Quote:
Originally Posted by DrPhil
If those people who criticize have saved money and are building some level of wealth, they can "waste" a percentage of their own money.
I know that people who live paycheck to paycheck are often unable to save money (although, putting $20 in a savings account per month is better than spending to your last cent if you don't have to) and that's why this topic is also based on where people are situated. There are people whose wasteful spending lends itself to immediately needing financial assistance during hard times. Financial literacy programs in the Black community, for example, are based on the premise of financial freedom to spend your money however you choose. But that freedom comes with financial responsibility so that tax payers do not end up footing the bill. Those who see that reality as being critical or judgmental will have to get over it.
People who are truly truly truly struggling will try and see how much they can get for whatever they are able to sell. Assuming that you won't get much money is much less productive than seeing how much money you are able to get for it.
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It's no easier to know who in the group criticizing is any more responsible than those in the group being criticized. I understand that people who are desperate will try to sell anything and everything to get by. Hell, drug addicts will sell their mothers for a hit, but you could also look at it as a waste of money to take a $2000 investment and sell it for a pittance when you think you'll get back on your feet in just a few weeks. I'm sure that's the mentality of people in this situation. Everybody thinks they are middle class and that middle class people deserve a big screen tv and all the amenities. I'm not saying their right, but it's the mentality of Americans. You take the same people bitching about the unemployed and people on welfare and put them in that situation, and they'd do no better. Nobody saves money. We have unprecedented levels of credit card debt. I have a great job, make more than an average salary, but with my debt burden from school, mortgage, car loans, etc, it would take no time for me to burn through my considerable savings. I am just fortunate enough to have the advantage of job security due to an extreme shortage of radiologists in this country. I don't think that gives me the right to be smug and look down on those who aren't are fortunately situated or didn't put away money in savings when they could have. Hindsight, after all is 20/20.