Do you live paycheck to paycheck?

[anarch]

Poll question: Do you live paycheck to paycheck?

Sorry if this has been done a million times, but hey, there might be a different data set now...

Just an informal, non-scientific poll. Please answer on a household basis if you can...I'm choosing the first option for my household. We used to always have a little extra and be able to buy new clothes, replace broken furniture, etc...but not since we went from two incomes to one, and since a bunch of medical bills. And I know, we probably could have found some way to cut back on our spending so that we wouldn't be quite as bad off as I feel like we are (e.g. "well you obviously have the internet, you can't be in too bad a shape" and blah blah blah), but well, we didn't, so here I am.

So, how are you doing? Hope I haven't missed any blatantly obvious options...

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Always have

Never seem to be able to get ahead.

[lunatica]

2. I'm short the last two weeks of the month unless I overdraw at the bank

I have a very nice merchant who gives me store credit which I pay off religiously. Other than that and the fact that I've had to file bankruptcy and am hoping not to get foreclosed in the future, everything is just fine.

[nickinSTL]

3. not at the moment

but most likely, that won't last.

We were paycheck to paycheck a few months ago.

Then my wife got a job with the census - and so we have some extra cash. A good part of that is likely to go towards shoring up a wall in the house.

Unless she finds something else permanent and regular, we'll be back to paycheck to paycheck again - and I've just had a pay cut.

[dogday]

4. Many of us are one paycheck from being on the street... n/t

[dem mba]

5. unemployed and living on UI and savings

been unemployed without severance for only a month though.

[Curmudgeoness]

6. Lucky to have a job right now, and save a little every week. I have

always lived below my income, no matter how low it is (lived on popcorn and milk for months, got a pillow for Christmas one year because I didn't have one, etc.) I guess I just make sure that I don't NEED much.

[justabob]

7. other

I work as a waitress for multiple reasons, but the best one is I make cash daily. I don't have to wait for a paycheck to go buy food, or whatever. I rarely make the money I need, but I don't have to wait two weeks for my pennies either.

[w8liftinglady]

8. on longterm disability with a jr high and college student still at home...it blows.

[Kat45]

9. What paycheck?

I'm unemployed and not eligible for unemployment compensation. Currently living off my shrinking savings. Sucks.

[oneshooter]

10. Currently self employed, but contracts are getting harder to find

A lot of illegals out here underbidding me. Home maintenance, fencing, general work.

Oneshooter
Armed and Livin in Texas

[w8liftinglady]

13. i wonder if you live near me(Ellis County)>>>Bad problem here,too

[lib2DaBone]

11. Of course we do. We live in a Republican controlled Work Force.

..That is the plan of Newt Gingrich . To keep all worker bees destitute, cut wages, cut Social Security and ship all jobs to China.

We can all be butlers and servants for the wealthy.

[high density]

12. No.

My historical savings rate is about 15% of net income per year. I was incredibly lucky recently and switched jobs with a decent raise in the process. The company I was working for previously seemed to be begging everybody to leave in the way they were treating us, so I did.

[customerserviceguy]

14. Saving in my 401K, and in a credit union savings account

I can't say that I've always been able to do that, but whenever I do work, I put the priority on paying off debt, contributing at least enough to get the employer match on the 401K, and setting something aside so if an emergency comes, I don't have to rely on a credit card.

I used to do taxes from 1981-1990. I was amazed by all the people who made well more than I ever did who had squat in savings. You have to always spend less than you're taking in. That's admittedly tough when you're unemployed or even underemployed, but in the last year I've been able to build up some savings and pay off debt while on a part-time job.

If you don't set something aside during the prosperous years, you'll never make it during the lean ones.

[w8liftinglady]

15. that's a great post- my medical bills were over 200K this year-on 10 month disability(50% income)

If I hadn't saved a little before,I'd be living in a crate with my kids now....

[Skip Intro]

16. Absolutely, and I'm so sick of it. This is not how people were meant to live.

Got laid off a year ago. Was barely getting by then. Suddenly, about three weeks ago, my unemployment checks stopped. Supposedly, I'll get a lump sum payment for the weeks I didn't wasn't paid on my unemployment insurance claim. In the meantime, I've taken a job that starts Aug. 1. You would think I'd be happy, but this job pays less than the one that laid me off. And I hate the work (same work, cell phone store, most abuse-taking job I've ever seen. If I hadn't experienced it myself, I would never believe the stress involved. And still, I'll be paycheck to paycheck.

The sad thing is, I am getting older. I'm not some 20-something, take on the world guy I used to be. I don't, evidently, have what it takes to compete for sales jobs, and that's really all I know.

It's depressing, and humiliating, scraping for every dollar, turning tricks like a prostitute. And barely making it.

Yet, in the back of my mind, I know there is a transcendental moment coming for me. I know that at some point, my life wont revolve around balancing bills and depriving myself of my wants on a constant basis. Somehow, someway, I know this is not my fate.

I feel like I'm number 250,000,001 in some long line, and all I can think is, fuck this line.

[sea four]

17. Other...

I live with my parents.

[Corey_Baker08]

18. I Get My Check On Friday And I Am Broke By Monday...

Monday through Friday is the longest part of the week. I work my ass off as a Security Officer contracted through the Dayton, Ohio Police Department and work at Big Lots (a retail store) and go to school full time majoring in Criminal Justice. After Paying Bills and Filling up the car my checks are gone and I am usually run Thursday and Friday with the low fuel light on hoping I don't run out.

Today is my 21st Birthday I don't even have the money to go out and do anything which I don't drink anyway but the brakes went out on my car so I was going to at least go to show as a Birthday present to myself but thats not happening.

[Tsiyu]

20. HAPPY BIRTHDAY COREY!111

:party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party: :party:

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

:beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer: :beer:

:toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast: :toast:

:kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick: :kick:


You're legal now!

Wish i could buy you a beer..here's hoping your weekend is awesome to make up for it.

[Corey_Baker08]

22. Thank You Much...Tho After a Very Publicized Drinking Offense I Recieved Last Year I Don't Drink!!

Thanks for your well wishes, I was taught a very valuable lesson by the Judge in my case and as a Student and an Officer Prospective in a career in Law Enforcement I have found the best way to stay out of trouble is to not drink. Heck....I Dunno with a Designated Driver maybe it'd do me some good to kick back and celebrate with a cold Coors Light...but doubtful that I will I haven't drank since October of 2009, not a single drop.

[Tsiyu]

23. I know. I remember ; )

Still, I would be the DD and you wouldn't have that worry!

Keep up the good work. I have a feeling you will make a great cop, even though DUers like me are supposed to hate all cops!

Good luck to you and again, best wishes on your 21st. :hug:

[Corey_Baker08]

24. I Promise You I Will Be A Cool Yet Proffesional Cop!!! Thanks For the Well Wishes!!!

:hi: :cheers: :hi:

[Cresent City Kid]

19. Paycheck to paycheck twice monthly

I pay the rent with my check from the 1st and the electricity because it's due on the 11th. I pay all my other bills with my check from the 15th. I get food twice a month and gas at least twice a week since my job is 32 miles away. I occasionally borrow a little gas money from the inlaws which I always pay back on my next check. If I had to get any kind of healthcare or a car repair, I'd be screwed.

[hfojvt]

21. none of those really fit me, especially now

I am spending a fair amount of money, but I still have a fair amount of money in my savings account. But $20,000 in CDs doesn't really qualify as 'rich'. Nor do I save a little every month. Nor do I live paycheck to paycheck. Despite being in the bottom quintile for most of my life (except when I was growing up in the middle-middle class with penny-pinching parents) I have always had something in savings. I would freak out if I had to live paycheck to paycheck. I would feel totally exposed. So I don't put myself in that situation.

[Juche]

25. Other

I live with family and work part time, so I am able to save a decent amount of money. If I were renting an apartment I think I'd still be able to save money, but not nearly as much. I have no idea when things will be good for me financially so I am saving my income.

However when you consider that even those who save money are really just 1 serious illness away from losing it all we are all living close to the edge. All it takes is a serious illness that costs you your job, and many people would lose everything.