Okay, just hear me out... (insurance, union, expenses, credit card)

[Sikntired]

All though this may sound like a conspiracy theory,
I would like to know if you, at all think, that this is truthful in nature,
and if there is a way around it.

I live in today's world, asking myself, why is it my father was able to support a family of four, with a nice house two new cars and a boat. good clothes an plenty of food?
BUT now, today we have married people who are BOTH working(college edu. or not) and still can't afford to live as our parents did.
Is this because The Government wants us to Borrow money for EVERYTHING?

I mean come on, A skateboard for 300.00 dollars?
A 3 bed 1 and a 1/2 bath home, $215,000? (AVERAGE U.S. Home price as of 6/2007).
Gasoline at $2.63 gal?
Where does it end? collapse and take over of a world socialist Organization?

My wife and I make a Combined income of $70,000/yr. (respectively), No children, my wife had three,but they are out of the house.
I have no credit card debt, a mortgage for $150k on a home worth $225k.
now add taxes and insurance, and food, gas and just the Normals. and it takes most of what I make to pay just these bills.
Now I needed a truck, (my 1987 ford ranger finally died with 165k on it)
I bought and 8 year old truck, 8 YEARS OLD!!! almost a hundred thousand on it, because it was what I could afford. and that sucked up what was left over. No money for retirement or vacation.

I would like to buy a boat or be able to vacation, but I can't save enough to out pace raising costs. I can't go and get a raise because my employer will find it more financially smart to replace me.
Let's face it , Mechanics can only make so much.
If I "Borrow" and go back to school, for more education, what I have to pay back will suck up any increase in wages I may obtain.

Guru's tell me to buy rental property's and be happy with $100.00 positive cash flow. (God forbid if something goes wrong) besides been there done that. Doesn't work as well as they say, less than 1 in 10 make it well enough to be called successful
Other's tell me not to outspend my income. So I downgraded to a smaller home in a cheaper area, No credit cards, only one car payment.

Now I am living BELOW what my parents did.
And I bring home TWICE as much as they did!!
SO what's the deal? why can't I save money for a vacation? is it because
if my spigot leaks it will cost me $150.00 for a plumber?
I really want to hear what you think.
I am not looking to be smacked down as a WHINER. I want to know if this is most people(normal) or am I doing something wrong........or is it an elaborate scheme by the worlds riches to have us give them our hard earned money, through the interest the banks charge?
Thanks for listening to my rant.
REPLY AT WILL.

[Padgett2]

It's not the government, it's because everyone for quite a good while wanted more in their paycheck. And they got it! This increased the price of goods and services until one day, it cost so much to live that no one was making enough.

So what happens now? We have increased the minimum wage, but that means that there will be more businesses that decide they don't need those low level employees.

That means more people on welfare.

That means your taxes will go up to provide a decent living for these people.

So whose fault was it a generation ago when things were so much cheaper?

The worker that felt, and complained, that they were underpaid? Or the government that let unions strike in just about every major industry?

[emjbulls]

Someone mentioned something in a previous post that I think made some very good points. I can't remember who it was or what thread it was on, but it was something along the lines of things that people have now as everyday items were considered a luxury back then or hadn't even been invented.

Your parents didn't have things like cell phones, cable tv, fancy computers, etc. There are a lot of things now that are really luxuries that people take for granted that they really don't need. Past generations tended to be more frugal and better able to identify true needs from wants.

One thing that companies have done to help contribute to the problem has been planned obsolescence for big ticket items. Back then, if you bought a TV, it would last for 20 years. Nowadays, things tend not to last as long so you have to buy things more frequently than your parents did even for non-essential items like TVs.

[christina0001]

I agree with the above. It's not the government, it is consumer greed that has increased the cost of living so much.

You might want to meet with a financial planner. I would wonder why someone with your combined income, no debt, and a mortgage of $150k is having so much trouble managing to save money.

[ParkerP]

Originally Posted by emjbulls

Someone mentioned something in a previous post that I think made some very good points. I can't remember who it was or what thread it was on, but it was something along the lines of things that people have now as everyday items were considered a luxury back then or hadn't even been invented.

Your parents didn't have things like cell phones, cable tv, fancy computers, etc. There are a lot of things now that are really luxuries that people take for granted that they really don't need. Past generations tended to be more frugal and better able to identify true needs from wants.

One thing that companies have done to help contribute to the problem has been planned obsolescence for big ticket items. Back then, if you bought a TV, it would last for 20 years. Nowadays, things tend not to last as long so you have to buy things more frequently than your parents did even for non-essential items like TVs.

Agreed. Nowadays, say you have 3 kids and are living in a 4 bedroom/3.5 bath home. Here's a breakdown:

- Each kid has to have their own computer (plus dsl lines, printers, scanners, and web cams attatched to each).

- Each kid has to have their own cell phone. Of course, it has to be the latest and greatest one.

- Each kid has to have their own tv in their own room (plus cable and dvd player attached).

- Each kid has to have their own video game console (not to mention the $40+ video games).

- Mom and Dad also have to have their own computers, tv, and cells. And of course the tvs can't be regular tvs. Flat screens please!

Now, I remember growing up with one computer that the whole family used. One video game console that all of the kids used. And I'm not saying that people shouldn't have these things. I mean hey, you work hard, you want to play right? But if things could be scaled down to where you have fun toys that the whole family can share, your expenses will drop dramatically.

I think I'm the only person in America that doesn't have cable. Not because I'm on some self-righteous crap but because during the week, I'm gone from sun up to sun down. During the weekends, I'm running errands all day. So, it doesn't make economical sense for me to have cable because I'm hardly home to watch it. I think if people step back and really analyze the use of all of their "toys", they would be able to cut costs in many ways.

[mommabear2]

It sounds like you have a net worth at least (225K market value vs 150K mortgage). That's a start. You should be focusing on your net worth vs. vacations. It sounds like the cost of living is in tune with what you make. You should wrapping your mind around how to shelter your money (legally of course) from taxes, retirement, and such. You can always find ways to cut expenses, you'll be surprised on what you can live without. I know it was easier for the previous generation - but you can still learn from them. Many were by nature more frugal. They didn't pay for the same things that we do (as mentioned before cable, cell phones, computers). There's also the issue of insurance... when did that become the norm? We pay 800.00 a month on one of our properties just on insurance.

I think you should figure out where your money is going and cut some expenses...