The price of living

So last night I was bored and wanted to see what I could put away each week. Well after dividing up money I get each week towards end of the month bills, it's scary how little I can put away. I'm lucky I have a great paying job but it saddens me to think of those who live from paycheck to paycheck and who at the end of the month are short on funds. If the world were to grow up and stop wanting to live in vanity, we'd be so much better off.

I watched a show on VH-1 about the most expensive gifts and the #1 was this 20 billion dollar skyscraper that was gonna be used for condos I believe. Ok, if you got 20 billion to blow like that wouldn't you think "Hey, people need food, a home and healthcare so maybe I should give 10 billion to heliping the world!" I guess people would rather shower themselves with pieces of paper then karma. I've noticed the people with the least amount are the most giving. As opposed to those with some of the most.

I always made a promise to myself to help those no matter my financial situtaion. You can't take all assests to the grave so why not share it!

I think that poor people are more giving because they know what's its like to do without. I grew up very poor, then we had money, then I went back to poor, then came into money and now am back to "shoestringing" my life. I've done a lot to decrease my bills and there is a lot someone can do to cut certain bills. Especially a grocery bill. Mine is down to less than $20 a week for me to eat and still have enough to put something in the freezer that I never get around to cooking.
People who have never gone without, sometimes don't concieve of how someone might not have money for a basic necessity like food. No matter how much money I've had, I always have tried to be generous and giving. Of course I have this thing of, you don't have a job, you aren't trying to get a job, and you just blew your food stamps on junk food, and NOW you want a handout? Tough. I'll feed your kids, but you can go hungry and learn form that experiance. Then I have friends on public assistance that don't get enough, and I help them out. Those people will do odd jobs, or are disabled and do their best but just can't make ends meet.
So in general, the cost of living tends to increase for most people to the budget that their paycheck can support. In other words getting a better-paying job doesn't equate to being able to save money. It ends up that they spend it on stuff they couldn't afford before, and so still can't save money. And if that makes them happy, go for it, its your money, you earned it.
I am trying to save money, but I tend to fail misrably. Life has a habit of taking whatever I have saved. A pet needs a vet trip, the truck breaks down or blows a tire, a unexpected bill comes due... so I have the money to pay them rather than going berserk about NOT being able to.
Count your blessings, and enjoy your life, and always reach out to help when you can. You never know when you might need a hand yourself.
Wolfy

I give to several charities each year. Even if it's only $50, or something smaller, it's still something. I've got a pretty good lifestyle, do I really need that $50, or does somebody living on the street need it more?

Then again, I could be parked in your theory of people who've been poor...I've used food stamps before.

Sometimes it's a very tough call. Sometimes all you want is that pricy thing that you can't have becuase it'll make you happy for a while.

Unforunately, it's also cheaper to do things like buy cheap foods from Mickey's D's, which is not heathly for you at all....but that's a different statment on life.

I do donate things;but I am always skeptical about donating cash. I have heard about too many scandals involving crooked charities.
I donate food/canned goods to the soup kitchens a few times a year. I hate to be so jaded, but I have heard too many stories of people giving money to people on the streets, only to see them go in the liquor store a few hours later with it and money from others. I have actually seen people refuse a donation of food on the street; they are the ones who really want drug/liquor money. But I love taking part in donations at work that we have, where we donate winter clothes/items; food; soaps/shampoos; toys for tots, the like. This way, I know that people who really need help for daily living are helped.

I see all of your points. My main concern was who the hell needs 20 billion damn dollars haha. It's just sick to see people starve to death all the while someone is worried who's gonna decorate their house? Versace or Armani. You can enjoy the fruits of your labor. However, once you get to a certain point I can't see being able to want more and more.

Random acts of kindness, best feeling in the world!

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Originally Posted by Vomitore

I see all of your points. My main concern was who the hell needs 20 billion damn dollars haha. It's just sick to see people starve to death all the while someone is worried who's gonna decorate their house? Versace or Armani. You can enjoy the fruits of your labor. However, once you get to a certain point I can't see being able to want more and more.

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I do agree with you there. If I were to become filthy rich, I would go out of my way to find families that were trying; struggling, making it to the end of the week to survive. I would create a fund that helps them learn how to improve their credit scores, manage money, etc. i do hate seeing people get things handed to them though; a lot of the people I encounter on a daily basis can work, are fully healthy and able to, but milk the system. These aren't the people I would help! (then again, my tax dollars already do that, heh.) There are people who seriously, get welfare, and have brand new $6000 rims on their cars. These same people tell my man monthly that they can't pay the rent.
I grew up in relative poverty; divorced parents, the whole nine yards. Now Mark and I have a comfortable life; he went out and started with $0.00 in his bank account, started a business and is now much better off than he was working for other people. Myself, I work fulltime as a credit counselor with a collections firm, helping people take care of credit card debt.
I think that if you want an entity to blame for alot of the country's poverty; look in your mailbox. All these credit card companies handing out credit to anyone; I could have about 10k in CCs now if I chose to!! But would I ever be able to stay on my feet independently and pay that off reasonably; probably not. People get stuck in a quagmire of bills; then they go to those horrid CCCS places that "manage their debt" when in reality they send about $10 to each CC; if they're in collections, this doesn't cut it, and that account will bounce around to agency after agency, collecting interest, fees.. yikes.
People need to learn to live within their means; not to want and buy things they can't afford, killing their credibility in the process.
Sorry if I rambled a bit; I just feel strongly regarding this subject, and will rant about it every chance I get, lol.

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Originally Posted by ECLARK

Random acts of kindness, best feeling in the world!

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agreed 100%

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I do agree with you there. If I were to become filthy rich, I would go out of my way to find families that were trying; struggling, making it to the end of the week to survive. I would create a fund that helps them learn how to improve their credit scores, manage money, etc. i do hate seeing people get things handed to them though; a lot of the people I encounter on a daily basis can work, are fully healthy and able to, but milk the system. These aren't the people I would help! (then again, my tax dollars already do that, heh.) There are people who seriously, get welfare, and have brand new $6000 rims on their cars. These same people tell my man monthly that they can't pay the rent.
I grew up in relative poverty; divorced parents, the whole nine yards. Now Mark and I have a comfortable life; he went out and started with $0.00 in his bank account, started a business and is now much better off than he was working for other people. Myself, I work fulltime as a credit counselor with a collections firm, helping people take care of credit card debt.
I think that if you want an entity to blame for alot of the country's poverty; look in your mailbox. All these credit card companies handing out credit to anyone; I could have about 10k in CCs now if I chose to!! But would I ever be able to stay on my feet independently and pay that off reasonably; probably not. People get stuck in a quagmire of bills; then they go to those horrid CCCS places that "manage their debt" when in reality they send about $10 to each CC; if they're in collections, this doesn't cut it, and that account will bounce around to agency after agency, collecting interest, fees.. yikes.
People need to learn to live within their means; not to want and buy things they can't afford, killing their credibility in the process.
Sorry if I rambled a bit; I just feel strongly regarding this subject, and will rant about it every chance I get, lol.

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I went through the same thing. I moved in with my grandma and grandpa when I was 3 and things were fine till my grandpa died when I was 11. He didnt leave my grandma any money and we were in the middle of redoing the house. We had time where my grandma could barely afford food for the house. I've been working since I was 15 and have been the only one to tell my grandma I'll give you money and follow through with it. Everything I own with the exception of my car, I worked for and bought with my own money. Guess maybe since Imma simple dude I don't need much really. I used to be a buying whore. Now, I'm not. I think why do I need all these DVD's? Is it the fact that I want them and need them? Or is it the fact I subconciously want to show those that I have money now. I've grown up over the last few years and always have time to look at myself and see what I need to change or improve.

Two quick points.
1 Eating McD's is not necesarily cheaper. $5 of ramen noodles goes a heck of a lot further than $5 of McDs.
2 The credit card companies don't cause the problems. The people who get the cards and use them irresponsibly cause the problems. No one twists their arm to get a card, nor to use it until they are over their limits and heavily in debt. I don't have a credit card. Never have had one.
Personal responsibility. I'm a HUGE fan of it.
The $6K rims on the food stamp people's cars? Yeah, that bugs me too. And I also agree with the no money to chairties, in general. I give food and clothes to chairities, rarely money.
Wolfy

For the most part, I don't feel sorry for the homeless people here in the US. I know for a fact that anyone can walk into a McDonalds and get a fulltime job. If they worked for 40 hours a week at $6.50 an hour, that would be $260.00 a week and $13,520 a year. That may not be much, but that is enough for them to get a small little studio apartment and buy the bare necessities.

As for donating, I never donate money. Partly because I don't really have a whole lot to spare, but mainly I don't trust other "less fortunate" people with money because a good majority of them are irresponsible with it. I do however donate old clothes and food at local food drives.

For the random acts of kindness part, I do my part on this. If I see someone broken down on the side of the road, I will pull over and help (Daytime or well lit area, and as long as its not the hood, lol). It is also a great feeling to go above and beyond helping people.

Thats just my $.01 (I can't spare $.02 :) )

A lot of extremely wealthy people do help out, more than most people think. They just don't act like rock stars or movie celebs and have their publicist tell everyone about it. They do it because they want to help people, not because they want their name in the papers or on entertainment tonight.

The two richest people in the world give away BILLIONS each year, and have promised to give even more.

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Originally Posted by Mike_Hawk

The two richest people in the world give away BILLIONS each year, and have promised to give even more.

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Yes, some of these richer people give away billions..... however, not to ppl in this country.....

Look at Madonna.... building an orphange in Malawi Africa.... I dont have an issue with her helping ppl out...but what about our own country.... oh, thats right, she is not even a US resident... she lives in London. So why should she care about ppl in her own country...

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.... helping others in other countrys..... once again, what about our own country? We have plenty of ppl with very little here in the US.

Bill Gates.... yes, just another one more worried about ppl in other countries rather than thier own backyards (the US)

I could propbably go on and on giving names of those who have/are sending butt loads of cash to other countrys and not even thinking about whats going on here in the US... and those ppl are US citizens, yet, they give little to no thought at all about thier fellow country men/women. Why is that? Whatever thier reasoning, it sucks....

If some of those ppl listed above in my rant, and others I failed to mention were to help ppl in thier own home lands, it would not be such a slap in the face to those here when we have to hear about them doing this that and the other in some far off country. Makes me wonder if the reason they are doing for other countrys is because they want nothing more than the publicity it gives them or other benfits that thier "star" status gives them.... such as Madonna..... able to take and adopt a child out of Malawi (who by the way, was not an orphan, his parents chose to give him up), without going through all of Malawi's procedures to adopt.. according to the media, she and Guy should have lived in Malawi, for a year, while being checked out by child welfare workers there to see if they are even capable of raising a child... yet, it was the star status that did this for her.... and I am sure her money helped.

I think it is time that all ppl, including these loaded "stars" should think about what goes on in thier home lands first, rather than some far off country.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are the two richest people and they give away so much each year, and have promised even more when they die...and they are americans.

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Originally Posted by Mike_Hawk

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are the two richest people and they give away so much each year, and have promised even more when they die...and they are americans.

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Yes, but my point is... the money is not given to ppl in the US, it is going out of our country to others.

Bill and his wife run the Bill and Melinda Foundation http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_%2...tes_Foundation and Warren Buffet has promised to leave his fortunes to that foundation when he passes on..

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Originally Posted by Jeanne

Yes, but my point is... the money is not given to ppl in the US, it is going out of our country to others.

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Well, the way I see it, these people have been able to travel the world, and have seen the desperate conditions in these 3rd world countries that most of us can't even begin to imagine.
America is one of the richest countries. We actually have social programs, free or reduced health clinics, county run emergency rooms, free education, lunch programs for kids, food kitchens, truck stops with free showers, and best of all....CLEAN WATER.
If you could just once go to the places those people are donating to, where children actually DO die of hunger, dysentery, malaria, and many easily treatable and preventable diseases.....these kids are dying in droves, have no clean water, no food, and no hope of any improvement.
In my mind, the people who go over and see for themselves, then do what they can to help are heroes. America doesn't need those donations even a fraction as badly as other places do. If you want to blame someone for the problems in America, point that finger at our own gov't, which spends billions on campaign fincances, weapons, and useless bureaucracies.

And for the record, the child Madonna is adopting wasn't placed for adoption by his parents, just his father. His mother died in childbirth and his brother(s) died of one of those easily treatable (in America) diseases. His father was unable to cope. I can't imagine how hard his life has been, and I seriously doubt anyone else here can, either.

Being a recent college grad, i am trying to put away money too, and i understand how tough it is. While in college i volunteered my time, since money couldn't be. I became a construction leader for Habitat for Humanity, lead week long immersion trips into the inner city, ive worked at soup kitchens clothing drives all that stuff. What bothers me the most were the student at my Uni. Many were from very well off families from Long Island and Jersy (no offense to those who are from the area, but you had to meet these kids!) They were being given nice brand new cars, partying and blowing money every night, while nearly a mile away people were out in the cold and starving. They would volunteer one sat a semester with their Sorority or Fraternity, and expect to be pat on the back, while people like myself were volunteering every sat at habitat 4 humanity, while trying to raise money for other organizations. It bothers me when people do so little and expects to be rewarded for helping when they don't even want to be there.


I comend everyone for volunteering/donating, it is very much appreciated by those who need it, i have seen first hand the smiles on the kids getting new gloves, or a new jacket, or the people who show up to a food wagon, which gives out hot food to those who need. There is only one better feeling to helping people out on a scheduel, it is like it has been said before RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS!! nothin makes you warmer inside!

~mike

PS i agree with giving food and such other than free monitary hand outs, makes the people use it for what it is supposed to be used for (ideally)

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Originally Posted by Ginevive

I hate to be so jaded, but I have heard too many stories of people giving money to people on the streets, only to see them go in the liquor store a few hours later with it and money from others.

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I acutally don't give money to people who walk up to me and ask for money. Too many of these people (I run into them when I go into Chicago) are scamming...or they're just wasting it...like the guy wearing the brand new Chicago Bulls Jacket asking you for money.

I've offered food before to a guy asking for money before and he wouldn't take it. He wanted money instead.

I've seen a guy turn down 15 cents becuase he wanted more money than that and the 15 cents wasn't worth it to him.

When we've paid bills and there's not a lot left I try to remember to look around. Yes there might not be a lot of cash left for fun stuff, but we have a nice home, food in the fridge, our health and so forth. A lot of us just don't realize our blessings and live our life for what we will get next week, next year, next pay check. Somedays my blessing might just be a quiet cup of coffee and this forum but that's a wonderful thing to have coffee, a computer and a warm house to sit in that many people will never have. Every day I'm blessed to have a husband and kids I love and love me back, friends to care for and to care about me. I try to remember to say thank you for these daily blessings, big or small.

Recently at our local big transit station I saw a wonderful thing. A local church set up a table and just gave away juice, coffee, milk, etc. for free. No religious pamphlets, no nothing like that. I asked if I could donate or pay for my coffee and they just said "the price of a coffee is a smile". Now that's an act of kindness that costs little but makes someone happy in a small way. So is donating your kid's winter gear to a coats for kids group, so is offering to help an overloaded mom with her kids or buying a homeless person a sandwich, speaking to a lonely older person at the bus stop, shovelling your neighbours walkway, etc.. Whatever you can do to connect in this busy "don't bother me" world.

You don't have to have money to offer yourself to another person. The greatest gift in the end I think isn't about writing a check to a charity but rather in giving another human being a feeling that they aren't alone even if it's only for a few moments in time.