Living within your means........

Discussion in 'Political Opinions & Beliefs' started by Bluesguy, Feb 12, 2020.

  1. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    Nearly 1 in 3 American workers run out of money before payday—even those earning over $100,000

    "Amy,* 36, is intimately familiar with running short on cash and using these workarounds, especially during tax season. That’s in spite of the fact that she and her husband make about $50,000 a year, just short of the average household income in the U.S.

    “Tax time hurts for us because we don’t get a refund, we get a bill,” she tells CNBC Make It. Her husband, the primary earner, works for a company in a different state, so state income taxes aren’t taken out, she says. While they typically get a federal refund, they end up owing the state more than the federal refund."
    https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/11/32-percent-of-workers-run-out-of-cash-before-payday.html

    So they each only make $25,000? Maybe one should get a better paying job. Then tax time hurts because they don't get a refund??? Tax withholding is NOT a savings program and if you properly plan your taxes you will always owe a little. Maybe if she lowered her federal income tax withholding she would have more money to spend each paycheck. And I have worked for out of state companies almost all my life and everyone of them withheld state income taxes and even if they don't YOU CAN.

    It's called living within your means and budgeting.
     
  2. Quantum Nerd

    Quantum Nerd Well-Known Member

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    In the last year, we added about $500 billion of private debt and $1.1 trillion of public debt. That's about 7.5% of GDP. Now think about where GDP growth would be without all those people - and the Trump government - living within their means? Should be an easy answer.
     
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  3. 61falcon

    61falcon Well-Known Member

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    Get Real!!Everyone or almost everyone would like to get a better paying job, especially those making the least.
     
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  4. Just A Man

    Just A Man Well-Known Member

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    To get a better paying job you need to gain experience in your field, work hard, market yourself, and be willing to move. Better paying jobs rarely seek people out. Too many people who work a low paying jobs are dissatisfied because after a year or two the employer doesn't just double their pay.
     
  5. Thehumankind

    Thehumankind Well-Known Member

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    Since before most American lives revolve with credits, debts, and mortgages ,
    We need the corporate side to share more, I suppose.

    https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/20/how-much-debt-americans-have-at-every-age.html
     
  6. Texan

    Texan Well-Known Member

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    That's a great idea. Getting a better paying job helped me tremendously. I had to work my way through college and get good work experience in the military. I've traveled a lot and worked 80 hour weeks at times and it is paying off. If I decided to start my own company, why should I reward employees who refuse to get the skills to make us both better off? My boss takes all of the risk in hiring people, providing training, uniforms, tools, company service vehicles, acquire parts inventory, health insurance, and keeping customers. I just show up and work. That and make sure that I am sober, pass background checks, use the training provided, and bring the experience I gathered over the years. Why should some guy who never applied himself and made poor personal decisions get the same breaks I have? I've earned them and made my bosses loads of money for their investment.
     
  7. Lesh

    Lesh Banned

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    Living within your means is a whole lot easier when those means are substantial.

    For far too many Americans that is not the case
     
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  8. 61falcon

    61falcon Well-Known Member

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    Most people in good paying jobs DO NOT GET UNIFORMS provided???? They wear suits to work.
     
  9. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    Wishing and hoping is better than gambling and doping, but it won't get folks anywhere.

    You got to compete and strive to be better than your co-workers and rise above them.

    You got to look out for only you and get more for you.
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2020
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  10. waltky

    waltky Well-Known Member

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    Seems have been forgotten about.
     
  11. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    What does that have to do with overspending?

    You cant earn your way out of over spending.
     
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  12. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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  13. jcarlilesiu

    jcarlilesiu Well-Known Member Past Donor

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    Earning is clearly not the issue per the article.
     
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  14. Texan

    Texan Well-Known Member

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    I wear a flame retardant uniform for working on high voltage equipment and I make $45/hrs plus insurance, benefits, company vehicle, and lots of OT.
     
  15. jay runner

    jay runner Banned

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    Dammit, you're still just blue collar and you do not fit the PC narrative.:)
     
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  16. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    How about focusing and addressing what I posted?
     
  17. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    We have a glut of 7,000,000 of them.
     
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  18. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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  19. Texan

    Texan Well-Known Member

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    I'm the face of the company. I write MOPs, JHAs, provide scheduled maintenance, do repairs, sell extra services and equipment, and know all of the pitfalls to avoid losing the trust and respect of the customers. My bosses wear Jean's and boots typically. They may dress up for a meeting with a big customer. but my attire says I'm there to work.
     
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  20. ronv

    ronv Well-Known Member

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    I thought you lost your job at the restaurant.
     
  21. squidward

    squidward Well-Known Member

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    Why, when they can petition politicians to take your stuff and give it to them?
     
  22. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    I've been middle class all my my life, middle income and now as I retire have a very nice nest egg and am debt free have never carried debt other than mortgage and an occasional car note which was paid off in 36 months if not earlier. I have had a very nice life, traveled extensively, was able to acquire things I like without debt. Washing machine go out, pay cash for a new one, had money saved for such emergency spending. No college degree. Raised a family. We lived within our means.

    Did you read what the woman in the story was saying and how obvious she doesn't know how to budget her life or live within her means and go out and make more money, increase the value of your labor. We have to pay state taxes at tax time so we have less money throughout the year?
     
  23. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    Why did you think I had a job at a restaurant?
     
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  24. Bluesguy

    Bluesguy Well-Known Member Donor

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    I haven't worn a suit to work in decades and have a good paying job.
     
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  25. LogNDog

    LogNDog Well-Known Member

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    You mean electricians, framers, plumbers, aircraft mechanics, car mechanics, carpenters or stone masons don't make good money? Only people with suits make good money? I have a friend that builds sky scrapers and he never wears a suit. I don't wear a suit. Hell, I don't even have a job. I retired form the Army as a helicopter mechanic supervisor. My wife and I made 15k last month and never got off our ass. Only spent 3k of that. Invested the rest.
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2020
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