Actually I love macaroni and Top Ramen and donât really care about fancy food, so itâs easy for me.
Nutmeg - I highly recommend this book. It is a 9 step program to teach one to live below their net income. I started a thread called Your Money or Your Life. Look it up. Here's what I wrote. I highly recommend individuals read the book Your Money or Your Life. There is a passage that made me think of many of you, particularly Sandybestdog. " Higher Pay: A Matter of Attitude Many people are passive, even fatalistic, about the size of their earnings. They act out of a victim mentality, totally at the mercy of outside forces--the boss, the wage scale, the unemployment situation, the recession, the poor local economy, The President's economic policy, competition from low-paid workers in developing countries, and on and on. The attitude is one of "I can't find a good job--and it is because of THEM. THEY are keeping me in a low paying job. While economic realities may at times be harsh, it is also the nature of the human mind to make real the thoughts and beliefs that we hold (a fact that should encourage great care in how we think about ourselves). If you see yourself as a victim, you may well be too busy feeling sorry for yourself to notice the many opportunities to change your dismal destiny" This is a great nugget of wisdom. Use it as you wish. It may change your life. Sandybestdog - If this is not you I don't know what is. You are by far the most "blame everybody else person" I have read about on ET. If you are not in control of your destiny then who the hell is?
Come on guys. Sandybestdog is an obvious spoof Poster. How much more obvious does it have to be? Likely Joe or baron having some kicks. Get real!
After you read my prevous reply the most important words are: it is also the nature of the human mind to make real the thoughts and beliefs that we hold (a fact that should encourage great care in how we think about ourselves). If one TRULY understands this simple premise their life will change dramatically.
Job: $50k/year gross, $30k/year net Car: $5k (one-time expense, buy used econobox) Gas: $2k Car Insurance: $1k IRA: $2k 401k: $4k Emergency Fund: $2k Rent: $9k Food: $3k Phone: $1k Internet: $0.5k Clothes: $1k Utilities: $2k That's less than $30k (car is non-recurring) and saves nearly 30% of your income. All approximate numbers, etc.
Nothing against Sandybestdog but if she can't tell the difference between student loan debt and credit card debt, not much to talk about.
If "the poor and middle class" truly started living with less, the group that would be the MOST hurt would be "a few select people".
You forgot about taxes. Also, Sandy is 24. Not many 24-year olds are making $50k these days. Maybe nurses and some engineers, but it's a rarity. However, a person used to be able to make enough to survive out of high school. Try doing that today. Not going to happen. Plus, you can't actually qualify for financial aid until you're 24 unless you're a minority, lived in a foster home, or your parents live below the poverty level.
It was the very first line, differentiating between gross and net income. The bottom line is "most people" cannot "get ahead", be definition. In a normal society, the only way to do it is by making more than "most people", either by working more or working at a higher-valued job. However, in the current world, there is a third option - live more intelligently and save, because your peer group isn't. It takes discipline and patience, but it will do the trick. Apologies, but I have no idea what the relevance is of your "financial aid" comments.