Any savings they may have had that could tide them over a month or so were probably spent on a Christmas back in late November/early December that they thought they could afford back then.
I know, we're all supposed to keep 10K or more in savings at all time to be financially responsible and all that, but from what I've seen working around the Government over the past 40 years, wages just have not kept up with the ability to save since 2001, and most people are lucky to keep half of one paycheck in savings at any one time. Between the cost of living, cost of education and health care, and the increased disposability of consumer goods (autos, appliances) that don't have the lifespans of earlier models or require specialized repair facilities to maintain, further draining the savings of the average worker.
We've been expected to "shoulder the burden of our costs" at greater and greater levels so investors can get the returns they are addicted to, or rich f***ers can reap significant personal financial benefits from a flatter tax rate, pretending that the ability to indulge in an extravagant lifestyles and disposable needs on their income is an equivalent right to them as the right to be able to pay for the basic requirements to survive with perhaps a few perks that the only lifestyle an average worker or working small business owner can usually afford on his or her wage.
Lots of government co-workers of mine had already booked holiday trips to visit relatives out of state or have a special time with their families. Lucky for them, the DoD was funded back in November, so they're still getting paid, but for those working at agencies that were expecting a CR to pass as normal, this was a serious and unexpected blow. Most can get through January, but without the paycheck on the 11th making it to them by at least by the end of the month, many looking at evictions, shut-offs, and some serious financial difficulty it will take years for them to recover from, if they ever do.
Student loans, vehicle loans, insurance payments, utility bills...they don't wait.
Haele
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