I make $6.50 an hour. Am I poor?

[raccoon]

Here's how I slipped from the middle class into near poverty, and what I'm doing about it.

By Karen Datko

(Boy, could I relate to the parts of her article that I bolded. I guess lots of us on DU and off DU can.)


As a single professional woman, for years I sat securely among the lower rungs of the middle class.

Now I've fallen off the ladder.

In a matter of months, I went from a comfortable life with decent pay and health insurance to a $6.50-an-hour job with no insurance, no furniture and just enough resources to keep the wolf from the door.

I no longer buy anything unless it's absolutely essential. I spend $40 at the supermarket and make it last for more than two weeks.

I never turn down a free meal. I've learned to graciously accept money, furniture, elk meat and encouragement from worried friends.

I am no longer proud.

I have no romantic notions about being poor. I'm not nobler than others, and I'm not a victim. But I am one minor medical emergency away from welfare.

Simply put, I'm in survival mode.

Here's my story in a nutshell: I lost my job as a managing editor at a small newspaper in Montana after the ownership changed hands. Six months later, I moved to Pennsylvania to take a similar job. My living arrangements fell through, and as I searched for a rental that would accept my three dogs, I lived in a campground. When it became clear that I'd be a campground dweller for a while, my boss fired me, telling me my living situation was "bad for business." I sold off my household goods -- everything from a sofa to pots and pans -- and drove back to small-town Montana.

I still own a house here. And I have a network of loving friends.

(snip)

I've decided that the only acceptable course of action, poor or not, is to consider this an opportunity. I used to wake up with the notion that my situation was temporary and that I'd somehow return to my "real" job. Now I have no illusions. But I do have solutions.

I've put in my notice at the restaurant in favor of a much better paying job at a new discount giant moving into town. The pay still will not be enough to live on, but it will do wonders to reduce my stress.

I've begun a pet-sitting business, taking care of pets in their own homes when their owners are away. I charge $10 to $15 a day, competitive with local pet boarders.

I volunteer my writing services for local nonprofits that I support. I've gotten active in community affairs that my previous occupation required me to keep at an arm's length.

I no longer define myself by what I do for a living. On the flip side, I won't base my identity on my income.

Published Dec. 28, 2006

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/IMake650AnHourAmIPoor.aspx

[TomInTib]

1. But she kept the damned dogs.

I swear, people will do the weirdest things.

[RebelOne]

5. Why wouldn't she keep her dogs?

Dog are like your children and you don't give your children away. At least, that's the way I feel about my dogs.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

24. Ive had dogs and Ive had kids

Trust me Dogs are not like your children.... And Im not a flippant pet owner Ive at times spent allot of money to maintain their health and comfort. But in the end they are infinitely *less* valuable than my kids...

[NNN0LHI]

26. You are right there is nothing I would not do to protect one of my children

I would starve to let them eat.

That would not be the case for the dogs and cat as much as I like them.

Don

[SteelPenguin]

6. isn't that sort of the point?

She'd rather have her dogs and her friends and just live, rather than compromise who she is pursuing some goalpost, that always seems to move further and further away the faster you run.

It's not just about money. It's about being happy with who you are and where you are. Money can help, sure. Just not at the expense of your core self.

[SoCalDem]

7. When you are down & out, hanging onto pets you love, and who love YOU, is important

Even POOR PEOPLE need love, and pets are your family too :)

I would do whatever I HAD to do to hang onto MY pets... If you are a caring, loving person, you accept responsibility for the lives of the critters you adopt.. they are not THINGS, to be discarded when the going gets tough....like a Tv or VCR or iPod.. they are your family..

[TomInTib]

10. We all see things differently, I suppose.

When I left The Last Great Love of My Life, I had no idea where the road was going to lead.

So I gave her my Golden Retriever (and the cars, and the house). I wanted to make sure that he, at least, had a safe place to sleep and comfortable, safe, familiar surroundings.

This article is about someone who was basically homeless and, subsequently jobless because of the dogs. And now she can barely afford to eat.

I would eat the dogs.

Don't get me too far wrong, here, because some of the best friends I've had in my life have been of the four-legged variety.

But I do not think it is fair to drag an innocent animal down with you if you can help it.

[SoCalDem]

11. If you love them enough to fight to keep them, at some point

you would find a home for them if absolutely necessary, but I think most of us would make that the absolute last thing to do.. This woman has a roof over her head, and has some income, so as long as she can feed herself & her dogs, she'll muddle through:)

In your case, the dog was not left high & dry or abandoned at a pound somewhere, so for you, that was the right thing to do :thumbsup:

[TomInTib]

13. It was one of the most difficult decisions that I have ever made.

I still see him, quite often. And it almost kills me. But I know I did the right thing.

[SoCalDem]

16. The ONLY pet we ever gave up was a dog we dearly loved, and had gotten as a tiny pup,

but she was a "biter" and when she bit our 2 yr old on the lip, we had to give her to my mother (no little kids).. he was not mean to her, but Gidget (the dog) was about 10 at that time, and apparently that 2 yr old boy was more than she could tolerate.. It killed me to part with her, but I could not have her nipping at him.. She lived at my Mom's until she was 18 and was very well loved, but we missed her too..

[bean fidhleir]

35. Some people don't have enough heart in them to understand your point

Have you noticed that it's usually men who don't get it? Not always, of course, but usually. I think it must be the way so many boys are (still) raised - by the time they get the crap beaten out of them physically and/or emotionally for the fifth or fiftieth time for "acting like a girl" by having feelings, they shrivel up inside. After that all they are is empty shells that stay out of trouble but are more or less incapable of relating to other living creatures except superficially.

[truedelphi]

15. Ya know something, Tom, even slaves on plantations were able to have dogs

At least until they were sold off that plantation. I don't mean to romanticize slavery, but many wage earners are pretty much slaves - work 40 hours a week for little in return, live in some nightmare of an apartment complex, and there's not much hope either.

We are now a nation of whom roughly 75% of us don't know if it is worth it to struggle through another crisis any more - if it is this bad today, what about tomorrow?

We accept that executives who make more than the combined salary of an entire hospital (2200 employees) can put into effect health insurance policies that are killing us. With no penalty to them, and plenty of penalty to us. The war goes on, the banks will go on to yet another round of tax payer funded bailouts, etc.

In the end all you have are your friends. And when you are impoverished, funny thing, but suddenly there are very few friends. Maybe one or maybe two if you are lucky.

In the end your spouse and your pets are about it.

[TomInTib]

18. "In the end your spouse and your pets are about it."

Not here, truedelphi.

It's down to me.

For the first time in my life, I am completely alone.

Life gets curious, sometimes.

[truedelphi]

25. I'm very cranky today.

And that's not an excuse for taking it out on Fellow DU'ers like you.

I am sorry to hear that you are now alone. Life sucks!! Be good to yourself if you can.
Seek nurturing where you can get it.

I hope there is a complete reversal in your life so that you are soon back where you were before.

Stranger things have happened.

[TomInTib]

28. Don't feel sorry for me

I have had more than my share of Life.

No one I know has had as much fun, adventure, passion or music.

Life is just showing me that there is an element of balance to it all.

Alone isn't all that bad.

It's not as if I am lonely.

Hell, I still have my looks and a better-than-average voice.

Toss Ol' Cranky out the window, truedelphi.

Tom

[truedelphi]

31. Ol Cranky - she be gone today.

As far as people in crisis, there's no pity from me, Tom, just respect.

On the emotional highways of life, things can be rough. We are taught that success is to be respected, and that failure of any type is a sign of weakness.

But anyone with a cents worth of common 'cents' knows that life's lessons come at a steep price, and that others must respect anyone walking through the Shadowy Valley of Life Lessons - whether the walker has a good voice or not!

[TomInTib]

32. Glad she's gone.

Goodness, I didn't mean to sound maudlin. I am having the time of my life. It's just that - for the first time in my adult life - I am on my on.

But I am rockin', having a ball. Back in the studio and recording, too. The Crazy Woman who I spent the past seven years with would never let me concentrate on my music.

[truedelphi]

36. You say: But I am rockin', having a ball.

Great news and glad to hear it. What musical influences are you under? (if any)

But please don't pipe up abt the benefits of the single life too much - I don't want Mr Delphi to get too many ideas. (He's had to deal with his Crazy Woman for (going on) fourteen yrs.)

I hope he's a stronger man for it.

[TomInTib]

39. ....

Heck, I was (still am, legally) married for 33 years.

I write my own stuff, mostly.

Texas Music, but not country. My influences are all over the map. My style, however, is my own.

From rockin' blues to lyrical acoustic.

From Hank Williams to Lightnin' Hopkins to Townes Van Zandt and Johnny Winter.

Just a muckin' fess of stuff.

[freeplessinseattle]

30. maybe shouldn't have eaten your dogs:) n/t

[Lorien]

29. Yeah, it's so "weird" to feel love and compassion for living things

which give love unconditionally. :eyes: :sarcasm:

Jeezus Tom, for some of us OUR PETS ARE THE ONLY FAMILY WE HAVE!

[Subdivisions]

37. My dog weighs about 5lbs. That's 5lbs of the best

love I've ever had. She's also 5lbs of happiness.

I've had to plan my life around her at times and I never give it a second thought. Need an apartment? Do you allow 5lbs of tranquilizer in the shape of a chihuahua?

[VotesForWomen]

38. you're kidding, right? i'd lose my job and keep my dogs in a heart beat.

[leftofcool]

2. This is a great article

Everything is temporary. Actually, this author has figured out that money does not mean happy and things do not make the person.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Very good points

I used to define myself by my job, until I moved to Arkansas and couldn't get a job in my field of expertise. This person has a lot of good ideas, one of the most important being that she volunteers for non-profits. This is as important as working for money, because it so helps your self-esteem.

We need to work together, to help one another. When you do that, the amount of money you get on payday stops mattering. What does matter (which so many of us have forgotten) is our attitude towards others.

I work with two guys who make their money prepping houses for termite treatments, which often means grubbing in mud and digging out under houses with low crawls. Two finer gentlemen I cannot think of. They are polite, cordial, come to work on time and take pride in their work. Stacking them against some of the CEOs with their golden parachutes--hey, Bobby and Dennis would win hands down, every time.

[Breeze54]

4. She's not alone....

I'm glad she at least owns her own home.

[DAGDA56]

8. If she makes $6.50 an hour, and works less than 40 hours a week...

...she is eligible for food stamps. She can still own her home and a car and probably qualify. Anyone in this situation should at least apply.

[1776Forever]

9. I can truly relate to this "Simply put, I'm in survival mode." A lot of us are there!

Not by choice but by circumstance - My husband and I had to help our 38 year-old son who had no insurance a couple of years ago and it took all our savings. Now we are trying to keep our home in Florida. It is getting very rough and I keep trying to find a job. I just keep praying and trying - that is all we can do.

Take care and blessings to everyone in the same boat!

We just have to keep hope alive!

:hi:

[Breeze54]

12. 'We just have to keep hope alive!'

Well said, 1776Forever! :hug:

:hi:

[iamthebandfanman]

14. i dont think the last statement was a bad thing

"I no longer define myself by what I do for a living. On the flip side, I won't base my identity on my income. "

maybe people will feel a new since of humbleness from now on once we are able to get out of this slump.

[KG]

19. this would be a much better world if people started off thinking that, instead

having to fall to come to that way of thinking.

[jackster]

17. Still, if it were me, I would have found some kind of good home -

for the dogs before I sacrificed my job. At times, I've had to sacrific the love of very dear pets in order to make sure my children had a decent home. If it were just me though, I don't know. I can't condemn her, she sounds like a very wonderful and decent woman, but I do question her judgement. But as I said, if I were in the situation now that my children are grown, I'm not sure HOW I could react. My 3 furry babies are family and giving them up with be the last resort. I wish her well. I'm sure there are many more like her.

[guitar man]

20. no

I make $16.00 an hour and I'm poor. $6.50 is just plain "po" :(

[GoesTo11]

21. You are no longer proud? Be proud.

Proud doesn't mean you won't accept a friend's generosity. It doesn't mean you wear fancy clothes.

Still be proud of who you are. How you are getting through in the way you can. How you haven't compromised your ethics. How, in spite of your less-than-cushy life, you take time to do things that help the world.

Hold your head high.

[DadOf2LittleAngels]

22. Depends on where you live I suppose..

In some areas 13K a year can keep you fed and a roof over your head (though there are very *very* few)..

[LSK]

23. there is a part 2 to this story:

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/AmIPoorNotAnymore.aspx

The wolf has backed far away from the door since "I make $6.50 an hour; am I poor?" -- my account of how I fell from the middle class and what I'm doing about it -- appeared in January.

My plan of attack has worked. My circumstances are more secure, and my future includes the prospect of regaining health insurance.

I'm operating a pet-sitting business and steadily building a clientele. I get paid to visit pets in their homes while their owners are away.

I'm now working nearly full time -- I'm part time by choice, to allow sufficient time for pet-sitting -- for much more than $6.50 an hour in the produce department of a new retail giant that opened in my small Montana town. The pay covers basic living expenses like food, mortgage, heat and phone. And going to work is like getting paid to work out. My 52-year-old body is in better shape than it's been in years.

After 30 years as a full-time journalist, I'm now pursuing freelance writing as well.

The issue of health care is unresolved. But after a year at my retail job, I'll be eligible for health insurance.

[AngryOldDem]

27. The last sentence, to me, is the saddest.

Our jobs should not define who we are, or by extension, our sense of self-worth. (Other than, of course, having the knowledge that we do a good job, and that we take pride in our work.) But unfortunately, we cannot but help to have our economic status define who we are.

I am pretty much struggling with the same issues. I am more than a paycheck, yet in many ways, without a paycheck I am nothing.

[DU GrovelBot]

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[noonwitch]

34. She's only poor if she thinks she's poor.

Actually, she's quite rich, in some ways. Gifts from friends are more appreciated, she has a job that may be demanding, but it is not stressful outside of the workplace, and could probably make money teaching money-management skills to teens and young adults because she has such experience making ends meet on a limited budget.