I just paid $3.14 per gallon: HOME HEATING OIL

[maine-iac7]

Oh, Thank you so much for that life' s lesson about preparing for a rainy day.

I shouldn't have had the heart attack that left me with CHF, or developed osteoporosis that fractured my back, or a couple other debilitating things that have sapped my finances and some major illnesses with my children ... -

Also, as a woman of my generation, who often worked 2-3 jobs to pays the bills because a woman's pay was much less than a man's...and whose Social Security check is a few hundred less that the average man's because of the above and because women of my generation traditionally stayed home to take care of their own preschool children - and just before I became eligible for retirement, the gov't adopted a new calibration scheme of averaging your SS amount, not by the ten years standard, but to include every year from age 15 = adding the child rearing years in as zeroes - etc...(whew).

So, had I ended up with the average SS in my "elderly/disabled" years - I'd have my ant's larder put away. Or, I could just not eat ...

(Must be nice to be so perfect - and judgmental about people you know nothing of.)

[rednesss]

I'm not perfect, nor judgmental. Just responding to your apparent bitterness that John Q. Taxpayer doesn't hand you over his/her wallet to increase your "pittance" of SS so that you can live a lifestyle that you obviously believe you are entitled to. How much did you pay into the system, versus how much have you received in benefits?

I am truly sorry to hear of your situation, have you sought help from churches/charities????

[maine-iac7]

well, like I said, for years I had to work 2-3 jobs simultaneously to pay the bills and keep my children fed - don't know how I could've worked more...to "earn" my way...be that as it may - I do not seek charity = I make do as I always have.

I'm not sure how you conclude that because I'd like to be able to heat my house with the furnace now rather than = as an old lady = struggling with the labors involved with hauling in wood and keeping a fire going translates to your remark: "so that you can live a lifestyle that you obviously believe you are entitled to."

That said - and I say it not really for you but for other readers - I see no reason to further communicate with someone who already has all the answers, even about someone they know nothing about...I haven't time to waste - I have to get a load of wood in for the night...and take a nice hot bubble bath, another of those uppity luxuries I think I'm entitled to. (Of course, I don't smoke, drink or party, and I buy 95% of my clothes and shoes at thrift shops - actually get better made brands there - like a London Fog coat with tags still on, for $4.50 - ), so that leaves me the extra to pay for the hot water.)

I'm a Yankee and grew up with the "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." adage.

BYW, in your first post to me, you asked: "Should I work harder so that the government can forcibly take more of my money away from me and give it to you????

Set your little mind at ease. Not one red penny has ever, nor will, go from your pocket to mine.

[rednesss]

"Set your little mind at ease. Not one red penny has ever, nor will, go from your pocket to mine."

Since there is no Social Security "lock box" and in reality there are just a bunch of IOU's from Congress there even if there was. And since I pay Federal tax, Medicare, and FICA out of my paycheck, and since you say you receive those benefits, who do you think is paying for you??? Every able bodied working soul out there, which would include me, is the answer. Answer me this, how many poor people living in Venezuela on a "pittance" are able to afford a computer, an internet connection, and electricity to run it all??? The US has the "richest" poor people on the planet. When 85% of the entire planet would swap places with you in a heart beat, all is not lost.

I wish you well and please enjoy your bubble bath, a luxury you would be hard pressed to find in sub-Saharan Africa, where people really live on a "pittance".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1loyjm4SOa0

[mware]

Just topped off my 500 gallon tank over the weekend.

368 gallons @2.50 per gallon.

I got a bill of $920

[maine-iac7]

I wish you well and please enjoy your bubble bath, a luxury you would be hard pressed to find in sub-Saharan Africa, where people really live on a "pittance".

Your postures get less reasonable and more comical as they post.

And pray tell, what would your life be like if you lived in sub-Saharan Africa?

Thanks for the belly laugh. I will now go take my bubble bath and I will not even feel a twinge of guilt that someone in the deep of Africa may not be taking one too.

Oh, and as to your:

"since I pay Federal tax, Medicare, and FICA out of my paycheck, and since you say you receive those benefits, who do you think is paying for you??? Every able bodied working soul out there, which would include me, is the answer. Answer me this, how many poor people living in Venezuela on a "pittance" are able to afford a computer, an internet connection, and electricity to run it all???"

Are you intimating that, even though I paid into social security all my life, I really don't have the right to get social security now - that I am a good as on the dole at your expense?

As to my being so rich as to have a computer, as RR would say: "There you go again." - assuming you know all about me...

I have a computer for two reasons:

one, because I still make some income with my column and an odd free lance piece. These days, no editor is interested in hearing from any writer without a computer who can email them - saving them the expense of typesetters.

Two: One of my sons BUILT my computer and keeps it purring.

as to "the electricity to run it" =- as I said before, I save on many other things that many don't - thus, I can afford the 'luxuries' of a a bubble bath and power to run my computer.

BYW, I hope you have a cat. Research finds that stroking a purring cat can help keep your blood pressure down.

[Ditter]

I’ll take your heating bills if you will take my summer a/c bills. That is about what my summer a/c bills run in June, July, Aug and sometimes Sept. I mean $700. per month. See how good you are doing?

[discostu]

It’s called getting used to the climate. Yeah sure come winter time when we desert dwellers are bundling up for temps in the 40s and 50s you might think we’re wimps. But get your butt down here in July when temps are around 110 and we’ll see who’s wimpy then. I used to live outside Chicago now I live in Tucson, I prefer it down here, no matter how hot it gets you never have to shovel it out of your driveway to go to work in the morning, and 5 minutes in nice AC will always cool you down.

[rednesss]

"Are you intimating that, even though I paid into social security all my life, I really don't have the right to get social security now - that I am a good as on the dole at your expense?"

Yes I can all but guarantee that you have exceeded in benefits that which you paid into the system. Since SS is a pay as you go system, the money that you are receiving now in no way resembles the money that you paid into the system. Add it all up and be honest. Did Medicare/Medicaid assist in any way with your health expenses for the heart attack you said you had????

[rednesss]

"BYW, I hope you have a cat. Research finds that stroking a purring cat can help keep your blood pressure down."

Just got my blood pressure checked today, 116/80 and I have 2 cats.

"And pray tell, what would your life be like if you lived in sub-Saharan Africa?"

A moot point, as I did not start off this exchange by complaining about my lot in life. Instead of bemoaning your "pittance of SS" why not be more prolific in your writing and make more income???? Seldom are we hindered in life more so than by the limitations that we place on ourselves.

[maine-iac7]

Did Medicare/Medicaid assist in any way with your health expenses for the heart attack you said you had????

Sorry - another strike out...I was working, covered by private insurance....

and this is my last 'explanation' on anything to you - You seem to have a bad case of resentment stuck in your gullet....better put a band-aid on it...

Oh, you should get behind the FAIR TAX - then your won't be bled dry by all of us out here - you'll be in control of what you spend on taxes.

FAIR TAX and FRED...

[rednesss]

NO resentment here. Remember you’re the one who posted to me in response to my innocent inquiry as to whether there was an optimum time of the year to buy heating oil and decried your predicament of being stuck on a “pittance” of income from SS. I merely responded that we are all responsible for planning for our own rainy days. I’m not sure if the Fair Tax is the answer, but I’ll agree that the IRS needs to be abolished.

[VOA]

“It’s called getting used to the climate. “

That is really true.
A lot of people don’t fully grasp the full range of conditions they
can endure.
Not braggin’, but I got a full taste of it growing up in Oklahoma, with
a few memorable “Personal Bests”:

Winter: Daytime wind-chill factor of MINUS 60 degrees F.; perfectly
clear, blue skies and a howling straight-line wind from Canada.

Summer: 100-105 deg F, clearing sun after about two days of rain...
so maximal humidity. Lovely conditions for doing research work
(effectively “stoop work”) in a field of cotton.

[1Old Pro]

368 gallons @2.50 per gallon.

$2.50, wow, that's a bargain.

[mware]

I'm in South Jersey. For whatever reason our gas prices and heating fuel tends to be cheaper than other regions.

Gas = $2.48/gal.