@Tarantado wrote:
I agree in all aspects of your post. However, the reality is that most American simply struggle to make ends meet, in all income levels. Even a portion of the middle class (Those that make more than $99k, or $199k married) was left out of that $1,200 stimulus payment, as they did NO adjustment for cities with high cost of living. Most Americans live check to check, whether it's their choice or not.
@mystery2me wrote:
I was under the impression much of the reason for handouts to individuals was for them to stay home and not have to work and spread the virus, at least until we improve our treatment capability. It also was to protect real estate interests, banks, manufacturers, and other business sectors that rely on consumer payments of rent, mortgages, credit card payments, and other purchases. Putting money into the hands of regular people was just a side effect.
@Flash wrote:
@Tarantado wrote:
I agree in all aspects of your post. However, the reality is that most American simply struggle to make ends meet, in all income levels. Even a portion of the middle class (Those that make more than $99k, or $199k married) was left out of that $1,200 stimulus payment, as they did NO adjustment for cities with high cost of living. Most Americans live check to check, whether it's their choice or not.
Lets think about "essentials". Cell phones. A single land line shared by a family could help keep the wolf from the door. Cable/streaming services. I get news, PBS and network TV from an antenna that cost under $20. I can borrow movies from the library or buy them for a couple of bucks from Goodwill. Vehicles. Often a recent used car is a whole lot wiser than a lease on a new one. Since we use a car for more than 10 years with few repairs since we make sure they get service as recommended in the manual, it would be foolish for us to lease. Food. Cooking at home is cheaper and generally healthier than eating out--even cheaper than fast foods through the drive thru.
When you talk about making ends meet you have to look at what is on the rope you are trying to pull to make them meet. Are you paying off that 'Appliance Package' that you got when you really only needed a new refrigerator? Are you content with a 3 year old cell phone that still works but doesn't have all the bells and whistles? The kid needs shoes. Do you exercise parental prerogative and get the practical $40 ones or spring for the $140 'status' ones?
The problem is wanting more than you can afford. As long as folks feel they 'deserve' what they want they will have issues making ends meet. Only in very few cases do Americans NEED to live check to check. It is most frequently a choice of what they are willing to spend their money on. And I recognize this is not always the case. We have had a dozen years since the beginning of the last recession/depression and too many folks have apparently learned nothing from the experience.
@shopper8 wrote:
How has the CoronaVirus affected you?
@LisaSTL wrote:
A single landline in 2020, really? Have you tried keeping a smart phone for years? Most are designed to become useless within just a few years and with some it is impossible to repair them or the cost versus new is ridiculous. In one post you think people should work two and three jobs while in another you blame them for relying on FF rather than cooking at home. In between all those jobs when are they supposed to cook or take the time to peruse all the local sales circulars and shop multiple stores? It seems you have an opinion you apply across the board. Of course there are people who squander money, some who received no education on the subject and others who are just irresponsible. That is no excuse to ignore those who do not or to assume it applies to the vast majority. I'm all for some frugality too. But at what point does it become a miserable existence where some are not allowed to have the smallest amount of amusement or entertainment? That sounds like a return to the feudal system.
@ wrote:
President Donald Trump has ordered General Motors to make ventilators under the Defense Production Act hours after criticizing the company for not acting quickly enough to produce the supplies amid the coronavirus pandemic.
@Flash wrote:
I can be amused and entertained by ... sitting on the porch on a spring evening 'visiting'.
@Jill_L wrote:
Has anyone been hearing people talk about the fact that they think that COVID19 was here in Dec and maybe Nov? And the people who are talking about this are also mentioning how VERY sick they were in Dec/Jan and how VERY long the sickness lasted
@Jill_L wrote:
Oh, and yes, I have thought about a bidet.
And yes, this financial disaster has made me realize that I really, really, desperately need to build a good cushion back up
All that aside: some really bad news for one of the people renting a house:
The folks who live there consist of a man and wife (my age) and their adult son who is 26 ish. He's a big strong guy. Works in the oil fields with one week on and one week off. During his week off, his son and daughter stay with him at the house
"Mom" got sick a couple weeks ago. Thought it was flu. Missed two weeks of work, and then finally went to the doc and tested positive. The fam was quarantined (official end was the day before yesterday), but she is still very sick. "Dad" is fine. Is holding the family together, it seems. "Son" got sick on Thursday. By Friday, he was hospitalized. By Friday night he was in the hospital in the ICU on a ventilator; fighting for his life. I'm so heart broken! These people have been with us for 3 years and are such nice people! And yesterday, the "Son's" son tested positive for COVID19. He's 9 years old.
Soooooo.......I'm going to REALLY start talking to mortgage companies. I hope I can get some kind of "concession," because I don't want this family to have to pay rent for April or May, if I can do anything to make that happen
@shoptastic wrote:
Has anyone had mental health problems as a result of quarantine? It's been two weeks for me and I've only gone out once. Starting to feel weird.
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@Jill_L wrote:
This is like the twilight zone. Who would have ever thought that we would live in a time like this.