Posted on 09/30/2009 2:56:34 AM PDT by Daisyjane69
The Germantown woman was loading boxes of food from the Manna food bank into a shiny sport-utility vehicle one recent afternoon when she was approached by a donor dropping off food.
"What group are you with?" the donor asked the woman, who promptly burst into tears. With her Toyota Sequoia and quilted Vera Bradley bag, she had been mistaken for a volunteer -- rather than a client waiting to take home a bag of potatoes.
"I'm a mother of four just trying to feed my kids," the woman sobbed to the donor, who was taken aback, then sympathetic.
Such awkward scenes are playing out frequently at food pantries and other charities across the region as they struggle to help the still upward-spiraling number of formerly middle-class people knocking on their doors.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Sounds like someone needs to pare down and start selling some things....
Also, lady (the one in the story), elections have consequences. HOPE this was the CHANGE you voted for.
And yet it is fine to drive by the housing projects and see the Hummers, Acura’s, BMW's...all those high priced rides that the “average” American can't afford. Or take a trip to Lennox Mall in Atlanta, and see all of the “EBT” recipients sporting Gucci and shopping at Nordstrom. They've been doing it for years on our dime. But let the evil middle class need a “hand up”. Sickening
I meet a lot of people who voted for Obama based solely on his skin color and the lack of negative news reported by the media.
The reality, that he is a Marxist, is a complete surprise to all of them. They would have never quessed - as the news media never investigated the Senator.
One of the things I’ve noticed is that once people realize they’d better unload some stuff is that they will get so little for it so as not to be able to discharge their debt!
Let’s face it, there are a lot of people selling things (or trying to) right now, and few buying things.
Under normal circumstances, I’d have plenty to say about how some of these turkeys have managed their lives, but these aren’t normal times. So I’m gonna hold my tongue.
I also know quite a few people who have lived very responsible lives in every way, who are now in deep, deep trouble:
My landlord (he is a licensed electrician) is one of those. Four kids, all put through college and now on their own. He doesn’t own a single nice car worthy of a payment. His home is very average and middle class. But they own this tiny rental of 5 units. Due to the collapse in housing here in S. Utah, 3 of these units are vacant. They have lowered my rent 3 times since January to keep me here. I finally told them tonight that they don’t have to keep doing that; they are free to lower the rent on the vacant units in order to gain tenants, however.
And remember, being a self employed electrician, his name never appears on the unemployment numbers. He also receives no unemployment benefits. But when they stop building, they stop needing electricians.
There’s no marching band here....
True, but some money is better than no money.
It’s true. We tried selling some extraneous stuff on Ebay. Nice things, pretty, brand new and of top quality. Got only a dollar or two for them, not worth the costs of the transaction. I have a home business that sells an item only to people who are objectively rich. This summer, sales absolutely stopped dead. We have tried all sorts of marketing approaches, and everyone admires and making noises as if they desire my product, as they always have, but not even quite rich people will buy. My ex, who has had a quite successful home business since his retirement 8 or so years ago, has had no clients since this time last year. That doesn’t show up in the unemployment statistics either.
I was talking to my sister the other day. We were raised in the same very middle class household; learned to search for specials, shop with coupons and yes, even mail away for refunds. Our parents had no choice. That was how they managed to make that “massive” $ 109 house payment in the mid-sixties. It was a lot of money in our house, in those days! Recently, I came across our baby books my mom kept for us. I was astonished how many Christmas and birthday gifts came in amounts ranging from $ 2.00 to $ 5.00. LOL
The upshot is I married a regular income earner but my sister married a millionaire. But she has never changed a single bit. She still cuts coupons, still looks for specials, and all the rest. And yes, we have both visited secondhand stores within the last month. We were brought up to appreciate a dollar. Her daughter, however, is destined to be a good liberal. Why? Because she never saw her parents struggle, economically. I’m convinced that it’s the reason that so many children from wealthy families end up as libs. They just never “get it.”
It’s a blessing to have been brought up by people who taught me long ago to not buy things that I could not afford. And who taught me to be a bargain hunter and cautious with money. I ended up being someone with no debt and I’m going to buy a home in the next six months...and paying cash for it.
I feel sorry for many of the people in this story. They never did “get it.”
:(
“...a client waiting to take home a bag of potatoes...”
WTF? It cost her more in gas than the price of a bag of potatoes to drive over there to get them.
Can’t feel sorry for someone that dumb.
****Im convinced that its the reason that so many children from wealthy families end up as libs. They just never get it.***
Terrific observation;)
I have had many conversations recently, with parents of my generation (60’s) who raised our children on very tight budgets. We have all decided that “Poverty was the consummate character builder for our offspring”
That may be the one great thing that comes from this.
A “spinning around” of us, especially our youth, to appreciate the beauty of thrift, savings, and the tempering of expectations.
I know far two many young couples who attempted to start out their married life with the things their parents ended up with after a lifetime of work.
In other words, they wanted to START in the same place that it took their parents a lifetime of work to attain. And go from there.
None of this buying beater cars and saving their cash, forget the idea of a starter house or even (gasp) an apartment. Nope, they gotta start out going into debt for a 4 bedroom new house and two new cars (via payments) right out of college.
Sometimes, you get your education in the real world, and not in the classroom.
I have acquaintances that live in $1,000/month house, have 2 kids, both have no jobs, can barely make it on some money coming in (who knows where)...I wonder if they will make it...???
The newspapers are lying when they say that the recession (depression) is over. I feel that it will get much worse...
Yesterday I took my car in to get an estimate on wind damage to my car door...1800 bucks!!! I just about fainted.
AMEN! "Real Life" hit me hard, and I am all the more better for it. It won't be any different for these folks.
“The newspapers are lying when they say that the recession (depression) is over. I feel that it will get much worse...”
You are absolutely right.
I own a business that’s engaged in the welding industry and since 1979 (including the 1982 oil depression) and have never seen it this bad. People buy only what they need and not what they want. That, in turn, creates a domino effect on the whole business cycle.
Think it’s going to get worse? I expect it to get much worse.
I go to a local farmer’s market every Saturday, and for under 10 bucks I fill a bag with enough fresh veggies - tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms and spuds - to last for the entire week. Makes no sense to pay over a buck for a red pepper at the grocery store when you can get three for a buck at the flea market.
(Buying this way means I have cash left over for buying cigars, beer and ammo.)
Then buy a big chuck roast - on sale - for 10 bucks at the local grocery store, and your family is eating healthy beef stew for the week. Plus there’s enough roast left over to make sandwiches for lunch.
Good stuff.
As a refugee from the communist state of Michigan, I’m amazed by the healthy, fresh and inexpensive food available here in the Southeast. Southerners eat good. I’m even finding a taste for collards - ya’ll.
“Sometimes, you get your education in the real world, and not in the classroom.”
That’s called “The School of Hard Knocks” and that’s my Alma mater.
****...our youth, to appreciate the beauty of thrift, savings, and the tempering of expectations.****
Don’t forget...the beauty of hard work, dreaming big, making sound decisions, facing adversity, accepting responsibility and not losing self-respect by accepting government handouts.
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