Why don't Americans save?

You're right, that these types of people exist and are actually quite prevelent. In fact, there is a pretty large segment of the unemployed and those on public assistance that take the exact same view point.

They complain that there aren't enough jobs, yet we see illegals flocking here to work construction, landscaping, etc. All very difficult work, but you can earn a decent living from them.

The fact is in life, there is some unfairness. That will always be. Whether it's health, intellegence, appearance, etc, people are dealt different hands in life.

You have to make the most of what you have. Just based on the fact that Sandy is posting on ET and debating economics tells me that he/she is probably capable of much more than delivering pizza. Not that delivering pizza is a bad thing even, but if that's what you do, don't complain about it.


Sandy, think about this. If pizza delivery drivers suddenly unionized and demanded $35-45k/yr salaries, and pizza prices were now doubled or tripled, how many pizzas would you sell? I for one, would probably cut it out for the most part and I make a nice living (could still afford it) and I LOVE PIZZA.

If that happened, you would be out of a job within weeks.

 

Well I explained earlier that when I went to the local Community College 6 years ago, I only qualified for a one time scholarship, so I unless anything has changed, I don’t see how I would qualify for anything now. I haven’t talked to my parents about it, but they may be in a little better position to help me than before.

I never said pizza delivery was a skilled labor, I said it has it’s worth. The people who work at the DMV and a lot of other government jobs require little skills and they make ok money. I guess pizza just gave me the flexibility I was looking for.

 

Thanks for the advice. First off pizza used to pay the bills, and a whole lot more. It is not what it used to be. I think a lot of attention has been placed in this thread on the simple fact that simply because I deliver pizza, and since that requires no skill, then my current situation is inevitably what I deserve. I think that it is my fault that I have not advanced my career in the ways that you guys mention, but so far only one person has answered why wages keep going down and down and the cost of living keeps going up and up. Did anybody read the article I posted? I am not the only one struggling. Although, you can jump on the first person who has a $300 car payment all you want, but the others seemed to be in similar situations as me.

5 years ago I was in a similar situation and a friend told me I could make good money deliverying pizza, just like what you guys are telling me to do in other fields. So reluctantly I took his advice and pizza has paid for tens of thousands of dollars in investments. Those obviously didn’t work out. But everybody in the fields you guys mentioned are probably dealing with the same issues I am. Stagnant or decreasing pay and higher cost of living. Inevitably you will probably tell them the same things, that they need to obtain more skills and training. Then the same process will start over again and we will never answer or fix the fundamental problems that I have outlined.

I see a lot of employment ads for medical techs and billing schools and training programs. It seems like there are so many that they seem like scams. Does anybody have any experience with these places? I have heard medical billing is a good field.

Like I said before, I am interested in programming. I’m taking a class and we’ll see if that leads to something

Well you can become a store manager where I’m at, but there is not advancement beyond that. If you want to become what your father has, you will need to either work with the corporate stores, or start your own restaurant or franchise. That’s easy to do if you have the money or financing. Yes it requires 70-80 hour weeks, which I have done plenty of times. I think you guys think I’ve worked 20 hours a week for 5 years and think everything is owed to me. You couldn’t be more wrong. It would take me all day to tell you about all the things I’ve worked so long for. Just because I’m broke right now and haven’t made it, doesn’t mean I’m lazy. I will keep trying until something works. Also I have never suggested that the government owes me any help. They are the last people I would ever go to. The government doesn’t fix problems, they cause them.

 

Thank you. Yes I am down and out right now. I used to be very positive and had a great outlook on life. You should of seen me a few years ago when the insurance company I was with signed on to sell mortgages as well. I didn’t know what to do, so I just picked up the phonebook, started on the A’s, and started calling people and asked them if they needed a mortgage. I even got a few applications doing that. That takes guts to do that. But it’s really hard to stay positive when time and time again I put my all into something and then see it fail miserably and I can’t understand why. I know very few young people like me that have ever tried half the things I have. So it’s also difficult when there is no one else to relate to. Thanks for the advice. I am stopping my trading until I can get an automated system, so I'm going to use the time in the morning to get out there and see what I can find. It’s a New Year and the holidays are over, so we’ll see what is out there now.

 

You make a very good analogy. I don’t think I’m angry per se. I think there may be some truth to the revenge part. But it’s not so much about revenge, but I believe these franchise owners have become so wrapped up in their greed that I believe that it will soon become their weakest point. My goal is to exploit it for all I can get for me and others who want to come along for the ride. I think my frustration comes about when I keep trying and can’t seem to make any progress.

 

You are seriously messed up if you think I made this whole thing up to get a reaction. I am real. My name is Stefan. I live in Maryland. Sandy is my dog, hence Sandybestdog

 

You pretty much made the same points I’ve been making. Why the sudden change in heart?

 

Your attitude sure changed quick. I am neither on public assistance nor unemployed.

You obviously didn’t give much thought to your statement that if pizza drivers made 45k a year the pizza would triple in price. You want to take another shot at that? I already answered this in another thread. Here is the link. It’s just my opinion.

http://www.elitetrader.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=2168931#post2168931

And I believe this dismisses your assessment that higher wages would lead to higher prices, which would lead to unemployment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_wage#Card_and_Krueger

 

This is the attitude problem that is keeping you from moving up. My father didn't have any money at your age. The point is that sometimes you have to pay your dues. He kept plugging away, though and was lucky enough to save enough cash for the money that he needed down to get financing, in his mid 50's.

And yes, to move up, you'll probably need to go the corporate route. That is what a lot of people do and despite all the negativity of the "corporate world", it certainly has helped many people move up in life.

I work in a corporate environment, and despite the fact that I get frustrated with it quite frequently, I also know that it has given me a very good living.

I won't respond any longer to this thread, because some people are just born to complain and be miserable. I hope that you can reverse that mentality in the future.