Living paycheck to paycheck is getting harder

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by AlethiaSi

ya know, to a certain degree, you are right. However, like daemonseid said, i try to take my lunch to work, don't make unncessary purchases... etc. but its just not enough, i can't even put 50 dollars into a savings account each month. I would love to save or have an investment strategy, but i just can't.
I did have a second job, as a waitress, the restaurant closed b/c they didn't have enough money to make it through the slow summer season. I currently have a few more job prospects, but there really is nothing, and i've gone to places, craigslist, the paper, etc...
It's just not working right now. Luckily, I have an education and plan on continuing it, I feel terrible for those that don't or can't.

My post was about the consumer economy and those who are content with being broke and flashy. You're obviously not one of those people.

And never say "can't." That is defeatist. Like you said you have an education so there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Until you fully see that light, continue to put away a few dollars every month. You probably don't have health insurance and have not begun investing some money because you have low bank account balances and so forth. The turn around will be slow but small changes lead to big things. That's what my 2nd paragraph was about.

[AlethiaSi]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

My post was about the consumer economy and those who are content with being broke and flashy. You're obviously not one of those people.

And never say "can't." That is defeatist. Like you said you have an education so there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Until you fully see that light, continue to put away a few dollars every month. You probably don't have health insurance and have not begun investing some money because you have low bank account balances and so forth. The turn around will be slow but small changes lead to big things. That's what my 2nd paragraph was about.

true, i guess i get defensive b/c I am going through such a hard time right now. thanks for the advice

[DaemonSeid]

Originally Posted by AlethiaSi

true, i guess i get defensive b/c I am going through such a hard time right now. thanks for the advice

ditto to what DSTCHAOS said...

insurances are going up and the general populace is going broke because of it but you get it because you need it...a nice portion of my money is going to my retirement fund...and one startagey for me is when I get paid....pay all my bills first...then put a nice amount into my saving and then what I got left is "play" money and even then I pinch because I haven't a need to be flashy....

You know what else slays me....people who have to tell me how much they spent on something and then in the same breath have the nerve to ask for a 'small loan'.

I remember a few years back, an associate of mine got a hummer..whupde flippin' doooo.. offered me and a few of our friends a ride and then had the nerve to ask everyone to contribute for gas.

On another point....

A friend of mine every other year comes up with these business schemes

One year it was an independent IT thing similar to Geek Squad

Another year it was a mentoring program

This year it was bus trips to Atlantic City....problem is, with all these ideas, he wants to go grandiose with them. For instance with the bus trip idea, he wanted to get high end buses with DirecTV and DVD players and so forth and try to do 1 trip every 2 months. he wanted me to find a DJ (for what?) and get bus catering.

The sad part is that he probably could make some money on the side from some of these ideas but he is just too cheap to invest his money. You can't dream grandiose and be cheap in real life.

The thing of it is...we may be all living from check to check but we also have to know when you decide to step out a little bit, you can't be cheap about it either...invest only if you plan on putting work into it but also if you are making money back also.