How's the partial federal government shutdown affecting you?

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I must be doing a really poor job of presenting my beliefs or many in this thread can't separate the people from the situation. It is like everyone is just screaming, think of the federal workers, think of the federal workers, like they are children that need to be cared for.

Long ago in this thread I talked about how it was a shame the federal employees were being used in a political war that neither side would win.

If it makes me morally superior because I believe most of the federal employees could have better prepared themselves for the shutdown, so be it.

See that blue light going crazy in the corner of your left eye? That's your OMG I'm trying to get out of the deep hole I dug myself by digging further light.

 

[Turksmom]

When I think about this whole issue it puts me in mind of years ago when I used to work in branch banking. I remember people would come in with a variety of issues and the one that always blew my mind was the ones whose paychecks had bounced. Actually this generally happened to poorer customers and so it usually wasn't actually that the check had bounced but just that it was uncashable. I remember the first time it happened really taking a moment to wrap my mind around that--you go to work everyday and then you just don't get paid or maybe you do but after you jump through hoops you didn't know were there or after a few extra days or weeks, but still it's not what you signed up for. I remember thinking how shady or just irresponsible these employers were. I mean I dedicate a lot to my employer--a good portion of my waking time and energy, sometimes I worry about it when I'm not there, I schedule my vacations and the like around the needs of the business, it even affects where I would be able to live to some degree. My employer is a pretty major partner in my life and in exchange I get stability, reliability and the ability to fund the lifestyle I have. I remember thinking how terrible it was that someone would take all that from their employees and then just not live up to their part of the bargain. And I can't help feeling like people are about to have that experience and in some small way I'm their employer; I'm the sleaze ball who took and took and then just didn't come through.

My paycheck bounced when I worked as a nanny, way back in the dark ages, before online banking. I was on vacation visiting my grandmother over the Christmas holidays and I came home to a court summons because a check I wrote bounced! I had returned check fees and insufficient funds fees and court fees and no paycheck! I used what was left of my vacation money and Christmas money to cover everything and ate Cheerios for a week.

 

[luvsJack]

You need to read some more articles about how poorly Americans as a whole manage their money.

Here is another.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/15/bankrate-65-percent-of-americans-save-little-or-nothing.html

39% report they can't save because of expenses, another 16% because they just haven't got around to doing it, and 13% because of debt(I would theorize that the expenses in the first 39% led to this 13% in most cases).

Only 16% say it is because their job isn't good enough, i.e. they don't make enough.

Did it ever occur to you that the expenses of the 39% are legitimate expenses? Child care, elderly care, college tuition, etc?

They didn't ask about pay-cost of living ratio. They didn't ask what the expenses are. You are still assuming you know the answers.

The fact is there are people who SHOULD save and do not. There are people who SAVE to the point of obsession and do not enjoy life the way they should. And there are people who find the happy medium. There are ALSO people who cannot save because there is nothing left after their bills and expenses are paid for. My goodness!

 

[mumto3girls]

The uncertainty is even harder to bear for the ones REQUIRED to go to work. We can't stop paying daycare because we are both working. We HAVE to think about cancelling vacations because DH is not allowed to take his hard earned vacation days (even if we have the money). DH is working (and not allowed a second job) so when is he supposed to look for another job and decide when?

Our house will not be lost, we will still eat and have electricity. We are prepared, but it stinks nonetheless.

I am very sorry you are in this situation. I hope it is resolved soon.

 

[mumto3girls]

OK, I wasn't going to reply to this line of discussion, since the thread had mercifully moved on to cute TSA dogs, but since you bring it back up...

There are some real concerns people I actually know are dealing with right now. I think all of them (and me) were responsible and as prepared as one needs to be for life's ups and downs.
All of them are typical suburban professionals. If the shut down ends in the next few weeks, it will just be a blip in their life without any significant impact. However... their boss (ie, the President of the United States, who is the boss of the employees of the executive branch) has told them that their next paycheck will be at some indeterminate time in the future. Certainly months isn't out of the question. That causes some stress.

So while my friends (and me!) aren't worried about paying the mortgage and feeding our kids, here are some things we are worried about:
How do you fill out the FAFSA for your college-age kids, given the uncertainty? Just assume everything will be fine by the time the first tuition bill is due? Do you even mention it to the kids, because they're in college and you want them focused on school?

How long can you go before you need to furlough your nanny, who you obviously don't need while you're home, but you love and don't want to lose? Will the nanny quit because she's not stupid and knows there's uncertainty?

Do you move to the private sector where you can make at least twice what you're making as a civil servant?

Do I book that dream summer vacation that we've been saving for or will we need those savings?

Should we book summer camps now to get the early bird discounts, or will dad still be home over the summer?

Of course all of these things are absolutely the definition of "first world problems" and pale in comparison to hourly employees who are struggling to make rent, or to the mom and pop restaurants who don't have their lunch crowds. But it doesn't make the situation fair or acceptable or remove the stress we feel. And these are truly the people who are *least* impacted. It only gets far, far, far worse from here.
It's not unreasonable for the million+ people effected by the shutdown to be pissed about it and to let the taxpayers (the one who normally pays their paycheck!) know. And having you focus on how people should have been better prepared, or hearing others say that we don't do anything important anyway, is a bit of a bitter pill to swallow when I'm already putting away my travel guides.

I'm reminded of Col. Jessup in A Few Good Men:
"I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom that I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it.
I would rather that you just said "thank you" and went on your way."

But to be clear... I've never ordered a Code Red...

You did a great job of explaining this. You are obviously prepared for the situation and will thankfully be fine, but it still impacts you and is causing worry, stress and indecision. I hope this is resolved soon.

 

[mumto3girls]

My mother is a fed furloughed employee. She has some savings (as do I) but it's going to take all of that savings if this lingers on. She was prepared for a month-long furlough (assuming retroactive pay to rebuild her savings) but not longer. She is scared. She hears months and months and even years and she rightfully worried.

She (and my family) are cutting back on everything. My daughter turns 17 at the end of January. There will be no going out to celebrate like normal unless it is resolved with backpay by then. My DD understands that but I hate that we have to lose our traditions because of this. In the meantime, I am debating if I should pull her brother from an after-school YMCA program. Its only $200 a month but right now my mom can help watch him and every penny will be important if this lingers for months. On the flip side, my son is autistic and this is the first time he has enjoyed interacting with peers. He has kids to play with for the first time ever in his life, he has a routine that works for him, and his social skills are improving. He does not adjust well to back and forth so it is not as simple as cancel and then go back later for him.

Simply put none of this is fair. Compassion and empathy are not hard to come by. I feel it for those impacted by natural disasters or any numerous events, I do not need to judge if they should have been more prepared. But for the grace of God go I...

I hope this is quickly resolved. I feel for you and the decisions you are facing regarding your children.

 

[msjprincess]

You need to read some more articles about how poorly Americans as a whole manage their money.

Here is another.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/15/bankrate-65-percent-of-americans-save-little-or-nothing.html

39% report they can't save because of expenses, another 16% because they just haven't got around to doing it, and 13% because of debt(I would theorize that the expenses in the first 39% led to this 13% in most cases).

Only 16% say it is because their job isn't good enough, i.e. they don't make enough.

Do you have any facts to back that theory up? You have no idea what expenses the 39% are talking about. You seem to assume though that they're frivolous and not things like rent and food.

 

[Searc]

I just had a very minor impact from the shutdown. I tried to add our phone numbers back to the Do Not Call List since they drop off after a certain amount of time. I can't. The website is shut down due to the government shutdown.

 

[Allison]

Do you have any facts to back that theory up? You have no idea what expenses the 39% are talking about. You seem to assume though that they're frivolous and not things like rent and food.

Exactly. I know lots of people that work really hard and don't spend frivilously but they work at jobs that don't pay a lot of money. Jobs that we all need to have in our world for us to live our day to day lives. These are people who are never going to have a huge amount of savings. They aren't doing anything wrong. They understand managing money. There just isn't as much to go around as others have. I'm quite tired of the attitude displayed here that these hard-working people are deficient in some way or do not understand the concept of money management. I think many of these people understand it well because they live it every day.

 

[Dentam]

Sometimes all you can do is hit the "ignore" button. The majority of people here are compassionate and willing to try to put themselves in another person's shoes thankfully.

 

[motherof5]

I know someone who has a job that they aren't getting paid but have to go into work each day or they won't have a job when this is over. They will get backpay when shutdown is over. I feel bad for these people in these difficult situations.

 

[Avery&Todd]

I must be doing a really poor job of presenting my beliefs or many in this thread can't separate the people from the situation. It is like everyone is just screaming, think of the federal workers, think of the federal workers, like they are children that need to be cared for.

Long ago in this thread I talked about how it was a shame the federal employees were being used in a political war that neither side would win.

If it makes me morally superior because I believe most of the federal employees could have better prepared themselves for the shutdown, so be it.

How about if I just want to go back to work at my federal job because I enjoy it?

I'd rather be in the office doing my job instead of finding stuff to do around my house trying to keep myself busy and appear to be productive..

I have savings, my husband is still employed, and I have a Disney trip still booked (and paid for) for next month because we are prepared.

I have co-workers who are not in positions as stable as my family - some of them are both husband and wives who are Feds and they have young kids with 2 daycare bills, and can't risk pulling their kids out of daycare to "save" those payments for the month since they'll need those daycare spots when they return to work...one day.

The hardest part is just not knowing - when we will return and what do we do until then?

 

[LSUmiss]

I must be doing a really poor job of presenting my beliefs or many in this thread can't separate the people from the situation. It is like everyone is just screaming, think of the federal workers, think of the federal workers, like they are children that need to be cared for.

Long ago in this thread I talked about how it was a shame the federal employees were being used in a political war that neither side would win.

If it makes me morally superior because I believe most of the federal employees could have better prepared themselves for the shutdown, so be it.

It’s called validation. Ppl want to feel validate in things that they feel. If they feel upset b/c something bad happened to them like a govt shutdown, compassion & empathy allow you to validate their feelings with an “aww that really sucks” type comment. Judgement is “oh that sucks, but you should have seen it coming & prepared better. I know that’s what I would have done b/c I’m personally responsible.” That doesn’t validate their feelings. Why can’t yiu just acknowledge that it sucks for some ppl without the judgment? That’s all anyone is trying to get you to see.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

If it makes me morally superior because I believe most of the federal employees could have better prepared themselves for the shutdown, so be it.

I can't even find appropriate words to even respond to that statement. I am in total shock.

 

[LSUmiss]

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/most-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck.html

As long as statistics play out close the 3/4 of federal works live pay check to paycheck.

Yes they could have better prepared.

Again do you know the circumstances that have caused them to live this way? No, your judging what you think happened based on your experience with your own childhood.

 

[DisneyOma]

One of my heros and inspirations, Nancy Grace Roman, died on 12/25. Because of the government shutdown, NASA's PR office wasn't around to give her the shout-out and send-off she deserves.

So here's my best effort to help them:

Nancy Grace Roman was the Mother of Hubble Space Telescope and the first NASA Chief of Astronomy. She broke countless barriers for women in science. I have no doubt that my life would be different now if not for her brilliance and courage and perseverance.

I'd encourage you all to read a little more about her: https://www.npr.org/2018/12/30/680994535/nancy-grace-roman-mother-of-hubble-space-telescope-has-died

A Mighty Girl gave her a shout-out on their FB page too!

 

[mnrose]

I can't even find appropriate words to even respond to that statement. I am in total shock.

I think that attitude has come screaming through from the beginning. Apparently, we all should live EXACTLY like this poster because they are perfect, and we are mere mortals.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I think that attitude has come screaming through from the beginning. Apparently, we all should live EXACTLY like this poster because they are perfect, and we are mere mortals.

All I can do is shake my head. I can't even.....

 

[kbender295]

I know someone who has a job that they aren't getting paid but have to go into work each day or they won't have a job when this is over. They will get backpay when shutdown is over. I feel bad for these people in these difficult situations.

I was one of those same people back in ‘95. The scariest part was not knowing how long it would last. Fortunately pay was retroactive. I feel badly for those families affected with the present shutdown.

 

[barkley]

I was one of those same people back in ‘95. The scariest part was not knowing how long it would last. Fortunately pay was retroactive. I feel badly for those families affected with the present shutdown.

i remember back in the 90's when this was happening how even when it ended the impact continued and was compounded in the workplace and on the public by virtue of massive numbers of retirements. my older co-workers took some of that involuntary furlough time to investigate if they truly wanted to stay on those few more years they were planning to wait to retire. they looked at the numbers, knew other retirees who WERE getting checks and opted to 'get out of dodge'. when people came back from their furloughs they not only had to work on backlogged work there were huge numbers of vacated positions to cover (and not entry level that were fairly easy for a new hire to be able to do). i don't think my department ever truly recovered from that loss of knowledge and skills. it was a great public disservice.