's a way.

If you have a computer (laptop) with wireless capablities, there are plenty of 24 hour options for free WiFi or whatever.

There are a lot of people leeching internet services from others via wireless. Don't kid yourself that it's rare. I don't have a laptop, but I know a ton of folks who do, and they mostly don't pay for internet.

Furthermore, there are a lot of folks who still have dialup (my mom is one)... so if you have a basic home phone (in some cases under $10 a month) then you can have dialup internet, for free.

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by fnord

Throw in some kidney beans and chopped spinach, and you have a nutritious, inexpensive meal!

Surely y'all aren't talking about peanut butter and Ramen in the same dish...?

[Huckleberry3911948]

did you see all that anger on the street esp the freeway. there is a reason.

[gardener34]

Oh yeah, and NO pets - even if your kids beg you for one. Buy them a goldfish. I can't tell you how expensive they are. They are really a luxury. Even just the minimum shots a year and heartworm is expensive. And just forgettaboutit if they have chronic disease which means thousands. Or they have an accident or swallow something they shouldn;t have.

SO many people get these free dogs or cats and then have to give them up or worse yet, deadbeats just leave them when they have to move or they get foreclosed on. And they don't neuter them, so then they have more animals.

[Colddiamond102]

1. Use coupons
2. Go to thrift stores for virtually everything. If you REALLY need it, it will show up.
3. Dont have kids. Period.
4 Keep regular maintenance on your vehicle. Trust me, it saves you money in the long run.
5. Grow your own veggies when you can.
6. Become a "tourist" in your own town. Go see local sites instead of going off elsewhere.
7. Dont blow your tax refund on "fun" stuff. Hoard it away in savings for the rest of the year. It helps out in a pinch.
8. Dont buy college schoolbooks...

[fierce_flawless]

Originally Posted by Colddiamond102

1. Use coupons
2. Go to thrift stores for virtually everything. If you REALLY need it, it will show up.
3. Dont have kids. Period.
4 Keep regular maintenance on your vehicle. Trust me, it saves you money in the long run.
5. Grow your own veggies when you can.
6. Become a "tourist" in your own town. Go see local sites instead of going off elsewhere.
7. Dont blow your tax refund on "fun" stuff. Hoard it away in savings for the rest of the year. It helps out in a pinch.
8. Dont buy college schoolbooks...

I repped you for this post, but what's with number 8?