With all of this financial upheaval in the country, folks with money are getting scared. This is probably one of the biggest advantages to not having any. The other, of course, being, that you have nothing to steal.
We aren't pitiful dirt poor. Chris has a good job, making middle class (for Alabama) income, and now I have one too, assuming I get to keep it after my 90 day evaluation. I drive a 7 year old car, Chris drives a 10 year old truck and we have a 22 year old house. We don't have a savings account (scandalous, I know), none of us are label 'hos, so we're all okay that we get by on less than $40 bucks an outfit (less for the kids since we have so many friends and family with children older than ours who hand stuff down to us). We are the type of people who will happily spend money on travel, but will keep our furniture and electronics until they let out a weak squeal before they give up the ghost. We do have a 401K, and I'm sure it's looking pretty thin today, but I trust this country enough to know that it will recover, so I'm not really worried. I trust it so much that, after my 90 day evaluation, when I am eligible, I will start a 401K of my own.
Financial straights are relative. Compared to some, we are filthy stinkin' rich, for the simple reason that we aren't on welfare (though we have been before). Compared to others, our financial situation is so precarious they would need to be in the psyche ward to cope with it.
For the most part, I figure as long as we aren't lazy and are willing to work, and as long as we aren't selfish and are willing to give back, everything will work out in the end.
5 comments:
Yup, my family and I are in a similar boat. We rent a townhouse, paid off our truck and it's 11 years old. We have no savings, not much of a retirement right now. Hubby has a decent job and I currently only work part time from home doing web design work. We don;t have too much left to loose, really.
I mean, we literally live paycheck to paycheck. I don't use credit cards. If I can't pay for something, I don't buy it. I have cut back on all of our luxury items like "cable TV." (saves us $80 a month) We use an antennae, actually. We used to be "comfortable middle class" and now we hover in the "right above poverty middle class."
Your last 'graph says it all. If our entire nation actually lived by that credo, our financial system probably wouldn't be so screwed right now.
well said!
I'm sorta in the same boat right now. But as long as I'm not in a financial hole, I figure I'm doing ok. Your new job will really help though.
I could almost have written the same post, except that my husband once had a wonderful job as a pharmaceutical rep and now sells cars on commission.
Just two days ago, my part-time temporary job became full-time, long-term temporary, so things are headed in the right direction. I think they will eventually hire me permanently. Please, powers that be!
Now I can make the house payment. That's all I really want - to hang onto my 80-year old bungalow. We too drive old cars and I buy my clothes at K Mart and TJ Maxx (No Wal Mart for me though.) I can't say I'm thrilled by it all, but I agree with your last paragraph!
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