The price of living

[Vomitore]

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!

[wolfy-hound]

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

[Schlyne]

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.

[Ginevive]

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.

[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.

[ECLARK]

Random acts of kindness, best feeling in the world!

[Ginevive]

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.

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.

[jcaustralia]

Random acts of kindness, best feeling in the world!

agreed 100%

[Vomitore]

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.

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.

[wolfy-hound]

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