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And yet 68% of Americans have smartphones. The problem for many people isn't a lack of funds, it's choosing to live beyond their means. And a government that rewards poor behavior.
What do you mean...and yet? People need phones to communicate. Its a necessity when landlines are going obsolete.
A friend of mine went to the ER recently when his heart started racing and he had chest pains at work, his coworkers insisted and he drove himself there. The first bill, from the physician, was under $200. The second bill, from the hospital itself, is close to $3k. He doesn't know if more bills are coming (lab? other?) but he was there for about 40 minutes and was sent home and was fine after that.
There is no way he is ever going to pay that bill.
That's what happens when a thriving economy turns into a 3rd world economy where all the gains go the top and those producing the gains are held back.
The majority of the people on the bottom are being held back by their own poor life choices, like having kids too early in life and/or out of wedlock and before they have any decent job skills or academic degrees. Then they get addicted to government handouts.
Then you have the homeowners being held hostage by parents demanding more out of their kids; public schools. My property taxes are high due to the cost of schooling in my town. And once those parents' children graduate from high school, they move out of town. No one wants to pay their fair share of taxes at any level.
I realize all of these things. Of course people can read books form the library, go to the park, go for a walk, etc. I'm sure most people who watch TV do all of these things and more. What I'm saying is that in the grand scheme of things, spending $12.50 per week for the family on entertainment is not going to make or break most families and is not going to be the difference between having some money in savings and not having anything.
By the way, how much does it cost to have internet, Netflix and Showbox cost. I'm doubting that it's significantly cheaper then cable.
It all depends on the cable package. Does one want bare bones (if the antenna got it, you'd be ok with it) or more?
Internet cost at it's lowest from Verizon: $19.99/month.
What do you mean...and yet? People need phones to communicate. Its a necessity when landlines are going obsolete.
It's a convenience. Too many convince themselves that want = needs.
Landlines are readily available all across the US.
A cell service with a data plan for personal use is really hard to sell as a life necessity. Same with cable, gaming systems, Netflix....................
I don't know about $400? But, recently, I have seen more people in convenience stores buying very small quantities of gas for their cars - one or two dollars worth of fuel. maybe their parents owned the cars and they just wanted enough fuel to make it home? But I still do not think that is a sign of a strong economy. Perhaps somebody, that works in a convenience store can add to my observations?
By the way; the last time I went to an emergency room for a deep cut on the weekend; it cost over $900. I got one big band aid and a tetanus shot for that!
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