Posted on 04/13/2010 6:59:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
I think a solution to many problems can be found in repopulating the “heartland” towns across the US. More than anything else, this adjustment is psychological, and boils down to a simple question:
“Are people willing to live in a place that is boring, in exchange for economic stability and solvency?”
Since about WWII, the answer to that question has been “No!”, but we may be entering into a time when for many there will be little choice.
There are many variables to an idea like this, but they are based on State-driven incentive programs to rebuild rural towns for former city dwellers with no place left to go. Who cannot afford to live in the city, who cannot get work, who the government can no longer support directly, and have run through their personal and family resources.
Previously, small town models were reliant on agriculture, but this is no longer entirely possible, as their main source of income. So more likely, such towns would be “Internet based subcontractors”, working for corporations doing things like data processing, and mechanical assembly. Whatever brings in income. And the people who support these people, such as shopkeepers, and *some* local agriculture to provide less expensive food.
While there are some start up costs for the State, the end result is both cost savings, and even some tax revenues after a while.
ROFL You signed up just today to post THIS drivel??
So, if you add a realistic electric bill to the author's math...and the guy is really not getting by.
I know plenty of people who live very well on less than $1k/mo. They don’t have ANY mortgage, they bought a house they could afford. They don’t have cable tv, particularly if they have children, who are exposed to enough filth as it is without paying extra to bring it into their homes.
However, in one respect the writer is probably way off. $100/mo electric is really extraordinary. I know because I pay about that and I’m fanatical about keeping it low.
Avoid borrowing. Live within your means. Don’t pay for things that only pollute your kid’s brain, like cable tv and college tuition. Don’t live in an area with high crime and high taxes. Don’t smoke and you’ll save over $100/mo on cigs alone. (That will come in handy one day when Soc Sec has gone under, and you have to retire.)
Trouble is, nobody wants to change their habits.
I thought this might be of interest to the Dave Ramsey ping list perhaps.
My husband brings home about the amount they quote in this article, only we are raising four kids on that, and three of those are in Catholic school (one heads off to the Catholic junior high in fall of ‘11, so there goes more money, LOL). It is entirely doable.
It is especially easy when you have no car payments, no credit cards, no student loans or any other debt except the house. Do we eat out much? Rarely, but somehow we manage to put away money in savings every month for emergencies, car and home maintenance, pet care, and Christmas.
It makes me want to bang my head against a wall when I hear people—especially within my kids’ school families—complain they ‘have’ to have two incomes. Of course they do, they have several hundred dollars of car payments and give their kids too much stuff. My kids were thrilled to get the Wii for Christmas and we were proud to be able to give it to them after saving up for it. They may not get ‘stuff’ all the time, but they appreciate it more when they do. Our cars may be 10 and 13 years old, but they belong to us, not the bank.
My husband hasn’t seen a raise in over 2 years (something he’s fighting for right now—especially since he’s doing the work of two engineers right now), but right now I consider us lucky to be doing as well as we are.
The economy sucks, to be sure, but considering how we’ve altered our lifestyle in the last couple of years, we’ve learned about what it really takes to survive in tougher times.
This is why Joe’s wife has to work, too.
Oooh! A planned economy! They always work well!
Nope, median priced means median home buyer. The poor who don’t buy are included in the income statistic, but only home buyers are included in the price statistic.
Exactly. Even if they have 2 incomes, a couple should not need 2 cars. Last time I looked up the street, the bus was still running its usual route. Does everybody now think they’re too fine to hop a bus?
This time it will really work! Really!
They promised! ...and have so much hope, and all that.
Dunno. I have reached the point where “boring is good.”
School, Library, Church, 4th of July Picnic and fireworks, parks, public pool, Veterans Day parade, Labor Day cookout. That is the good life.
Income figures do not include the “poor” on welfare or those without incomes.
Yeah, starting with diving $180,000 into debt.
Right.
Mortgages are the biggest d@mn scam. Everyone has been conned into this mindset of "you've GOT to have a quarter-million-dollar house". BS. No you don't. Buy what you can afford, CASH, OUTRIGHT. Biggest mistake of my life was falling for that when I very nearly owned a home free-and-clear.
Mortgage is d@mn near indentured servitude. You MUST make that payment EVERY MONTH or you lose EVERYTHING. You MUST hand over a huge chunk of your paycheck - a chunk you could have a very good & comfortable time with - to pay 3x for something you didn't need that much of in the first place. You're STUCK in your job because you MUST pay, you CANNOT risk financial uncertainty.
And it's going to take decades, if not centuries, for this nation to figure it out - or die in ignorance.
Conservatism: the realization that right behavior was learned at great cost to generations, and that if we forget it now we'll take as long at as high a price learning it again.
Ditto everything! I wish more people thought like you.
“Rule #32: Enjoy the little things in life.”
Rents keep up with inflation. Your mortgage payment doesn’t.
A rich American was trying to explain to a poor fisherman he met in an island in Latin America, regarding the benefits of planning for retirement -— 401K, trust, deeds, etc.
The fisherman asked him -— you do all of this for what purpose ?
The rich American said — so that when I reach retirement age, I can relax, not have to worry about all the necessities of life and have all my needs taken care of.
The fisherman said — But senor, I am already enjoying what you want now.
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