Skip to comments.
Nearly Half of Americans Are ‘Financially Fragile’
Wall Street Journal Blogs ^
| May 25, 2011
| Phil Izzo
Posted on 05/25/2011 11:46:22 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
click here to read article
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 141-144 next last
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Time to bring out the pitchforks!
Government employees and career welfare dependents aren't feeling the pain.
Those of us who have worked all our lives are watching the results of our labor sliding away.
We are ignored because it is relatively safe to ignore us.
To: NEMDF
It is a little unclear, but the article seems to say that if you have to pawn your possessions or take out a payday loan to come up with the $2K, rather than dip into savings or ask friends and family, then you’re classified among the “fragile.”
22
posted on
05/25/2011 12:06:32 PM PDT
by
rightwingintelligentsia
(Be careful of believing something just because you want it to be true.)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Meanwhile, Lusardi, Schneider and Tufano also looked at how different countries compare. They consulted with local partners to set the number used in local currency at a comparable level. Perceived capacity to cope with an emergency is lowest in the U.S., U.K. and Germany, all countries in which 50% of households or more would probably or certainly be unable to come up with the emergency funds, the authors wrote. France and Portugal occupy an intermediate position; 46% of respondents in Portugal would certainly or probably be unable to come up with the funds as would 37% of those in France. The highest levels of coping capacity are found in Canada (28% certainly or probably unable), Netherlands (27.9%), and Italy (20%).I'd find it shocking if Italy turns out to be the paragon of G7 personal financial prudence. I wonder about the survey methodology.
23
posted on
05/25/2011 12:07:03 PM PDT
by
Sooth2222
("Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of congress. But I repeat myself." M.Twain)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
I expect having to spend several thousand dollars on the daughter’s wedding if things work out. Shouldn’t be a problem for us.
24
posted on
05/25/2011 12:07:14 PM PDT
by
Arrowhead1952
(zero hates Texas and we hate him back.)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
If you were to face a $2,000 unexpected expense in the next month, how would you get the funds you need? In the U.S., 24.9% of respondents reported being certainly able, 25.1% probably able, 22.2% probably unable and 27.9% certainly unable. And yet - they seem to be able to come up with the money for their iPhone and cigarettes...
25
posted on
05/25/2011 12:08:34 PM PDT
by
2banana
(My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
To: crosshairs
I could handle a 2K hit. I could not handle TWO 2K hits.
26
posted on
05/25/2011 12:09:51 PM PDT
by
ichabod1
(Nuts.)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Unsurprisingly, 47% is the exact number of Americans paid by the Federal Government to be dependent upon government checks.
You get what you pay for: Dependency.
27
posted on
05/25/2011 12:10:25 PM PDT
by
Uncle Miltie
(0bamanomics: Trickle Up Poverty.)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Oh, no worries! Obie & Co will just take from the savers to give to the takers, no? Redistribute the wealth.
28
posted on
05/25/2011 12:11:25 PM PDT
by
Jane Long
(2 Chron 7:14)
To: NEMDF
http://www.ebri.org/publications/ib/index.cfm?fa=ibDisp&content_id=4488
MORE PEOPLE HAVE NO SAVINGS AT ALL: An increased percentage of workers report they have virtually no savings and investments. Among RCS workers providing this type of information, 27 percent say they have less than $1,000 in savings (up from 20 percent in 2009). In total, more than half of workers (54 percent) report that the total value of their households savings and investments, excluding the value of their primary home and any defined benefit plans, is less than $25,000
To: CSM
ANYONE could come up with 2K in 30 days by delivering pizzas or selling some of their extra stuff on e-bay.Seriously? You can net 2K/month delivering pizzas part-time? I may have to look into that.
30
posted on
05/25/2011 12:14:34 PM PDT
by
Still Thinking
(Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
And that’s just the ones who aren’t on the dole...
31
posted on
05/25/2011 12:18:27 PM PDT
by
Little Ray
(The Gods of the Copybook Heading, with terror and slaughter return!)
To: Arrowhead1952
“I expect having to spend several thousand dollars on the daughters wedding if things work out. Shouldnt be a problem for us.”
Don’t most weddings cost at least $10k?
32
posted on
05/25/2011 12:20:03 PM PDT
by
SVTCobra03
(You can never have enough friends, horsepower or ammunition.)
To: dfwgator
I'll give you 20 bucks for it.
33
posted on
05/25/2011 12:20:57 PM PDT
by
WOBBLY BOB
( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
To: napscoordinator
I work around the collegiate sports schedule. Therefore, I am done working (at least hard) for the next six weeks.
Every year at this time, I make a pass through the house and cull out crap that I havent used (either in my profession or in my leisure time.)
In the last week and half, I have cleared (after expenses) $600 on eBay. And this is not BIG stuff.
So, if push came to shove, I could unload $2k in a month.
But, then again, if I don’t have about $8k in the bank by the end of May, I will be selling blood to make the September mortgage payment.
34
posted on
05/25/2011 12:21:37 PM PDT
by
Vermont Lt
(Is there anyone that Obama won't toss under the bus?)
To: Grumpybutt
Did they have a choice for sure, Ill rob Peter to pay Paul?Your comment relative to this thread reminded me of Jim Carrey and Tea Leoni's career as convenience store robbers in Fun with Dick and Jane.
35
posted on
05/25/2011 12:25:24 PM PDT
by
Still Thinking
(Freedom is NOT a loophole!)
To: cripplecreek
I have the advantage of being broke. I have the advantage of a truck and a walletful of cash, whenever you decide to have that garage sale.
36
posted on
05/25/2011 12:25:41 PM PDT
by
Alex Murphy
(Posting news feeds, making eyes bleed: he's hated on seven continents)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
Well, Obqamas goal is half way met.
37
posted on
05/25/2011 12:27:06 PM PDT
by
Bitsy
(!)
To: SVTCobra03
More like $20 - 25 K these days.
38
posted on
05/25/2011 12:29:22 PM PDT
by
Arrowhead1952
(zero hates Texas and we hate him back.)
To: rightwingintelligentsia
I’m not surprised at all by these results. Call it insight into the 50% of Americans that pay no Federal income taxes.
Also, being financially irresponsible is not confined to just that lower 50%. A lot of people live month to month with no financial planning and no savings. I’ve known people who have $25,000 - $30,000 on credit cards and spend every penny of their paycheck. They pay their expenses first and then blow ALL of the rest. If something comes up like auto repair or an emergency, the cost goes on the credit card. They pay whatever they want to on the cards with no real plan or expectation of paying off the balance. A lot of their money goes to credit card interest.
Just insane. I am talking career professionals here, not burger flippers. They are financially oblivious.
39
posted on
05/25/2011 12:36:03 PM PDT
by
Freedom_Is_Not_Free
(Josh Ferrin for President - he is my new hero.)
To: Grumpybutt
Maybe Paul should have a talk with Pete.
40
posted on
05/25/2011 12:36:53 PM PDT
by
stuartcr
("Everything happens as God wants it to...otherwise, things would be different.")
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20, 21-40, 41-60, 61-80 ... 141-144 next last
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson