How's the partial federal government shutdown affecting you?

[SteveH]

I would add: do you live anywhere near a nuclear power plant or nuclear weapon assembly/storage facility? Then you are relying on the Federal Government oversight to keep you safe. (used to be a fed) Of course, these are probably essential positions.

Around here the Nuke Plant and Cold War clean up are still going on, it's part of a separate budget.

As for those commenting and saying they plan their tax situation to owe, not get refunded -- good luck with that this year. I know several people in the industry who are still wondering where the chips will fall this year.

I'm not sure how that will work, I'll do my taxes and send in my check, if they don't cash it for a while that's all the better. I do feel for my staff that use the IRS like a piggy bank all year, but that was their choice.

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

Sadly we are no longer a society that encourages personal responsibility, we have fostered a culture of dependency.

 

[luvsJack]

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).

Ok, let’s compare to natural disasters. We have hurricanes. We are prepared for hurricanes every year. We replenish water supply, gas for generator, food that can be cooked and stored without electricity every year.

And then along came Katrina. There was no way to be prepared for that one. Everyone did the best they could but days or even weeks without the ability to buy gas, water or ice made for a very hard time.

For people who are affected by this and on the lower end of the pay scale, they could end up in a Katrina situation. If you do not have enough pay at the end of the month, how do you save for the possibility of weeks or months without a paycheck?

 

[luvsJack]

Around here the Nuke Plant and Cold War clean up are still going on, it's part of a separate budget.


I'm not sure how that will work, I'll do my taxes and send in my check, if they don't cash it for a while that's all the better. I do feel for my staff that use the IRS like a piggy bank all year, but that was their choice.


Sadly we are no longer a society that encourages personal responsibility, we have fostered a culture of dependency.

Yeah, hard to believe we have come to the point that people actually depend on the paycheck that they work for.

Working for a living IS personal responsibility.

 

[kdonnel]

If you do not have enough pay at the end of the month, how do you save for the possibility of weeks or months without a paycheck?

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

 

[clutter]

Trying to think what Federal services I actually have used in 2018:

TSA 4 times. Which I think is an essential service and exempt.

Air Traffic Controllers 4 times Which I think is an essential service and exempt.

IRS Once. Which I think is an essential service and exempt.

Post Office, but that is technically an agency independent from the Federal Government.

On the surface, this seems so true. But there really is so much more. TSA agents are air traffic controllers are working, without pay.

Do you eat food? USDA regulates and inspects food products. Do you take any medicine at any time? FDA tests, approves and regulates drugs. Do you drive on highways? Across a bridge? Watch tv? Vote in an election (I hope)? Do you drink water? Watch the weather? Have money in a bank account? Use electricity? Are you living in a free country? Sure, the military is working an paid, but the people that support them are not. Most anti-terrorism work is contracted outside of the government. Some might be working, but if they are, they aren't being paid. My point is that there are SO many federal jobs that keep us safe, warm and happy, but the average person knows nothing about them, and thinks they aren't affected by them. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that by the time the average person realizes this, likely after some type of disaster - natural, financial, terrorism, transportation - occurs. By the time that happens, our economy will likely take a hit. And re-starting the government will be hard if it takes that long for this to end.

Living in DC, I meet all kinds of people doing all sorts of jobs (I'm not a fed, though). I am constantly amazed at how much our country does to protect us and keep us safe and healthy.

 

[luvsJack]

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

You really don’t get it do you?

Should they live on the street and not pay rent? Maybe walk 10 miles to work and not have a car? And no, public transportation is not an option for everyone. Learn to live without food? Which of these would you like them to change?

For many people paying for the basic necessities IS matching their paycheck.

 

[kdonnel]

Living in DC

The further you get from the reality bubble that is DC, the less important the federal government is to people’s day to day life.

 

[Searc]

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

Easy for you to say. I have been in the position in the past where changing our 'lifestyle' to match our income would have put us on the brink of homelessness.

We are financially secure now, but I have never forgotten where we used to be and turn my nose up at people working their tails off to take care of their families.

 

[kdonnel]

You really don’t get it do you?

Should they live on the street and not pay rent? Maybe walk 10 miles to work and not have a car? And no, public transportation is not an option for everyone. Learn to live without food? Which of these would you like them to change?

For many people paying for the basic necessities IS matching their paycheck.

Oh I get it.

People spend more then they make because our education system does nothing to teach proper money management.

As a result people have no idea what sort of income is required to live the lifestyle they want to live.

For example:
I would love to buy a new car but I don’t. My current car gets me from place to place mostly reliably and the money I would spend goes better into savings.

I would love a new iPhone but once again I save instead.

I would love to take an Adventures by Disney trip and could pay for it if I reduced my savings but for now I save instead.

So many big examples in my life where I have to choose to live, work, or save. There are thousands of small choices I have to make every day that contribute to my fiscal responsibility.

 

[kdonnel]

Easy for you to say. I have been in the position in the past where changing our 'lifestyle' to match our income would have put us on the brink of homelessness.

We are financially secure now, but I have never forgotten where we used to be and turn my nose up at people working their tails off to take care of their families.

Yet somehow you did it.

My parents were very bad at managing money and as a result my dad had to work two full time and one part time job for the majority of his life.

A little better money management and my father would not have had to die with the one regret he told me from his death bed. That he was always gone working and missed out seeing his kids and grandkids grow up.

 

[Allison]

Oh I get it.

People spend more then they make because our education system does nothing to teach proper money management.

As a result people have no idea what sort of income is required to live the lifestyle they want to live.

There is much more to it than that for many people. It isn't always about money management. Things happen.

 

[luvsJack]

Oh I get it.

People spend more then they make because our education system does nothing to teach proper money management.

As a result people have no idea what sort of income is required to live the lifestyle they want to live.

Paying rent is not a lifestyle choice! Now if someone was choosing to pay 1200 for a beach front apartment over 600 for one that is not, I could agree with you.

Not all circumstances are about money management. Some are just about circumstances.

 

[kdonnel]

There is much more to it than that for many people. It isn't always about money management. Things happen.

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.

 

[kdonnel]

Paying rent is not a lifestyle choice! Now if someone was choosing to pay 1200 for a beach front apartment over 600 for one that is not, I could agree with you.

Not all circumstances are about money management. Some are just about circumstances.

But it is all about money management.

If people understood the concept of total cost of ownership they would not buy many of the things they buy.

Just because you can afford the mortgage that does not mean you can afford to own a home. A responsible home owner knows that they should be setting aside an additional 10-20% of the mortgage each month for maintenance and repair.

A responsible car owner should be setting aside $50-$100 a month from day one to cover expenses. The car will need maintenance and repairs.

That dog or cat you want? It costs a lot more then the initial purchase. Do you have a plan to pay all those expenses?

So many total cost of ownership opportunities to manage your money properly.

And of course there are exceptions, I understand that, but for the majority it is ALL about money management.

 

[Allison]

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.

And then something happens and that is gone.

You get diagnosed with MS at 40 and have to walk away from your very successful career because you can't physically do it anymore.

You have a child with special needs or a lifelong health issue who will require expensive care throughout their life.

You have done everything right. You have saved money, you have put money towards retirement. Then you realize it is really easy to say all the things you are supposed to do and to criticize people and say they are irresponsible or don't know how to manage money and then you realize it isn't that simple.

 

[Allison]

but for the majority it is ALL about money management.

I am curious if this is your opinion or factual?

 

[luvsJack]

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.

450 a week. 10% is 45 into savings.

That leaves 405 for living on. 1620 a month. 600 in rent. 300 groceries. 120 in gas for car. 600 childcare (and that is lowballing by a long shot). Oh, wait got to have diapers. Well, there goes the 10%.

Again, not everyone lives in the circumstances where they can do as you did or as you suggest. They will get there. The child will get out of diapers. The child will go to school. But in the current situation I just described, you may as well be asking them to save 50%.

 

[kdonnel]

And then something happens and that is gone.

You get diagnosed with MS at 40 and have to walk away from your very successful career because you can't physically do it anymore.

You have a child with special needs or a lifelong health issue who will require expensive care throughout their life.

You have done everything right. You have saved money, you have put money towards retirement. Then you realize it is really easy to say all the things you are supposed to do and to criticize people and say they are irresponsible or don't know how to manage money and then you realize it isn't that simple.

I have said there are exceptions, but those exceptions are not an excuse for the other 97% of people.

Most people are in dire financial straits not because of one tragic incident but because they made 1000's of tiny bad financial decisions.

 

[luvsJack]

But it is all about money management.

If people understood the concept of total cost of ownership they would not buy many of the things they buy.

Just because you can afford the mortgage that does not mean you can afford to own a home. A responsible home owner knows that they should be setting aside an additional 10-20% of the mortgage each month for maintenance and repair.

A responsible car owner should be setting aside $50-$100 a month from day one to cover expenses. The car will need maintenance and repairs.

That dog or cat you want? It costs a lot more then the initial purchase. Do you have a plan to pay all those expenses?

So many total cost of ownership opportunities to manage your money properly.

And of course there are exceptions, I understand that, but for the majority it is ALL about money management.

Who is talking about a dog or a cat??? I am talking about a parent supporting their child!

Rent is not home ownership.

I am not talking about anyone buying anything except what they need to live on.

 

[kdonnel]

450 a week. 10% is 45 into savings.

That leaves 405 for living on. 1620 a month. 600 in rent. 300 groceries. 120 in gas for car. 600 childcare (and that is lowballing by a long shot). Oh, wait got to have diapers. Well, there goes the 10%.

Again, not everyone lives in the circumstances where they can do as you did or as you suggest. They will get there. The child will get out of diapers. The child will go to school. But in the current situation I just described, you may as well be asking them to save 50%.

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