hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
Login to Send PM
I saw this news story a few weeks ago at the Washington Post's website:
Squeaking by on $300,000 per year
The woman who is the subject of this story lives near White Plains, NY, just north of NYC. The irony is that Mae and I had just gotten back from visiting a cousin of mine who lives in that area. We probably drove within blocks of this woman's house.
SJT
Login to Send PM
Yep- it's saddening& sickening. I have heard similar stories from someone who works in a bank listening to people whine, "But I have a BOAT. I can't give up my boat." The recession is making rich people freak out bc they have more "stuff" to lose. Poor people are used to being broke& seem to have better coping skills sometimes. We live in a twisted society. :(
KSquared
Literally Hell
Login to Send PM
"A Manhattan psychologist at two elite private schools discusses how sudden financial insecurity affects children who are accustomed to having the best of everything. Don't end childhood, he says, but shift it to the new reality."
Wow. I'm sure those kids are firmly rooted in reality. A generic cell phone is a hardship?? Seriously??
It sickens me that these people even have the gall to complain. None of them have to make remotely difficult decisions, like going without needed car repairs or prescriptions so they can pay the water or electric bill. Ridiculous.
Tigertree
771 N. High St.
Login to Send PM
I don't know, everything is relative. I am sure plenty of us would be upset if we had to give up our Iphones for a pre-paid or cancel the internet and go to the library or any of our other creature comforts. And I am sure if people in less fortunate circumstances read the stories of people like us complaining about those sacrifices they are having the same discussion.
mitchellosu
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
blockquote>Tigertree wrote >>
I don't know, everything is relative. I am sure plenty of us would be upset if we had to give up our Iphones for a pre-paid or cancel the internet and go to the library or any of our other creature comforts. And I am sure if people in less fortunate circumstances read the stories of people like us complaining about those sacrifices they are having the same discussion.
Thats a bingo.
<
hugh59
Aboard the ultimate power in Olde Towne East
Login to Send PM
There is a world of difference between giving up an iPhone and cutting back cell service to a basic plan (or giving it up completely) and what this woman is doing.
This woman's lifestyle is horribly wasteful to begin with. And did you notice that she is putting off repairs to the septic system in her house? Holy Moses...she has sewage leaking into her basement! That is a health risk for her family. But she will put that off and pay for her luxuries.
If I were to lose my job, I can think of a few expenses I would cut until I found a replacement job: Cell service, internet, eating out. I would not continue to go out and buy $200 sweaters (not that I would ever buy such expensive clothes to begin with)(as some of you may have noticed).
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
Login to Send PM
The idea that everything is relative works multiple ways and doesn't automatically explain this woman's "complaining." My experience has been that, no matter how poor I am, I have never felt poor at the time. Even when I was in college and lived off of $300 a month (food, clothes, medical, gas, all), I've never felt poor, but afterwards I've looked back at different times when I had less and thought, "Wow, how did I live on that." No matter how much or little I've had, I've always been very in touch with the fact that there are people with less. Relativity goes both ways.
Mae
Olde Towne East
Login to Send PM
Tigertree wrote >>
As a side note, I am sure her sweaters cost way more than 200 dollars.
Obviously you have not read the article on which we are commenting.
I have to agree with TaraK that relativity does go in more than one direction. I don't think that it is unreasonable to expect a person with such a high income to be educated (i.e. aware of ways of life other than her own) and therefore able to put her own circumstances into perspective.
KSquared
Literally Hell
Login to Send PM
Mae wrote >>
Tigertree wrote >>
As a side note, I am sure her sweaters cost way more than 200 dollars.Obviously you have not read the article on which we are commenting.
I have to agree with TaraK that relativity does go in more than one direction. I don't think that it is unreasonable to expect a person with such a high income to be educated (i.e. aware of ways of life other than her own) and therefore able to put her own circumstances into perspective.
+1.
mellotron
Arena District
Login to Send PM
Reminds me of that commercial - can't recall of what...
But it's shows the father of a household driving a riding mower listing his assets and appearing content with life:
I have 4 kids
A three car garage
A country club membership
I'm in debt up to my eyeballs... ...somebody please save me...
The commercial must be at least 4 years old. The commercial made us laugh, but wholy cow, how prophetic??
misskitty
Columbus
Login to Send PM
ugghhh ,
We have a nanny and a pool boy and a garder how will we make it ?
Gee I don't know how about cutting some fat off the list, Try baby sitter, Garden yourself, as well as the pool.
It reminds me of that "give me pitty letter" that Tarp wife sent to the paper. I can't give to much pitty is someone can't figure out how to manage their selfs.
I will when they have nothing left and still can't do it.
mitchellosu
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
mellotron wrote >>
Reminds me of that commercial - can't recall of what...
But it's shows the father of a household driving a riding mower listing his assets and appearing content with life:
I have 4 kids
A three car garage
A country club membership
I'm in debt up to my eyeballs... ...somebody please save me...
The commercial must be at least 4 years old. The commercial made us laugh, but wholy cow, how prophetic??
I remember that commercial. The look on this guy's face is really funny.
| Get the Flash Videos |
SJT
Login to Send PM
Relative??? Really??? Yeah- I think the point is that these people don't know what REAL financial hardship is& complaining about what they have to "give up" is so ridiculous when you look at the rest of the world. I'm sure I am wasting my breath at this point although I know many do "get it". Sigh.
Hael
Login to Send PM
I am grateful to have grown up very poor. Having climbed a few rungs of the ladder I can draw on first hand experience to appreciate blessings I have experienced and earned.
Sure rich kids can read about the plight of poor people but its not the same as having experienced poverty and climbed your way out. Stark difference, sometimes, between reality and what is on paper. (wouldn't it be great if more politicians weren't silver spoons)
Though my good times are just paying dues, I've got shoes and money and good friends too, though I always play to win, I always seem to lose, thats why I think I got a rich kid's blues.
mitchellosu
Merion Village
Login to Send PM
No matter who you are, someone out there has less than you and they're probably as bitter about you and your consumerism as some of you seem to be about this woman's.
Very few things are more annoying than jealousy-based indignation.
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus. Click here to visit TheMetropreneur.com.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTube
