Re: As the video said, “It’s not the cost of living, it’s the cost of living high.”
Simple slogans will not counter the fact that wages for the VAST MAJORITY of the country have been rising at an anemic rate, which costs such as college tuition and healthcare rise at double digit clips for many years. Under this equation, there is simply no way for many people to keep up outside of debt. And then people who are in debt are railed here on FR, where I think some people live in an alternate universe, defending people who get Golden Parachutes for mediocre and even poor performance while at the helm of companies.
In short, many here are in denial of the financial realites on the ground with most Americans.
Wages have done fine and cost of living is not high. Costs for all sorts of extras like I-Pods, laptops etc. are high because they are NOT NECESSARY. I don’t have them. And college tuition can be earned by the student, which is better for them, or scholarships can be earned or grants taken advantage of (I used them) and student loans although they are not so good (and I have those yet to pay off).
Healthcare whines I don’t want to hear. I did without it for over a decade, just told the dr I didn’t have it and got free meds occasionally and used college dental services. I survived fine and now have an HSA which is enlightening and requires use of the noggin since you have to know what your dr is charging.
“And then people who are in debt are railed here on FR, where I think some people live in an alternate universe...”
Hubby and I just worked like crazy the last two years to get all our debt paid off (about 25K) and just have my student loan left (same amount) and we aren’t moaning and groaning. We did it on under 50K income and by selling our house and getting on a budget.
People are addicted to whining and aided in that by the media - action would help but it does take personal iniative.
the variables involved with healthcare costs are the worst for my family. its become a luxury item.
the entitlement mentality is the issue everywhere else. Keeping up with the Jones' is the standard now.
It really sickens me that I must pay more for MANDATORY car insurance than the damn car is worth EVERY year, just to cover the pos car that my neighbor proudly paid 10x too much for [probably more than my fixer up farmhouse] just to be 'trendy'.
College is another waste and a black hole to throw money into for plenty of families. I went and realized that it wasnt where I needed to be only after flushing a couple years worth of potential income and using up a couple future yrs of income in repayment. It IS a luxury.
The world needs ditch diggers and garbage men too, we cant all be CEO of the company OR live like we are...