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Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census
New York Times ^ | 11-1-11 | Staff

Posted on 11/19/2011 10:55:44 AM PST by radioone

They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by.

snip

She has one BlackBerry and two cars (both Buicks from the 1990s), and a $230,000 house that she, her husband and two daughters will move into next week.

Combined, she and her husband, a janitor, make about $51,000 a year, more than 200 percent of the official poverty line. But they lose about a fifth to taxes, medical care and transportation to work — giving them a disposable income of about $40,000 a year.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: censusbureau; poverty
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To: alexander_busek

Either I wasn’t being specific or you’re too literal. What I meant to say as to ‘’things getting worse’’ I meant the economy. No, trust me, we’re not starving. :-)


61 posted on 11/19/2011 3:26:07 PM PST by jmacusa (Political correctness is cultural Marxism. I'm not a Marxist.)
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To: gemoftheocean

I live in southwest Washington State, and we have houses selling at those prices here. Of course, there are no jobs available.


62 posted on 11/19/2011 5:12:22 PM PST by SatinDoll (NO FOREIGN NATIONALS AS U.S.A. PRESIDENT)
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To: KoRn

Yep. I’m 46 and have never bought a home. I like to know I can bail if I have to.


63 posted on 11/19/2011 7:08:53 PM PST by A_perfect_lady (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: albie
There are plenty of people willing to take a loss every month if you’ll just pay them on time and don’t destroy their home.

That is so true. My landlady rented to me because I'd be on the other side of the wall as her elderly mother, and she just wanted someone decent. I pay on time, I'm as quiet as a churchmouse... she loves me. And I'm darn happy to be appreciated!

64 posted on 11/19/2011 7:13:53 PM PST by A_perfect_lady (Islam is as Islam does.)
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To: linn37

All part timers can receive benefits/insurance.

The contract may have changed since I worked there back in the 90`s. When I was there anything over 25 hrs was OT. Saturday work was double time.

There was a guy the next belt down from me that was pulling in about $1100 bucks a week as a part timer ( he had been there 15 plus years though ).


65 posted on 11/19/2011 8:10:46 PM PST by Bud Krieger (Another President , another idiot......)
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To: gemoftheocean
No offense, but where in hell do you live where there are even 75k houses on the market? Haiti?

LOL. Reading your comment, I had a hunch that you're in California. Checked your profile - suspicion confirmed.

Get online and start checking home prices in the southern states. Your jaw will drop. I moved my family from California to Texas six years ago, and still haven't gotten used to the difference in real estate prices here.

66 posted on 11/20/2011 8:18:09 AM PST by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: Niuhuru

Are there truly safe places to live for $75,000 in your neck of the words? $75,000 would get you a gutted, foreclosed crack-house here, and thugs would drive a family out before the first payment was made.


67 posted on 11/20/2011 1:00:55 PM PST by Melas (u)
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