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Post by PolarsStepdad on Jun 6, 2024 12:15:20 GMT -5
I have a similar philosophy about most things in general. Any time I get online and discuss things such as minimum wage, the state of Healthcare, or housing I get blasted and told I should learn a skill or some other nonsense by people assuming it must obviously be me that's the problem. When I actually do pretty well. But just because I'm doing OK doesn't make me blind to the people around me friends and families. Having empathy or remembering how hard it was when you were first starting out is to me not a negative trait. I look at my daughters and their husband's and they are making a lot better than I was at their age and I already had 3 kids. But it's still not an easy world to live in. And it gets tougher everyday. 20 years ago a man I worked with told me my generation would be the first to be worse off than our parents. I balked at the thought. But looking around me now I'm thinking he might be right. I see plenty of success stories but I also see a lot of people who for whatever reason have fallen through the cracks. Some of it is self inflicted some is not. I am not sure what "age" you are referring to... but in the late 70's in my hometown of Chambersburg, PA, I was earning roughly 14000/yr(plus overtime in a union shop) and you could buy a house for around $19000 and rent an apartment for about $150/month.
House: 1.4 annual wage(less with overtime) Rent: 14.5 % of monthly wage. A brand new custom F150 4x4 for $6900
That ratio is hugely different today. That is inflation(Printed money) and the export of our manufacturing. It was easier for someone to be comfortable.
If your asking my age I was 23 with 3 kids. A decent Union job (except having to drive to BFE for said job evry morning) it was tough enough then. Both my son In laws basically have the same job but have been fortunate not have to travel as much or drive as much as I did and it's still tough on them. But it allows my daughter to be SAHMs for the time being. I have other family that are both working and trying to get by. It's just tough.
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Post by cyclist on Jun 6, 2024 12:15:52 GMT -5
Our economy is not good no matter what numbers are invented by the Lyin Biden followers. More money is moving around but it simply doesn’t do as much as it used to. Where the magaa traitors stumble is the asinine assertion that Biden has caused the inflation. The cultists lie with impunity...never seem to have any info to back up their feelings.
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Post by meateater on Jun 6, 2024 12:16:11 GMT -5
I'm not sure why you think I think they should quit their jobs or that somehow what I said would have you believe I don't think people are suffering? sorry, think it was my buddy cyclist who said people who arent doing good in this economy are doing it wrong,
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Post by illinoisfisherman on Jun 6, 2024 12:55:29 GMT -5
I'm not sure why you think I think they should quit their jobs or that somehow what I said would have you believe I don't think people are suffering? sorry, think it was my buddy cyclist who said people who arent doing good in this economy are doing it wrong, 😂🤣😂🤣 what a joke. The economy is fine. No one is hurting. Yeah right. Dream on.
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Post by cadman on Jun 6, 2024 13:03:27 GMT -5
I have a similar philosophy about most things in general. Any time I get online and discuss things such as minimum wage, the state of Healthcare, or housing I get blasted and told I should learn a skill or some other nonsense by people assuming it must obviously be me that's the problem. When I actually do pretty well. But just because I'm doing OK doesn't make me blind to the people around me friends and families. Having empathy or remembering how hard it was when you were first starting out is to me not a negative trait. I look at my daughters and their husband's and they are making a lot better than I was at their age and I already had 3 kids. But it's still not an easy world to live in. And it gets tougher everyday. 20 years ago a man I worked with told me my generation would be the first to be worse off than our parents. I balked at the thought. But looking around me now I'm thinking he might be right. I see plenty of success stories but I also see a lot of people who for whatever reason have fallen through the cracks. Some of it is self inflicted some is not. I am not sure what "age" you are referring to... but in the late 70's in my hometown of Chambersburg, PA, I was earning roughly 14000/yr(plus overtime in a union shop) and you could buy a house for around $19000 and rent an apartment for about $150/month.
House: 1.4 annual wage(less with overtime) Rent: 14.5 % of monthly wage. A brand new custom F150 4x4 for $6900
That ratio is hugely different today. That is inflation(Printed money) and the export of our manufacturing. It was easier for someone to be comfortable.
I thought you said you were GenX which would mean you were born after 1964. Yoru parents were the greatest generation and you were genX.
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Post by Captj on Jun 6, 2024 14:17:15 GMT -5
If everyone would put away their credit cards and only buy things that you could afford to pay cash for you'd see prices drop like a rock. Credit cards as well as readily available credit is a pox on our society.
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Post by Zif on Jun 6, 2024 14:22:01 GMT -5
Most Genx peoples' parents are more likely the Silent Generation (1927-47) not the Greatest (1901-27)
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Post by misterjr on Jun 6, 2024 14:30:04 GMT -5
If everyone would put away their credit cards and only buy things that you could afford to pay cash for you'd see prices drop like a rock. Credit cards as well as readily available credit is a pox on our society. I have about $20 cash on me and use credit cards for absolutely everything I buy and they are paid off every month. I bought my leased car yesterday at the end of the three year lease and used $5000 on a credit card, because that was all they will take on a CC. I rack up lots of rewards cash, which I can use for whatever I want. I can't speak for anyone else.
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Post by johngalt on Jun 6, 2024 14:34:29 GMT -5
If everyone would put away their credit cards and only buy things that you could afford to pay cash for you'd see prices drop like a rock. Credit cards as well as readily available credit is a pox on our society. I have about $20 cash on me and use credit cards for absolutely everything I buy and they are paid off every month. I bought my leased car yesterday at the end of the three year lease and used $5000 on a credit card, because that was all they will take on a CC. I rack up lots of rewards cash, which I can use for whatever I want. I can't speak for anyone else. You are speaking for yourself. But unfortunately the overwhelming majority of Americans are not retirees living in sunny Florida with a nice nest egg. www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/02/07/us-credit-card-debt-hits-trillion/72505645007/
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Post by misterjr on Jun 6, 2024 14:46:49 GMT -5
I have about $20 cash on me and use credit cards for absolutely everything I buy and they are paid off every month. I bought my leased car yesterday at the end of the three year lease and used $5000 on a credit card, because that was all they will take on a CC. I rack up lots of rewards cash, which I can use for whatever I want. I can't speak for anyone else. You are speaking for yourself. But unfortunately the overwhelming majority of Americans are not retirees living in sunny Florida with a nice nest egg. www.usatoday.com/story/graphics/2024/02/07/us-credit-card-debt-hits-trillion/72505645007/I'm 74, and not a retiree, I work full time. Credit and credit cards are too easy too get today. Half the people that have cards should not have been issued a card, but banks don't care if they can charge 20% interest.
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Post by pinman on Jun 6, 2024 14:54:02 GMT -5
The Elephant in the room that is not being talked about is wages. There was a time in history when a man could make a good living as a bank teller. And the wife stayed home with the kids. Well the Womens lib movement increased the supply of available workers so wages went down and the 2 income household became the norm, almost required today. And open border policies allow entry for the workers who "do the jobs Americans wont" further increasing the supply of workers. Americans would probably do those jobs as they did in the past if the supply of workers dropped and the wages increased. Wages arent keep pace with inflation but the stock market is. THAT'S where the angst comes from.
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Post by luapnor on Jun 6, 2024 14:55:46 GMT -5
I am not sure what "age" you are referring to... but in the late 70's in my hometown of Chambersburg, PA, I was earning roughly 14000/yr(plus overtime in a union shop) and you could buy a house for around $19000 and rent an apartment for about $150/month.
House: 1.4 annual wage(less with overtime) Rent: 14.5 % of monthly wage. A brand new custom F150 4x4 for $6900
That ratio is hugely different today. That is inflation(Printed money) and the export of our manufacturing. It was easier for someone to be comfortable.
I thought you said you were GenX which would mean you were born after 1964. Yoru parents were the greatest generation and you were genX. Never said I was genX, you just assumed I was.
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Post by PolarsStepdad on Jun 6, 2024 14:57:01 GMT -5
I'm Gen x. Zero Foxtrot
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Post by luapnor on Jun 6, 2024 14:57:41 GMT -5
If everyone would put away their credit cards and only buy things that you could afford to pay cash for you'd see prices drop like a rock. Credit cards as well as readily available credit is a pox on our society. I have about $20 cash on me and use credit cards for absolutely everything I buy and they are paid off every month. I bought my leased car yesterday at the end of the three year lease and used $5000 on a credit card, because that was all they will take on a CC. I rack up lots of rewards cash, which I can use for whatever I want. I can't speak for anyone else. Your method of payment is inflationary. Credit cards add to the cost of all products as banks skim 3% off every purchase.
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Post by cyclist on Jun 6, 2024 15:01:02 GMT -5
The Elephant in the room that is not being talked about is wages. There was a time in history when a man could make a good living as a bank teller. And the wife stayed home with the kids. Well the Womens lib movement increased the supply of available workers so wages went down and the 2 income household became the norm, almost required today. And open border policies allow entry for the workers who "do the jobs Americans wont" further increasing the supply of workers. Americans would probably do those jobs as they did in the past if the supply of workers dropped and the wages increased. Wages arent keep pace with inflation but the stock market is. THAT'S where the angst comes from.
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