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Nearly Half of America Lives Paycheck-to-Paycheck
Time ^ | 1-30-2014 | Christopher Matthews

Posted on 01/31/2014 5:26:06 AM PST by Sir Napsalot

The economic picture is looking brighter these days. The federal government announced Thursday that economic growth had picked up to its fastest pace in two years, while employment growth over the past five months has averaged a healthy 185,000 new jobs. But as evidenced by a report out Thursday from the Corporation for Enterprise Development, nearly half of Americans are living in a state of “persistent economic security,” that makes it “difficult to look beyond immediate needs and plan for a more secure future.”

In other words, too many of us are living paycheck to paycheck. The CFED calls these folks “liquid asset poor,” and its report finds that 44% of Americans are living with less than $5,887 in savings for a family of four. The plight of these folks is compounded by the fact that the recession ravaged many Americans’ credit scores to the point that now 56% percent of us have subprime credit. That means that if emergencies arise, many Americans are forced to resort to high-interest debt from credit cards or payday loans.

(Excerpt) Read more at business.time.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Society
KEYWORDS: economy; obamanomics; poor
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To: silverleaf

There’s a link on Drudge (via Weekly Standard) that showed employees from a small business (western PA) found out about their new ‘Affordable Care’ price.


21 posted on 01/31/2014 5:53:59 AM PST by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: Nervous Tick

well how did people live before everybody had a “job”? They started small businesses, they contracted their labor out, they collected and sold stuff.............come on, you sound like a freaking Democrat. There are no guarantees, there is no free lunch. Yeah, your “job” could end and so you better get there on time and work your butt off so you don’t get fired, but even so, the business could go bust and you will be on your own. So what?


22 posted on 01/31/2014 5:55:19 AM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Sir Napsalot

When you are getting a guaranteed government check every month, there is no reason not to live paycheck to paycheck.


23 posted on 01/31/2014 5:56:28 AM PST by SampleMan (Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
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To: babble-on

Good point. Few people even try to live within their means these days. They might claim they do but the reality is that most people are trying to live up to their ever growing list of wants.

Its a sad comedy watching the local argument over the minimum wage. These people want to raise themselves up at the expense of the restaurant owner and they’re fixated on the things the owner has as proof that the owner is greedy.


24 posted on 01/31/2014 5:57:21 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: cripplecreek

Greed and envy in the worst ways.

Not used as motivation to better themselves, but to pull others down.


25 posted on 01/31/2014 6:00:37 AM PST by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: Sir Napsalot

The owner of the little cafe near me states it perfectly.

“Its no wonder I’m broke all the time. I’m buying 6 new cars”.


26 posted on 01/31/2014 6:06:38 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: yldstrk

>>> What the aich is wrong with living paycheck to paycheck?

Living paycheck to paycheck implies that these people have no provisions to fall back on. Not like the prudent squirrels who stash nuts a bit at a time.

When SHTF, it is ALL OF US that will pay.

[My generalization does not include those already dip into their nut piles.]


27 posted on 01/31/2014 6:09:35 AM PST by Sir Napsalot (Pravda + Useful Idiots = CCCP; JournOList + Useful Idiots = DopeyChangey!)
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To: Nervous Tick

Our check got hit with higher insurance so the budget is tighter than it was. Junior had his hours cut so he’s had to get a second job. I imagine most of those “new” jobs are second and third jobs of the same person.


28 posted on 01/31/2014 6:18:20 AM PST by bgill
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To: Sir Napsalot

Not enough good jobs out there for people, so they have to resort to low paying ‘McJobs’ instead. They live paycheck to paycheck because they try to maintain a 1st world lifestyle on such low wages. High cost of living keeps those with lower wages financially depressed. Once you consider everything, being on .gov handouts with a little under the table cash from odd jobs probably pays better.

On the other hand, high cost of living hurts those with higher wages, causing even those families to live paycheck-to-paycheck when you factor in all of the expensive ‘toys’ that people “MUST” buy(the latest iGadget, games/game systems, 4 smartphones in the family, and 2-3 high car payments....ect....ect).


29 posted on 01/31/2014 6:20:15 AM PST by KoRn (Department of Homeland Security, Certified - "Right Wing Extremist")
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To: Sir Napsalot
And the argument just gets dumber by the second. In the local paper the debate draws 1 intelligent comment which is immediately attacked by greedy little marxists.

How much would a minimum wage hike really help? Workers weigh in

And then someone comes along and ups the ante in the stupidity arms race with this.

Yes it is simple economics. And under almost all scenarios the number of jobs decreases, which causes a labor surplus. But there is a way for society to benefit as a whole with min wage increase. This scenario is for companies that have inelastic demand. There will still be excess labor but the net dollars into the economy will be greater. But there is a much better way.

Wage subsidies will increase wages while NOT creating excess labor nor will it burden small businesses.
This concept is a bit more complicated but both conservative and liberal economist agree with the conclusion. And the money spent on a wage subsidy is money "we" don't have to spend on other safety net programs. It is a win-win-win.

Politicians only care about winning the next election. That ius why they have us arguing over a stupid policy like min wage!

30 posted on 01/31/2014 6:23:49 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: informavoracious

Right. And they will somehow have “extra” money to put into Louis Vuitton bags, iPhones, tats, fancy manicures and hair extensions. But no money in the bank. Live for the day and hate the rich! Oh yes, and they have the *right* to own a home.


31 posted on 01/31/2014 6:26:29 AM PST by ladyjane
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To: Sir Napsalot
It is only the 1% that lives with out worry. Half are pay check to pay check and 49% are pay check to every other pay check. As a retired friend used to say “We are all just two pay checks away from bankruptcy." lolbnr!
32 posted on 01/31/2014 6:45:11 AM PST by Phlap (REDNECK@LIBARTS.EDU)
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To: nhwingut

It’s a joke alright, most of the articles boil down to, “In spite of the fact that everything is wonderful we are being crushed under the falling skies.”


33 posted on 01/31/2014 7:07:21 AM PST by RipSawyer (The TREE currently falling on you actually IS worse than a Bush.)
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To: yldstrk

Cool your jets.

I don’t care much for that “you sound like a democrat” shrill nonsense merely for pointing out the obvious.

I have not had a paycheck for more than a decade because I *am* a small business owner. But even business owners hire workers. Not 100% of the populus is cut out to run their own show. And ALL of us, business owners and salarymen alike, owe it to ourselves, our children, and our society to save for that rainy day.


34 posted on 01/31/2014 7:17:14 AM PST by Nervous Tick (Without GOD, men get what they deserve.)
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To: babble-on
" make an identical increase in the monthly payments for a higher status car."

What are these "monthly payments" for a car?

Rent to own is no way to go through life (except for the real estate situation where you have to pay rent to the gov't).

35 posted on 01/31/2014 7:23:19 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: Paladin2

hey, preaching to the choir here. But we’re not “normal”, as Dave Ramsey would say.


36 posted on 01/31/2014 7:25:45 AM PST by babble-on
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To: Sir Napsalot

Nothing, paycheck to paycheck ain’t bad. Been there, done that. Tried living off my good looks didn’t work so well.

I watched as a squirrel gathered pecans and hid them. Then I noticed a crow watching from a tree above. There must be a moral here somewhere.

When the SHTF, I’ll be every man for himself. But to quote Hank Williams, Jr. “A country boy will survive”. Stay out of the urban areas and improve your chances.

Thanks for the comments.


37 posted on 01/31/2014 8:12:38 AM PST by Texicanus (Texas, it's a whole 'nother country.)
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To: Nervous Tick

oh, light bulb going on, it means no savings?

well, I never got that


38 posted on 01/31/2014 3:33:49 PM PST by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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