Honest question about financial situations

[CathrynRose]

I'm common, too, b/c I always have soda in the fridge. No kids, just DH & I, but I get the 12-packs of diet soda on asle for $2 or $2.50, so it ends up being way cheaper than milk (which I cannot bring myslef to drink anymore) or juice (which has too many empty calories for me). Also, I drink one can a day, with dinner.
I am pretty sure that when I was a kid, soda was a treat b/c we lived in HI and it was expensive compared to tap water and Kool-Aid.

Aldi's Diet Cola is the best Diet Cola on the planet - honest to God. And it's less then $2 a 12 pack.

 

[kydisneyfans]

I actually think that the average Diser is a little above average America when it comes to income and standards of living. People are really beginning to struggle.

I noticed at 5:45 Saturday night, OCharleys, Ruby Tuesday, and Applebee's were all less than 1/2 full. There used to be hour long waits. Subway, McDonalds and Burger King seem busy now. Traffic on I75 is nowhere near previous years. The malls and department stores are still busy, but only the sale racks are being shopped. I overheard a Macy's salesperson 3 weeks ago state that their store had the lowest Saturday sales number in over 13 years.

There are roads in southern KY where impromptu flea markets are popping up-3 to 5 people just pull off the side of the road and try to sell anything they can for some money. I have seen many more amounts of 2.47, 1.83, 3.42 on the gas pumps as I arrive, telling me that those people are taking every cent they have just to get another 10 miles.

 

[my*jck*luv]

You have a pool? That's probably why your electricity is higher (unless you heat by solar panels). My electricty/water is one bill. My electricity itself is $80.00, water would be $55.00.

Yes, we run it off electricity, I run the pump 12 hours a day. We open the pool in May and in Sept winterize it. We live in NC.

I think the cost of living here is lower than in a lot of places. I'm from FL originally (Orlando area) and it's crazy when I talk to my brother about the cost of things down there. I have a friend who just moved into what is considered a bad neighborhood in Ocoee (near Orlando)who paid over $200,000 for her home. Then another friend who bought their home for just under $200,000 5 years ago now trying to sell it for almost $800,000 in the same town (nicer home in better neighborhood) I can see how the gas/food/housing prices are causing serious strain on some people.

 

[Kath2003]

I think there's a big culture in the western world of 'I want'. You want it, so you get it. There's no sense of delayed gratification for a lot of people in today's world, especially the middle classes. The problem is it's the middle classes that are hit the hardest, culturally, when prices rise. Those used to a lower wage are used to budgeting, they're used to not getting what they want when they want it. The middle classes are used to having what they want, when they want it.

I don't spend much (I live off $1200 a month as a student) but even I could think of ways of saving a great deal of the money I currently spend.

It's also a lot of this lack of delayed gratification which has caused the debt problems we see so many people trying to deal with now. They wanted something and they got it, even if they couldn't afford it (I'm not talking about people who HAD to spend money, like to get a new furnace to keep the house warm or a new fridge or something...I'm talking about people who stuck a down payment on a new car when second hand would do, people who booked a vacation when they know they can't pay for it etc.) and then they can't pay for it. So the problem spirals. It's not just an American thing, of course.

 

[MrsPete]

I think as Americans we like our "stuff". As some other posters have said we have a very skewed idea of what necessity means. In college I attended with a boy form Appalachia. He was thrilled that the dorm had indoor plumbing while the rest of us complained that only one lounge had a TV. Now (only 10 years later) kids go to school with "necessities", computers, ipod, microwaves, refrigerators. We have a house full of them like cable, internet access, cell phones. We feel that a toy at the dollar store every time we go is no big deal, or getting that cup of coffee everyday at the gas station or star bucks does not really matter. It all adds up! So when other prices go up many of us complain instead of really doing something about it.

My husband and I have purposefully raised our girls with LESS than we could afford to give them. They do not have TVs in their room, we share one computer, we live in a smaller house than most of their friends, we don't buy snacks at the gas station . . . instead, they've learned that ebay sells books cheaper than the bookstore, used clothing is a bargain, it's possible to feed the family a decent dinner for $2 total, you can drink water from the tap . . . I hope that when they are out on their own, they won't find themselves unable to maintain the standard of living they've enjoyed as a child.

On the other hand, though they probably don't appreciate this just yet, they won't have to worry about taking out student loans, we'll be able to help them buy a first car when they're in college, and we'll be able to pay for their weddings. We think those things are considerably more important than having had lots of nice shoes and eating out constantly.

 

[MushyMushy]

I think people should invest their money MORE in groceries, not less. That way they don't have to buy food on the outside. Packing food for work or school is the way to go. And you won't feel deprived.

While that is good for the individual, how is it good for the economy in general? A lot of people (one even mentioned it in this thread) rely on their income in the food service industry. That means wait staff, management, busboys, everyone is affected by it. If we decided to stay home every night, yes, it is good for our wallets. But I know plenty of waitresses who will be hurt by it if we all started staying home.

 

[MrsPete]

While that is good for the individual, how is it good for the economy in general? A lot of people (one even mentioned it in this thread) rely on their income in the food service industry. That means wait staff, management, busboys, everyone is affected by it. If we decided to stay home every night, yes, it is good for our wallets. But I know plenty of waitresses who will be hurt by it if we all started staying home.

I understand your point, but the truth is that we have artificially grown the economy beyond what can be sustained -- we've relied upon credit to spend, spend, spend, and the business world has responded by growing bigger and bigger. We have more restaurants than Americans can really afford, and some of those are going to fall by the wayside. Fair to the people who depend upon them for work? Nope, but neither can Americans continue to spend more than they earn.

 

[Liberty Belle]

It's hurting us, but not in a hard way. We make enough income that we do not struggle. We do feel it, though, and have had to cut back on several things. However, our income is well over our city's average income, so I'm sure many are feeling it way worse than we are.

I know my son's girlfriend has not gone to the doctor when she should have (they do not have insurance). Her parents are also trying to sell their house (dad has already moved several states away) and it's not moving.

 

[MushyMushy]

I understand your point, but the truth is that we have artificially grown the economy beyond what can be sustained -- we've relied upon credit to spend, spend, spend, and the business world has responded by growing bigger and bigger. We have more restaurants than Americans can really afford, and some of those are going to fall by the wayside. Fair to the people who depend upon them for work? Nope, but neither can Americans continue to spend more than they earn.

What happens to all the people who no longer have those places to work? It's not like there are a lot of options for some people.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

When we went out for our anniversary to a nice place on a Saturday night, we walked right in, which was unusual for that place.
We are OK right now because DH has been in a great job since last September. If the economy had been like the 90s we'd be rolling in it. But ever since he started making good money all the prices have been skyrocketing, so maybe it's our fault? So we are about where we were before, but not choosing between food and gas. I often tell him we should buy oil stocks, then with our luck the oil prices would go way down.
At my school we were really pinching pennies last year. We weren't supposed to make 1 sided copies unless absolutely necessary and they turned the heat down last winter. We had a pay freeze last year and this year we may get a 2 1/2 % raise, which is great but hardly matches the rising prices for food and gas. I know my students who work minimum wage jobs were seeing a lot more of their money go toward filling up gas tanks and less toward buying energy drinks on the way to school.
Robin M.

 

[Nette]

We certainly aren't suffering, but we do feel it. We recently finished paying of CC debt from medical issues, etc, So that makes a big difference, but it also taught us to live on less. I'm very grateful for that, because it's allowing us to save even now with raised prices.

I'm really surprised by some "necessities". Sure, I have my items that I won't skimp on - organic milk and meat (both from CostCo) are two things - But we do by store brand stuff, and we switched from fresh veggies to frozen veggies (cheaper AND they won't rot in the veggie drawer!) we still buy fresh fruit, but not berries and other high $ fruits...

We DON'T buy soda (except sparkling water), paper plates (use the dishes!), packaged food - except cereal, bread and ice cream. We have been buying ice cream a lot lately, but we get the store brand - AND we don't eat a lot at once. We'll give that up if need be. We'll even give up paper towels if it becomes necessary.

We do have a kid. I don't think she significantly adds to our food bill. (Clothing, daycare, education, YES!!) Granted, she's not a male teen. We do buy her milk, we don't buy her junk food at the store. She's probably the only kid who doesn't have chips in her lunch box. And she doesn't complain about it. Honestly, I'm glad. She eats MUCH healthier than most of her friends.

Seriously... what is on your grocery list that isn't really necessary? I'm not trying to be condescending, it's really a neat exercise.

 

[mickeyboat]

We are feeling it, and will be feeling it more next winter.

Our fuel oil budget price has DOUBLED from last year - meaning it will cost almost $1,900 more to heat our home, assuming we use the same amount of fuel oil. I guess I now know where our stimulus check is going.

Prices at the grocery store are putting some items we frequently purchased before on the "once in a while list." It isn't that we can't afford it, but we refuse to pay the price for it.

We combine trips to the store, too. We have again decided to put off the big vacation we have been talking about for years and vacation closer to home.

The kids will probably stay at day care most of the summer instead of going to a few camps here and there (we have to pay day care whether the kids are there or not).

We aren't struggling, but the biggest difference I see in our family is that before we just bought whatever we wanted without thinking, and now we really think about our purchases before we make them.

Denae

 

[cabanafrau]

Sorry, didn't want to make you depressed

I was just really wondering about it. To us, the US is still the country where everybody is rich and happy; this is what we see on television/ movies/ ... Heck, take your average Lifetime movie, they are always living in HUGE houses, etc etc etc.

Whenever I vacation in the US, I don't really notice things going bad, but my last vacation was in October 2007, and must admit that that time, we didn't reall 'city trip' using public transportation. It was rental car, and a cruise and WDW, not much more, so no adventures in the real world.

The DIS (and some other message boards) is my window on the US. On one side, you read threads about how people try to limit Christmas gifts to 1000 USD per child (holy crap! I should tell my parents they owe me so many more gifts, lol!) and otherwise, you read about the current situation hurting everyone. It's hard to "get" what is really happening.
So thanks for the explanations.

The homes/apartments/living quarters you see on television are rarely grounded in reality. For example, if you have ever seen an episode of the TV show Friends, New York apartments the size of those on the show would be completely out of the budget of those characters in reality. That's typical of most TV situations I can think of, have no idea about Lifetime movies.

 

[Robinrs]

So, I wonder, is the DIS just a micro-climate, where we like to vent about it, or is it really hurting so many Americans in a very hard way??

The DIS IS a micro climate... a small cross section of Americans just like in any grouping of people who are interested in something... in this case "Disney" stuff.

I am an American and have seriously NEVER met human beings like the ones I've met on the DIS.

I like being here because it opens my horizons. I don't know ONE housewife.. there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one happily married woman, there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one person who would disrespect their parents... I've seen PLENTY on the DIS...

The internet is amazing in that it brings people together who never would've met elsewhere.

I wonder sometimes about those who are not aware of the financial problems that are going on in this country are either NOT supporting themselves or are just sitting in a microcosm ...or just plain concerned only about themselves. It's everywhere. I personally have not lost a home or even BUY milk, but I'm aware of how it affects others.

 

[MrsPete]

What happens to all the people who no longer have those places to work? It's not like there are a lot of options for some people.

You're absolutely right, and I don't have an answer. And it isn't just restaurant personnel -- store clerks are another example. If stores start selling less, they're going to need fewer workers (or they'll cut back whether they need them or not), and those people'll be out of jobs. The list could go on.

But the bottom line is that we as a society created this problem by spending beyond our ability to pay. Now we're in trouble. We can't perpetuate a broken system because the people who work in the "worst parts" would be hurt. They're going to have to work elsewhere -- options or no.

Things change. Not too long ago (when ATMs became the norm for everyday banking) many bank tellers found themselves out of work. Not too long ago (when the internet made it possible for us all to have easy access to airlines, hotels, cruise lines, etc.) even good, experienced travel agents were unable to make a living. What happened to these people? They adapted. IF as a society we seriously cut back on our eating-out, restaurant personnel will have to do the same thing.

 

[MrsPete]

I like being here because it opens my horizons. I don't know ONE housewife.. there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one happily married woman, there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one person who would disrespect their parents... I've seen PLENTY on the DIS...

WOW. I'm surprised. I know quite a few housewives (though they all call themselves SAHMs these days), most of the women I know are happily married, and I see a few of my students (fortunately not large numbers, but still too many) being disrespectful to their parents. One thing the internet has taught me is that we don't all live in the same world.

 

[MrsPete]

The homes/apartments/living quarters you see on television are rarely grounded in reality. For example, if you have ever seen an episode of the TV show Friends, New York apartments the size of those on the show would be completely out of the budget of those characters in reality. That's typical of most TV situations I can think of, have no idea about Lifetime movies.

Yeah, you can't believe that all Americans live in houses like the ones on TV. Even the "poor people" on TV live in nicer homes than the average real family. I want to live in a cute little place recently painted in a trendy color, filled with eclectic thrift-store finds that somehow mesh together perfectly. I want this house to be clutter-free and always clean. I want to have attractive, creative decorator items (like candles and wreaths) sitting around. Nothing worn, nothing dirty. Nah, that's not going to happen!

 

[ozarkmom]

Well lets see. I live in a rural community we have to drive so the gas prices are hitting us. I've noticed groceries have started going up. I work for a small company that is being effected by rising fuel costs. I've not had a pay raise in quite a while and probably will not get one anytime soon. Our company use a lot of gas and diesel. When we bid a job whether it's 6 months or 2 years we're locked in. Doesn't matter how much gas goes up. We've started feeling the crunch and I've picked up a part time job.

 

[sandy2330]

I have only read page one and this page. I will try to catch up as time allows.

The DIS IS a micro climate... a small cross section of Americans just like in any grouping of people who are interested in something... in this case "Disney" stuff.

I am an American and have seriously NEVER met human beings like the ones I've met on the DIS.

I like being here because it opens my horizons. I don't know ONE housewife.. there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one happily married woman, there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one person who would disrespect their parents... I've seen PLENTY on the DIS...

The internet is amazing in that it brings people together who never would've met elsewhere.

I wonder sometimes about those who are not aware of the financial problems that are going on in this country are either NOT supporting themselves or are just sitting in a microcosm ...or just plain concerned only about themselves. It's everywhere. I personally have not lost a home or even BUY milk, but I'm aware of how it affects others.

All I can say is WOW. I know many SAHMs and all the women I know who are married are almost all very happy. I guess you run with a different crowd.

 

[PghLybrt]

The DIS IS a micro climate... a small cross section of Americans just like in any grouping of people who are interested in something... in this case "Disney" stuff.

I am an American and have seriously NEVER met human beings like the ones I've met on the DIS.

I like being here because it opens my horizons. I don't know ONE housewife.. there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one happily married woman, there are PLENTY on the DIS, I don't know one person who would disrespect their parents... I've seen PLENTY on the DIS...

I know what you mean. I also do not know any stay at home moms. Most people I know are divorced. And I have learned that on the DIS everyone is perfect too. As to the disrespecting parents, I don't think I can point out more than 2 kids that don't.