Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Almost half of US families can't afford basics like rent and food
CNN ^ | May 17, 2018 | Tami Luhby

Posted on 05/17/2018 9:56:10 AM PDT by fwdude

The economy may be chugging along, but many Americans are still struggling to afford a basic middle class life.

Nearly 51 million households don't earn enough to afford a monthly budget that includes housing, food, child care, health care, transportation and a cell phone, according to a study released Thursday by the United Way ALICE Project. That's 43% of households in the United States.

(Excerpt) Read more at money.cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: fakenews; poverty
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-108 next last
To: fwdude

If the democrats had their way, that number would be 100%.


81 posted on 05/17/2018 11:42:14 AM PDT by Trillian
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase

And giant flat screen tv’s.


82 posted on 05/17/2018 12:07:39 PM PDT by EdnaMode
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Crucial
The cost of living is higher in America than it should be.

Mostly because of subsidized high risk loans.

83 posted on 05/17/2018 12:08:03 PM PDT by fwdude (History has no 'sides;' you're thinking of geometry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

I moved from Seattle to rural, south central KY 7 years ago. Because labor prices are lower here, a lot of labor intensive stuff is a lot cheaper, but I wondered what it meant for car purchases. Naturally one thing it means is that people drive a lot more beaters around here, but there is another outgrowth of this:

Here, rebuilding salvage autos is a huge business. In fact, when I bought my Silverado Z71 4x4 I got a salvage vehicle. The funny part was that when I went to the Boieng Credit Union to get my loan, they said they don’t loan on salvage titles. So I went to my local bank that carries my mortgage and asked if they did. My loan officer said, “We better. My truck has a salvage title.”


84 posted on 05/17/2018 12:08:53 PM PDT by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm using my wife's account.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

Of course housing is mostly excluded from inflation statistics, which is a big reason using those statistics doesn’t tell the whole picture.


The elimination of the interest deduction may have an impact on housing prices in the good way. Removing housing sure helps regarding COL increases in SS.


85 posted on 05/17/2018 12:10:15 PM PDT by robroys woman (So you're not confused, I'm using my wife's account.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

When I see a “struggling family” using a flip phone, or a land line...and when the poor are skinny...and they are driving cars older than mine...I’ll believe this report!


86 posted on 05/17/2018 12:12:55 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: robroys woman

“It’s housing that is killing people.”

Amen, I am remodeling a bathroom and spending around two grand for materials, if I had a contractor do the job it would cost me fifteen grand. When I was a first grader fifteen thousand would have bought a sizable farm in this area with a very nice house and barns etc. with enough timberland to be living off timber, pulpwood and firewood sales now. I remember when forty dollars a month would rent a not impressive but quite livable house here and there were some for even less. The current cost of housing is insane.


87 posted on 05/17/2018 12:14:37 PM PDT by RipSawyer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: SMARTY
Bet they all have cell phones and big screen TV’s

Indeed. My wife and I have problems comprehending others' lifestyles, when we have conversations with them. On the one hand, they're complaining about not being able to afford life, some even saying they can't afford to feed themselves; and in the same conversation bragging about the fancy vacation or new gadgets they bought.

88 posted on 05/17/2018 12:40:41 PM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Kickass Conservative
The Pacific Ocean is full of Fish that people can eat.

Here in the San Francisco area, you can see people fishing from the shore or piers. They're all Asians and supplementing their diets with the fish and crabs they catch. You won't see any whites, blacks or latinos doing that. They expect their fish to be prepared and packaged and found in a store ready to microwave.

89 posted on 05/17/2018 12:44:56 PM PDT by roadcat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 57 | View Replies]

To: roadcat

“They’re all Asians and supplementing their diets with the fish and crabs they catch-—

-

That’s to feed the kids who will probably all end up at Ivy League universities.

.


90 posted on 05/17/2018 12:48:05 PM PDT by Mears
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 89 | View Replies]

To: Sarah Barracuda
y_Awjo_FF
91 posted on 05/17/2018 12:50:41 PM PDT by timestax
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

It’s TRUMP’S FAULT... I mean where was it for the past 8 years? The media must have been in Fantasyland with unicorns and rainbows...


92 posted on 05/17/2018 2:13:14 PM PDT by Deplorable American1776 (Proud to be a DeplorableAmerican with a Deplorable Family...even the dog is, too. :-))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

This is Bulls hit. People are on welfare/food stamps not because they need it but because it is pushed on tem by welfare agencies. Like the breakfast at schools. They do their best to get everyone signed up. It justifies the system.


93 posted on 05/17/2018 4:25:05 PM PDT by dirtymac
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Beagle8U
A $500K machine makes the same parts if the guy loading it makes $15 hr, or 50 cents hr. At best you could force them to raise the 50 cent guy to $1.50 hr, but he will still be cheaper by 10X.

The retail customer sees minimal or no benefit and increased unemployment a social costs.

Protectionist, (Patriots) understand that a tariff will increase prices. We get it. WE WANT THAT. It's a one time inflation due to higher labor costs in the USA. Again, we understand the economists. We are not stupid. But the payoff from higher import tariffs comes in lowered social costs and higher quality products. We are willing to pay more for a strong viable industrial base. I WANT TO PAY MORE.

94 posted on 05/17/2018 5:15:27 PM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 78 | View Replies]

To: fwdude

I found out last year that I could live on $20k...and save up some money. Even went out a few times, and visited friends.


95 posted on 05/17/2018 5:57:35 PM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: robroys woman

Housing and food.

Food’s been going up near 10% a year.


96 posted on 05/17/2018 6:05:23 PM PDT by lepton ("It is useless to attempt to reason a man out of a thing he was never reasoned into"--Jonathan Swift)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

Several years ago, entry level minimum wage jobs paid about $8/hrs. I have no idea what they pay now, but I do know the cost of nearly everything has doubled or tripled in that time. If people couldn’t make it on minimum wage then, they sure can’t now. But anyone who makes that little, and has a few kids, is eligible for assistance of various types. When our kids were growing up, we didn’t have two nickels to rub together for anything extra, but we had a pretty nice house, and some of those years, we had a newer car, but with food and utilities, we had nothing left over for the things I see “poor” folks have, nowadays. I have no idea where they get the money. I do know that as soon as our kids were old enough, they went out and got jobs, so they could buy some of the things they wanted that we couldn’t afford, and they’ve been working hard ever since. We have a relative, though, who has been on welfare her entire adult life, and wouldn’t let her kids go out and get jobs, because it would affect the welfare. When each kid reached 18, the welfare benefits for them stopped. Only then, did the mom let the kids get a job. And when one would get a job, she would make them pay 1/4 of the household bills, til they were paying 3/4 of the household costs. She thought absolutely nothing of living off her kids. And of course, SHE never got out and went to work. Every time anyone gave those kids birthday or Christmas money, she’d make them pool it together, “so we’ll have money when we need anything extra”. She finally wised up a little when one of the kids went off the deep end. She’s going to apply for a job any day now...


97 posted on 05/17/2018 6:35:30 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: Boogieman

Several years ago, entry level minimum wage jobs paid about $8/hrs. I have no idea what they pay now, but I do know the cost of nearly everything has doubled or tripled in that time. If people couldn’t make it on minimum wage then, they sure can’t now. But anyone who makes that little, and has a few kids, is eligible for assistance of various types. When our kids were growing up, we didn’t have two nickels to rub together for anything extra, but we had a pretty nice house, and some of those years, we had a newer car, but with food and utilities, we had nothing left over for the things I see “poor” folks have, nowadays. I have no idea where they get the money. I do know that as soon as our kids were old enough, they went out and got jobs, so they could buy some of the things they wanted that we couldn’t afford, and they’ve been working hard ever since. We have a relative, though, who has been on welfare her entire adult life, and wouldn’t let her kids go out and get jobs, because it would affect the welfare. When each kid reached 18, the welfare benefits for them stopped. Only then, did the mom let the kids get a job. And when one would get a job, she would make them pay 1/4 of the household bills, til they were paying 3/4 of the household costs. She thought absolutely nothing of living off her kids. And of course, SHE never got out and went to work. Every time anyone gave those kids birthday or Christmas money, she’d make them pool it together, “so we’ll have money when we need anything extra”. She finally wised up a little when one of the kids went off the deep end. She’s going to apply for a job any day now...


98 posted on 05/17/2018 6:36:35 PM PDT by Flaming Conservative ((Pray without ceasing))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 62 | View Replies]

To: lepton

Let me in on your secret!


99 posted on 05/17/2018 6:36:56 PM PDT by fwdude (History has no 'sides;' you're thinking of geometry.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: central_va

“We are not stupid. But the payoff from higher import tariffs comes in lowered social costs and higher quality products. We are willing to pay more for a strong viable industrial base. I WANT TO PAY MORE”

I know you’re not stupid, but I think you would be screwed in they end of paying far more for no gain.


100 posted on 05/17/2018 7:05:20 PM PDT by Beagle8U (Liberals can kiss my bitter clingers!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 94 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-108 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.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson