Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
While I get that it's not as easy as it sounds; been there, done that.... you may want to consider actually doing something to improve your situation as opposed to passively waiting for it to improve for you.
Such as?
I am attempting to do everything I can to be promoted from a receptionist position. If you are referring to an education, I have been there and done that. It did not work out for me and I am too old and lack the stamina to add school onto my already full plate.
I do attempt to live frugally in the things I can control, such as eating out, groceries, gifts, clothing, cell phone, etc. I shop sales and only use coupons. I do not have a cell phone. I drive an old car. I only get my hair cut once a year. I have never had my nails done. I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. I don't vacation. I buy clothes on clearance and hand me downs for the kids. We do not wear any name brand items. My kids only have one pair of shoes. We do not have video games. We do not go to the movies. Eating out is a $5 pizza. My kids get two inexpensive toys, a book and one new clothing item for Christmas. Also a little bit of candy and fresh fruit in their stockings.
We live a simple life. I have $5k in my retirement account and I started saving 17 years ago. I am downright frightened about surviving my retirement years.
I am attempting to do everything I can to be promoted from a receptionist position. If you are referring to an education, I have been there and done that. It did not work out for me and I am too old and lack the stamina to add school onto my already full plate.
I do attempt to live frugally in the things I can control, such as eating out, groceries, gifts, clothing, cell phone, etc. I shop sales and only use coupons. I do not have a cell phone. I drive an old car. I only get my hair cut once a year. I have never had my nails done. I don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. I don't vacation. I buy clothes on clearance and hand me downs for the kids. We do not wear any name brand items. My kids only have one pair of shoes. We do not have video games. We do not go to the movies. Eating out is a $5 pizza. My kids get two inexpensive toys, a book and one new clothing item for Christmas. Also a little bit of candy and fresh fruit in their stockings.
We live a simple life. I have $5k in my retirement account and I started saving 17 years ago. I am downright frightened about surviving my retirement years.
Best of luck and hopefully some sunshine will come to you and the family soon.
The "gotta-have-it-now" mentality. Buying everything on credit (cars, homes, etc). Living at the same standard of living that their parents had (but took a lifetime to earn that lifestyle).
What retirement?
You are kidding, right?
Retirement is for the top 1 percent of the population of this country.
Not for the middle class working people. No sir!
Have you been to the super market lately?
What retirement?
You are kidding, right?
Retirement is for the top 1 percent of the population of this country.
Not for the middle class working people. No sir!
Have you been to the super market lately?
The above is totally absurd. Middle class working people can still afford to retire if they have a modicum of self-discipline and have done a bit of planning. A lifetime of work under Social Security will often yield SS retirement benefits on the order of $1800 to $2000 per month. That amount does not provide lavish living, of course, but combined with some modest investments can be quite workable, and it works for many people without the investments.
What is the point of the wild hyperbole about the top one percent? Certainly the top 70% can afford to retire. I am a retired high school teacher; I earned peanuts for an entire 34-year career and I am retired just fine. Yes, I am aware that the pension I have, modest as it is, is something not everyone has, but just refer back to my observation in the first paragraph about Social Security.
Yes, I have been to the supermarket lately - I go about twice a week. I see nothing out of the ordinary when I go to the supermarket, and I am that middle class working person that you were talking about in your post.
Aren't you even embarrassed to post such total nonsense?
I see people buying homes when they should be renting. I see them driving new or nearly new cars. I see them taking vacations/cruises. I see them buying season tickets to professional sporting events (those cost thousands of dollars each, usually). I see them buying ipods/pads every other year. I see them spending tons on cell phones. I see them buying coffee products at Starbucks at $5 a shot. I see people who forget to pay themselves first and sacrificing wants - to save for retirement.
I see people buying homes when they should be renting. I see them driving new or nearly new cars. I see them taking vacations/cruises. I see them buying season tickets to professional sporting events (those cost thousands of dollars each, usually). I see them buying ipods/pads every other year. I see them spending tons on cell phones. I see them buying coffee products at Starbucks at $5 a shot. I see people who forget to pay themselves first and sacrificing wants - to save for retirement.
Out of curiosity do you know their annual income and do they individually do all of these or just some?
The above is totally absurd. Middle class working people can still afford to retire if they have a modicum of self-discipline and have done a bit of planning. A lifetime of work under Social Security will often yield SS retirement benefits on the order of $1800 to $2000 per month. That amount does not provide lavish living, of course, but combined with some modest investments can be quite workable, and it works for many people without the investments.
What is the point of the wild hyperbole about the top one percent? Certainly the top 70% can afford to retire. I am a retired high school teacher; I earned peanuts for an entire 34-year career and I am retired just fine. Yes, I am aware that the pension I have, modest as it is, is something not everyone has, but just refer back to my observation in the first paragraph about Social Security.
Yes, I have been to the supermarket lately - I go about twice a week. I see nothing out of the ordinary when I go to the supermarket, and I am that middle class working person that you were talking about in your post.
Aren't you even embarrassed to post such total nonsense?
i have to agree , most of the population will retire one way or another. no matter what the budget things have a way of working out for most.
What retirement?
You are kidding, right?
Retirement is for the top 1 percent of the population of this country.
Not for the middle class working people. No sir!
Have you been to the super market lately?
The lower and middle class get a free retirement (SS and medicare) paid for by the rich.
Your facts are wrong.
Don't worry Obama and the democrats are turning this country into a 1st class welfare state its only going to get worse (better for the poor)>
The only thing the lower classes need to worry about is if the rich stop paying for everything, then they will be totally screwed.
The lower and middle class get a free retirement (SS and medicare) paid for by the rich.
Contributions to SS end at ~113.6K of income. But you knew that, right? Right?
And "the rich" get medicare as well. I know, I know, but they pay more in taxes than "the poor", so therefore it's "wealth redistribution" or whatever.
Quote:
Originally Posted by hartford_renter
Don't worry Obama and the democrats are turning this country into a 1st class welfare state
Heh, not even close. The ENTIRE rest of the industrialized world has universal health care. Even with the ACA we won't be close to the "welfare state" status of...well, every other First World nation.
But go back to reading your Ayn Rand.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
