How's the partial federal government shutdown affecting you?

[LSUmiss]

Most people make thousands of tiny bad financial decisions over a lifetime. I know I have. You probably have too. But without that one tragic incident, without the sudden disaster, we compensate for those tiny bad decisions with small course corrections. Some people get fewer chances, and those tiny bad decisions end up escalating into major hardship.

And for the most part, we're not talking about people in "dire financial straits". We're talking about people who need their paycheck to survive, and who work in one of the least disruption-prone sectors of our economy. Many people, even those who are relatively prudent financially, go through "paycheck to paycheck" stages - maybe they have an infant so one parent is at home, or a child in college with tuition draining every extra dollar of cushion or savings, or recently started helping with an elderly parent's care, or are dealing with medical bills that shattered an otherwise comfortable debt-to-income balance. These are all everyday American scenarios, not consequences of frivolity and financial recklessness, and the lack of empathy for them is stunning.

That’s us. We normally have a better financial situation but are currently almost paycheck to paycheck. We just had an infant so I just returned to work. And, that infant was born with a birth defect that required 2 surgeries, a NICU stay, & at home medical supplies. My DH had to take off extended time too. We are recovering financially & DS is better now after the surgeries. But, we still have medical expenses & we need both of checks right now to continue to replenish savings. If something else major happened right now or one of us lost our jobs, it would make that recovery much harder.

 

[kdonnel]

Sometimes things happen AFTER you have that family. So when your father worked those 3 jobs, who cared for the kids?

As I have said I understand exceptions but do not understand the lack of planning.

 

[MillauFr]

"redefine the gravitational constant of the universe"

Maybe that is what it will take to get the two sides to come to an agreement and reopen the government.

 

[kdonnel]

There is still 6 days before any federal employee has been without pay for even one day.

The next scheduled payday of 1/11/19 will be the first one missed.

No one should even be experiencing any hardship until day 21 of the shutdown.

Except the businesses that get most of their income from spending by government workers. Because in theory government workers have stopped spending on non essentials in preparation for 1/11/19.

 

[wgeo]

What confuses me is the negative attitude toward these employees. Regardless of whether they planned or not, regardless of whether they have 1 month salary saved up or 10 years saved - they are facing uncertainty and disruption and I don't understand why there is such a lack of sympathy for them. I feel bad for anyone going through an unknown situation. I feel bad that due to no fault of their own their lives are being upended right now. Why is it ok to denigrate a group of people that it seems would really be much happier if they could just get up in the morning and go to work and get a paycheck like normal. It's odd how the blame during a situation like this gets put on the small guys that really aren't responsible for it at all.

 

[tvguy]

There is still 6 days before any federal employee has been without pay for even one day.

The next scheduled payday of 1/11/19 will be the first one missed.

No one should even be experiencing any hardship until day 21 of the shutdown.

Except the businesses that get most of their income from spending by government workers. Because in theory government workers have stopped spending on non essentials in preparation for 1/11/19.

I think too, the timing of the shutdown, during the holiday period when many people are vacation anyway, has kind of made it hard to tell the impact on businesses near large Federal Offices.

 

[kdonnel]

What confuses me is the negative attitude toward these employees. Regardless of whether they planned or not, regardless of whether they have 1 month salary saved up or 10 years saved - they are facing uncertainty and disruption and I don't understand why there is such a lack of sympathy for them. I feel bad for anyone going through an unknown situation. I feel bad that due to no fault of their own their lives are being upended right now. Why is it ok to denigrate a group of people that it seems would really be much happier if they could just get up in the morning and go to work and get a paycheck like normal. It's odd how the blame during a situation like this gets put on the small guys that really aren't responsible for it at all.

I do not have a negative attitude towards the employees.

I believe we can all do better to prepare for the unknown.

I can believe that while also feeling bad for them.

 

[kdonnel]

55 million Americans have NOTHING set aside in an emergency fund. To me that is horrifying.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/02/about-55-million-americans-have-no-emergency-savings.html

From the story:

“Many Americans are kidding themselves if they have less than three months’ worth of expenses in emergency savings and claim to have any level of comfort with that,” Bankrate’s Greg McBride said in a statement.

McBride recommends stashing at least a six-month cushion to cover anything from a dental bill to a car repair — but more if you are the sole breadwinner in your family or in business for yourself.

 

[tcufrog]

That might work if you have savings to fall back on. That is not a reality for everyone. So what are they supposed to do? And what's the incentive for continuing to show up if they aren't sure when they are going to get paid? What if they need to take on a second job to make ends meet for the time being and it interferes with their regular job?

It's not just going to work without pay. Think about the things you have to pay for to go to your job? You have to pay for transportation, (possibly) child care, maintaining work clothes, etc. They are expected to do that too and aren't receiving money to pay for that. Going to work without pay is worse than a furlough.

 

[LSUmiss]

55 million Americans have NOTHING set aside in an emergency fund. To me that is horrifying.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/02/about-55-million-americans-have-no-emergency-savings.html

From the story:

I think that’s the issue. You keep talking about the “exception” & that most ppl just have bad money management. But, in my personal & professional experience, those ppl are the exception. Most that I have seen have some event that caused their situation to be as bad as it is or they had to use heir emergency fund for the last event.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

So since we can't prepare for some problems, we shouldn't prepare for any?

Ice storms are an infrequent problem where I live. Maybe only once every 5 or so years. But I still make sure to have a few days worth of food, water, and gas for the generator on hand at all times.

If I lived in an area with earthquakes I would keep an earthquake kit in my cars.

A little preparation (personal responsibility) goes a long way in a disaster (shutdown).

You spend less then you make. You change your lifestyle to match your income.

Of course things happen. That is why from day one of your job you should save a minimum of 10% building up a rainy day fund. Once you have that fund built you save it for retirement.

Never let that money go into your checking account. If you never see it, you don’t miss it.

Get a raise? Allocate half to savings. Again if you never get the opportunity to spend it you don’t miss it.

Not all jobs are meant to support a family or meant to be the only job supporting a family.

It is all money management.

As I have said I understand exceptions but do not understand the lack of planning.

I do not have a negative attitude towards the employees.

I believe we can all do better to prepare for the unknown.

I can believe that while also feeling bad for them.

I am very happy for you that you have never struggled a day in your life, or so it seems. You say you have compassion but I just don't see it. You appear to judge those that cannot save for whatever reason. Epilepsy has devastated our family. We have 5 family members that it has affected. It costs my daughter 3000.00 a month for her son to get his meds and doctor appts. Then you need to add in frequent hospital stays. But in your thoughts, she needs to still be saving. I know for a fact that she will make medicine a priority and not your recommended percentage for saving. Add in that she still needs to pay a mortgage, buy food and clothing, gas, utilities etc. Now, just a few months ago her daughter started having seizures and the medical bills almost doubled. It isn't just her family, there are many, many families that have tragedies. Many of which are related to health. Just be happy that no one in your family has been torn down financially by heath issues. Find it in your heart to understand that this life is not a perfect world for all.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

55 million Americans have NOTHING set aside in an emergency fund. To me that is horrifying.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/02/about-55-million-americans-have-no-emergency-savings.html

From the story:

Rather than judge, try and put yourself in other people's shoes. My cousin works for the TSA. He actually enjoys it and does a great job (personable guy). But his pay is not the kind of pay that allows you to rack up a huge emergency fund.

My husband and I currently have two kids in college and two at home. I've overcome cancer a few years ago and now put a lot of time into caring for my aging parents. We get it done and while we have DH's retirement, our "catastrophe" fund would likely be a credit card. It's just the way it is. DH is a teacher, I'm a nurse. I don't pull in what a banker does. You probably believe one of us should switch jobs to something more lucrative. But trust me, I'm a better nurse than I probably would be a banker.

As for you saying "not all jobs were meant to support a family"....well, that line burns me because I usually hear it from people that had jobs like that which DID support a family just a few decades ago. I know seniors who retired from a factory assembly line or a grocery store. Yes those people (or their offspring) are usually first to say "those jobs aren't meant to be livable". Shame on you for looking down on so many people.

Curious if you work, btw.

 

[Southernmiss]

I am very happy for you that you have never struggled a day in your life, or so it seems. You say you have compassion but I just don't see it. You appear to judge those that cannot save for whatever reason. Epilepsy has devastated our family. We have 5 family members that it has affected. It costs my daughter 3000.00 a month for her son to get his meds and doctor appts. Then you need to add in frequent hospital stays. But in your thoughts, she needs to still be saving. I know for a fact that she will make medicine a priority and not your recommended percentage for saving. Add in that she still needs to pay a mortgage, buy food and clothing, gas, utilities etc. Now, just a few months ago her daughter started having seizures and the medical bills almost doubled. It isn't just her family, there are many, many families that have tragedies. Many of which are related to health. Just be happy that no one in your family has been torn down financially by heath issues. Find it in your heart to understand that this life is not a perfect world for all.

Chronic diseases are so devastating to too many families in our country.

Yep. I looked back the other thread on this topic and this poster's thoughts shine through there also.

 

[tvguy]

55 million Americans have NOTHING set aside in an emergency fund. To me that is horrifying.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/07/02/about-55-million-americans-have-no-emergency-savings.html

From the story:

Yup. It is even more horrifying when you see those financial shows and they go over people's income and spending and realize they had PLENTY of money coming in to save, they made a choice to spend it. The one woman featured on "Till Debt Do Us Part" who sincerely believed that most women working in an office spend $500 a month on new clothing for work! Needless to say the was the first thing Gail Vaz-Oxlade cut.

 

[Christine]

I am very happy for you that you have never struggled a day in your life, or so it seems. You say you have compassion but I just don't see it. You appear to judge those that cannot save for whatever reason. Epilepsy has devastated our family. We have 5 family members that it has affected. It costs my daughter 3000.00 a month for her son to get his meds and doctor appts. Then you need to add in frequent hospital stays. But in your thoughts, she needs to still be saving. I know for a fact that she will make medicine a priority and not your recommended percentage for saving. Add in that she still needs to pay a mortgage, buy food and clothing, gas, utilities etc. Now, just a few months ago her daughter started having seizures and the medical bills almost doubled. It isn't just her family, there are many, many families that have tragedies. Many of which are related to health. Just be happy that no one in your family has been torn down financially by heath issues. Find it in your heart to understand that this life is not a perfect world for all.

I remember the first time in my life I truly felt without funding. I was fortunate in that I didn't have any issues compounding it, but it was eye opening. I had recently got married and my husband was in the military (enlisted). This was before all the good military pay increases started happening so we did qualify for food stamps, believe it or not. Anyway, we got sent to a remote base in the U.S. which only compounded matters because it took me another 8 months to get a job (that job was a hostess at the officer's club). I remember my husband got paid and after we paid our car insurance, the cable (there was no antenna stations there like at home), and our landline bill, I think I had about $65 left for 2 weeks to pay for groceries and gas. Headed over to the commissary, did my shopping for two weeks and when all was said and done, at the end of the pay period I had $4 left. Now we all know that the smart thing to do would be to start socking that $4 away. I mean at the end of the year I would have had a $104 emergency fund. Doesn't seem like much and I think when you are that broke, you don't view that (at the time your are in it) as beneficial. Being without money is depressing and stressful. I took that $4 and bought some scrap fabric at the store so my next door neighbor could teach me to sew pillows (she was an awesome seamstress). So yeah, no saving at that time in my life.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

Yup. It is even more horrifying when you see those financial shows and they go over people's income and spending and realize they had PLENTY of money coming in to save, they made a choice to spend it. The one woman featured on "Till Debt Do Us Part" who sincerely believed that most women working in an office spend $500 a month on new clothing for work! Needless to say the was the first thing Gail Vaz-Oxlade cut.

You're looking at extreme circumstances. I've dealt with patients who had to decide whether to hold off on emergency surgery or not.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I remember the first time in my life I truly felt without funding. I was fortunate in that I didn't have any issues compounding it, but it was eye opening. I had recently got married and my husband was in the military (enlisted). This was before all the good military pay increases started happening so we did qualify for food stamps, believe it or not. Anyway, we got sent to a remote base in the U.S. which only compounded matters because it took me another 8 months to get a job (that job was a hostess at the officer's club). I remember my husband got paid and after we paid our car insurance, the cable (there was no antenna stations there like at home), and our landline bill, I think I had about $65 left for 2 weeks to pay for groceries and gas. Headed over to the commissary, did my shopping for two weeks and when all was said and done, at the end of the pay period I had $4 left. Now we all know that the smart thing to do would be to start socking that $4 away. I mean at the end of the year I would have had a $104 emergency fund. Doesn't seem like much and I think when you are that broke, you don't view that (at the time your are in it) as beneficial. Being without money is depressing and stressful. I took that $4 and bought some scrap fabric at the store so my next door neighbor could teach me to sew pillows (she was an awesome seamstress). So yeah, no saving at that time in my life.

I remember those days myself. My daughter (the mother of my grandkids) also had epilepsy. We were a struggling family. My friend had decent money and loved to sew. She would donate her scraps to me so I could sew my twins dresses. Sometimes I was even able to make matching Cabbage Patch doll dresses for the girls. We are much better off now but I will never ever forget my roots.

 

[Southernmiss]

You're looking at extreme circumstances. I've dealt with patients who had to decide whether to hold off on emergency surgery or not.

And made/emphasized for entertainment on tv, no less.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

You're looking at extreme circumstances. I've dealt with patients who had to decide whether to hold off on emergency surgery or not.

That is my brother. He lives with us and needs several surgeries but there is zero possibility that he can have them. He needs to work to keep insurance. Taking off for surgery takes away income. No income. No medical insurance.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

Chronic diseases are so devastating to too many families in our country.

Yep. I looked back the other thread on this topic and this poster's thoughts shine through there also.

Another thing I don't think people realize are the amount of people who come off welfare or SNAP by getting a higher paying job (or finally getting a job) only to find out that their cost of medications are no longer covered.