How do people afford . . . ?

[gollygee]

My family makes well well above the median family income in our area - probably twice the median - and our city has a pretty high median income.

But we're still having trouble affording things like dentistry and veterinary care for our cat. And we even have dental insurance, and I don't think most people have that. Groceries and gas have gotten so expensive that we've been cutting back in lots of other areas. I never used to have my daughter keep wearing pants with holes in the knees, but I've gotten over that kind of thing. I don't need nice haircuts - I go somewhere cheap now and I don't go very often. I just can't afford a swankier place. I still don't shop at Wal-Mart, but I'm finding that, generally, I just don't shop. We make do with what we have. Or we buy used. Our washer broke down and we got a used one off craigslist.

How are people surviving in this economy? Every time we have to figure out how we're going to pay for something, we remember how much easier we have it than most people. We don't live in a McMansion - our house is only 1200 square feet - we're not living high off the hog or anything. Even at our income, times are hard for us, and if they're hard for us they must be this side of impossible for most people. My daughter's birthday is coming up and a few people on our list said they weren't going to be able to come because they simply couldn't afford to scrape together money for a present. I said not to worry about that - we want to celebrate with friends more than my daughter needs more toys - and thankfully they're coming anyway. I was surprised that three people on a list of 15 kids said that. That's a pretty high percentage, isn't it? It made me realize how lucky we are that we're doing so well. And, again, we're not having that easy a time.

Is this just Michigan? I've heard Michigan is worse off than a lot of places. So many people are out of work.

[annabanana]

1. No one is doing "well" except people at the VERY top... you know

the .01% that never have had, and never WILL have to balance a checkbook.

[Blackhatjack]

2. Many families are living off the last vestiges of remaining credit, and then times up ....

No more home equity loans, consumer credit card interest rates and fees are climbing, and unemployment is rising, ....

You are doing better than most... the others are just using up the last of their financial oxygen before they slip under completely.

[Old Codger]

3. things are tough

We are on a fixed income, we aren't in bad shape but it is a lot harder than it was for sure. we can thank the pols for this and not just the Repubs they are all at fault for deregulation, NAFTA, the mortgage debicle etc. they voted it to allow all these things ... They could have stopped it if they had an ounce of concern for ALL americans and not just the ones represented by lobbyists

[DemocratInSoCal]

4. Most People Use The "Bank Of China Credit Card"

As someone said above, once that last opportunity to get "free" money vanishes, they'll be in trouble.

Only corporations and the upper 5% will get the bailout.

[mrcheerful]

5. No it isn't just michigan feeling the pinch of the latest gop economic scam

its nation wide. The problem with michigan are those who still believe Reagan had it right, many here still blame welfare queens for their high taxes, now to add a new twist the new welfare queen are the disabled. Since the employment got so bad many of the disabled gave up trying to find work and started applying for SSDI and SSI, to many out there in michigan both programs are just another form of welfare entitlements for people to lazy to work. These peoples advise, pack up your stuff and move to anotrher state, they visited other states and saw all kinds of jobs in the local papers, why would anyone buy a newspaper while on vacation and look at help wanted ads is beyond my comprehension. I'm so bitter about the people in this state being such block heads it isn't funny.

[spanone]

6. credit cards......

[stillcool]

7. I've been tweaking the need

vs want items on my to do list for a while..revising by necessity. The idea of spending $3 on a cup of coffee is now appalling to me, where as a couple of years ago I did it several times a day. Main St. in our town is starting to look like a tumble-weed scene out of the wild west. The changes have been subtle, a store here, a store there, but the effect now is startling.

[Greyhound]

8. Once people get their brains to realize that we spend well over a $1 trillion a year

on war, while our people die and our infrastructure crumbles, we might see the uprising that can offer some needed change. Maybe.

[Lars39]

9. I understand your surprise...

Normally people will give some other excuse besides lack of money as to why they can't attend. You did a good thing by including them anyway...good lessons taught.

[Blue_In_AK]

10. You mentioned haircuts...

I have had one (and that was for my daughter's wedding) since George stole the 2004 election, my husband has had zero. I trim the hairs off the back of his neck with one of those little barber clippers. We kind of made a little vow that we wouldn't cut our hair until the assholes were out of office. Symbolic, I know, but we have saved some money. :)

I am lucky that I bought the duplex we live in for an excellent price back in 1990 when there was a downturn in the real estate market here (ironically, my landlady at the time was foreclosed on, the rental market was very tight, and I was forced to buy). My tenants pay most of the mortgage, even thought I am charging them about $200 below market per month and paying the utilities, so everybody's happy.

Our vegetable garden takes up most of the back yard, and I bought seeds to start inside this year instead of buying the starter plants like I usually do which has saved quite a bit. Hopefully I'll get enough yield to freeze some, but even if not, we'll still be eating better and cheaper this summer than through the winter. Also the king salmon limit has been increased, so when we go out fishing in July we'll be able to keep four instead of just two. Since we're over 60 we don't have to buy a fishing license or king tag anymore ... getting old does have its advantages. :)

[The Straight Story]

11. foregoing car insurance and the like - the things they make you have

versus the things YOU need to have to survive.

I have car insurance myself, but know many who cannot afford to pay it (even with a clean driving record they will punish you on rates if your credit is bad or you live in a certain area).

People find all kinds of ways to avoid paying some things mandated, and then use that money to live off of.

Plus you eat less and buy as little as possible - we have bought many clothes from 2nd hand stores.