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Why cant they? As someone who left home at 18, had a child at age 20, out of wedlock (gasp!), then went on to send her daughter to private school by 25, own a nice SUV, new 4 bdrm home, took vacations every year (all this way before when I got married) I don't get it. But I did not have $100 month cable bills, $300 video game systems, etc at the same time. You have to prioritze properly, and if things still don't work, shift what you are doing and make it work.
Not to mention that many employers require employees to have cellphones and a home internet connection, in case work has to be done from home, or the employee needs to be contacted.
Yep, and not only that, you also pretty much have to have the skills to be comfortable with new technology if you want to get a job or run your own business even if your business is something far removed from office work and is more hands on.
I see many things wrong with living paycheck to paycheck. As long as things hum along smoothly, you'll likely be OK. But what if you hit a snag, an unexpected expense? What if your car breaks and needs repairs, what if your hot water heater goes out? What if you have a medical problem not covered by insurance? You're screwed. What if you suddenly get laid off? You are stuck living on a paltry unemployment check.
Plus, there is certainly a lot more stress, wondering if you are going to make ends meet, week after week. Having a nest egg/ "rainy day" fund to fall back on makes MUCH more sense.
I certainly don't need to do live paycheck-paycheck to stay motivated to keep my job.
When you are starting out from scratch, you don't really have that 'nest-egg' unless your parents have been able to build it for you. For some of us starting out also means supporting parents or young children, which puts additional burden on your paycheck (which most likely is very measly given your entry-level status and often not having finished college yet). So, yes, sometimes you do have to live paycheck to paycheck and there isn't much you can do, especially at a young age and especially if you don't have appropriate education/connections to score higher paying job that would pay above and beyond very basic living expenses.
And what about those living on minimum wage in high COL areas? How much can they realistically save even if they clip coupons, take public transport, live in small spaces in not so good areas and don't indulge in expensive electronics? Saving is not always a clear way out of poverty, it's looking to improve your earning potential either by getting education, making connections with people (being extremely social goes a long way) or starting your own business even using loaned money, taking risks, etc.
When you are starting out from scratch, you don't really have that 'nest-egg' unless your parents have been able to build it for you. For some of us starting out also means supporting parents or young children, which puts additional burden on your paycheck (which most likely is very measly given your entry-level status and often not having finished college yet). So, yes, sometimes you do have to live paycheck to paycheck and there isn't much you can do, especially at a young age and especially if you don't have appropriate education/connections to score higher paying job that would pay above and beyond very basic living expenses.
And what about those living on minimum wage in high COL areas? How much can they realistically save even if they clip coupons, take public transport, live in small spaces in not so good areas and don't indulge in expensive electronics? Saving is not always a clear way out of poverty, it's looking to improve your earning potential either by getting education, making connections with people (being extremely social goes a long way) or starting your own business even using loaned money, taking risks, etc.
I agree with you - some people have no other choice than to live paycheck-paycheck. My objection was to TKramar's assertion that there is "nothing wrong with living paycheck to paycheck". It may be (temporarily) unavoidable, buy by no means is it a good thing and I believe people should strive to exit this situation as soon as possible.
I see many things wrong with living paycheck to paycheck. As long as things hum along smoothly, you'll likely be OK. But what if you hit a snag, an unexpected expense? What if your car breaks and needs repairs, what if your hot water heater goes out? What if you have a medical problem not covered by insurance? You're screwed. What if you suddenly get laid off? You are stuck living on a paltry unemployment check.
Plus, there is certainly a lot more stress, wondering if you are going to make ends meet, week after week. Having a nest egg/ "rainy day" fund to fall back on makes MUCH more sense.
I certainly don't need to do live paycheck-paycheck to stay motivated to keep my job.
Well, I don't own a car--so that's out. I rent, so all those expensive repairs? Not my problem. I don't use doctors, even for routine things, much less medical "problems"--I'm in good health.
If I suddenly get laid off? That could mean a problem, but I'd be out the very next day applying for any sort of work I could get, even if it meant a drop in pay. All I really have to worry about is having the rent paid, the phone, the water, the electric--all that can wait, they can receive a smaller payment from me, or none at all. But I'd have another job within the week. So it'd be a blip. Maybe I don't worry about grocery shopping--I spend about $200 a month just on me, I'm sure I have a stock of food I could eat if I decided NOT to spend it for a month. I'm definitely not having to worry about going hungry.
I got to thinking about this the other day after a conversation with a co-worker.
He said that most people of my generation can't support themselves, and that we are living off of our parents and our government. I really disagree with this.....
....Whats the problem with our society? Is it a matter of we expect to high of a standard of living? Is it that inflation has reached a point where single workers can't make it on their own? Is it a since of entitlement? Is it the government giving to many hand outs?
What say y'all?
There are young single people who have a legitimate hard time living on their own, but I certainly believe that the great majority are in that position because they dont know how to handle money and/or are too lazy to work hard and/or struggle with entitle-itis and 'their right' to an irresponsible lifestyle of hedonism and materialism --- both which are a money sponge and contribute to low character. To those folks, you can hardly feel sorry for them. They have believed the lies of our culture and have embraced them wholeheartedly to their own peril. Of course , many Parents have enabled them too. The most loving thing a Parent can do , is escort them out of the house via an ultimatum -- give them a set date to get on thier feet and mature, then times up. Tough love often has benefits . If its a job they cant find, then there are other parts of the country that are in better shape for job opportunities...and....there are friends that can pool together and rent a low cost Apartment/House so they can live independently and mature.
Not to mention that many employers require employees to have cellphones and a home internet connection, in case work has to be done from home, or the employee needs to be contacted.
In that case, let the employer pay for the cellphone and internet connection...
There are young single people who have a legitimate hard time living on their own, but I certainly believe that the great majority are in that position because they dont know how to handle money and/or are too lazy to work hard and/or struggle with entitle-itis and 'their right' to an irresponsible lifestyle of hedonism and materialism --- both which are a money sponge and contribute to low character. To those folks, you can hardly feel sorry for them. They have believed the lies of our culture and have embraced them wholeheartedly to their own peril. Of course , many Parents have enabled them too. The most loving thing a Parent can do , is escort them out of the house via an ultimatum -- give them a set date to get on thier feet and mature, then times up. Tough love often has benefits . If its a job they cant find, then there are other parts of the country that are in better shape for job opportunities...and....there are friends that can pool together and rent a low cost Apartment/House so they can live independently and mature.
Sure kick them out even though jobs are scarce in this country now that is really smart. Do you really think the prospects of finding a job are better in other parts of the country. I hope you never beocome a parent with that kind of attitude.
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