Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

**Broken Arrow** · 11-09-2006, 04:05 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

I think there was a thread on this a short while back, and although I technically live paycheck to paycheck, I do contribute a quarter of my paycheck to my retirement, and have a full emergency fund....

I want to do much better than that though.

I am also finding that I am becoming less and less interested in trying to talk to my friends about it. I don't think they want to hear it, and I don't think I want to continue the hassle of talking to them about it. This isn't my opinion on what I think others should do though. It's just how I feel about it right now.

**naturalwoman** · 11-09-2006, 05:00 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

yes there is, sorry for not looking i did read it.

**creditcardfree** · 11-09-2006, 06:12 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

If you've never commented on it before and you can be tactful, it doesn't hurt to bring the subject up once. Unfortunately, there are some people who will always believe they can't get ahead without outside intervention. I had a neighbor you was always complaining about not having enough money. My thought was always...then do something, anything about it. I knew her for 7 years...always the same complaint.

**boefixepa** · 11-09-2006, 06:40 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

You can have this same debate about a million different topics, money, weight, religion, politics, children, marriage, ect... What it boils down to, on any topic, is a personal desire to make a change. Unless a person wants to...save money, lose weight, ect. they will not do it. You can talk until you are blue in the face, you can try to inspire them, you can show them how much better off they'd be. It will make no difference unless they have the personal desire to make a change and are willing to commit and work for it. It's a skill that is sorely lacking in today's world.

If your friends want to hear, they will listen. If they roll their eyes when you start talking about it, save it for a time when they are ready to listen. If they want advice or support they know where to come.

**Fizgig** · 11-09-2006, 07:00 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

Right now I could go three and a half months without a paycheck or other money. My 2006 goal was to get a four month cushion, and barring any expensive emergencies in the next two months, I'll get there plus some.

Sometimes I worry about the finances of my friends, but I stay out of it unless they bring it up (rarely). I'm not their mommy and it would just alienate them. The one time I was personally affected was with one friend who is a single mom working a pretty low wage job - I'd often happily pay for her meal or cover at clubs because I knew things were tight and I wanted her along. Then she'd talk about her Starbucks mocha habit ($4+ once or twice a day) and I'd just get irritated at paying for her, so I stopped. There were some puppy dog eyes at first because she was used to me footing the bill, but it got normal quickly.

**Marcymox** · 11-09-2006, 09:23 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

well, sort of- I mean I put every extra cent I have into savings each month- I'm building a 6 month emergency fund. so technically right at this moment I'm completely broke- as in ZERO money to spend- but only because I transferred it from checking to savings. I do this after I pay all the bills, buy my gas, get groceries, ect.

now lets say the car breaks down or the washer breaks- I could just take the money our of savings, I wouldn't need a payday loan or have to put it on the credit card. THAT's Truly the real example of living paycheck to paycheck.

But- if a friend calls, and wants to see a movie, go shopping,ect I'll have to put off until payday ( tomorrow) because technically there is no money in my checking account until payday.

**Ima saver** · 11-09-2006, 09:56 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

No, I have never lived that way. I have always had savings. When we moved from florida to the georgia mountains, we lived on our savings for a year. I am sure I could live on my savings for years and years.

**PRICEPLUS** · 11-09-2006, 10:08 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

What is truly amazing to me is the number of people around where I live who live this way. I think it best to live below your means and save! Maybe the rampant consumerism that has engulfed our society will one day cease and people will become more frugal! Just my .02 cents!

**MonkeyMama** · 11-09-2006, 10:11 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

I try not to give up, but I pretty much do give up talking to other people about it. Like you said, they assume you have to be rich not to live paycheck to paycheck. I have been called naive and all sorts of things. I Came from a middle class backgrounds, but my dad made that out of nothing. & my parents expected me to make it on my own. All I know is the people whining and who want it all are not getting there. & I know many people working extra jobs, budgeting, and/or just being creative on how they make and save money. They don't whine and they DO get ahead. Honestly, the more money my friends make, the more behind they are. The lower class is doing better - from the examples I see. Certainly not the "norm" but a strange trend I See. Middle class is sinking hard because they do not see the need to budget or get a second job - but they are spending more than they make. ?? Anyway, I shut my mouth for the most part. I have had people who wanted help come to me for help though, with their budget and such. It is nice to see someone wake up and smell the roses once in a while.

I don't live paycheck to paycheck in the least. & yet I still feel "behind."

Today I could probably survive for a good 9 months if I lost my job. That is on savings alone. BUT the whole thing is the odds of me being out of a job more than a week TODAY are slim. I prepare more for the unknown future. AND if I lost my job, dh and I could both look for a job. That is the nice thing of not relying on 2 incomes - extra insurance I guess in job loss. My near-term goal is to save enough to live on for 2 years.

**Ima saver** · 11-09-2006, 11:07 AM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

I have had a very close friend, that I have tried to get financial advice for about 30 years. she still thinks I don't know what I am talking about. I know how you feel, after a while you just give up. she has always lived paycheck to paycheck. It wasn't til her husband got a court settlement for an accident, that they had more than $100 in their savings account.

**LuxLiving** · 11-09-2006, 03:33 PM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

Nope we aren't.

You can't talk to folks about money unless they're ready to hear it! Unless you're really wanting to alienate them!

**dossin1** · 11-11-2006, 12:27 PM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

No we are not paycheck to paycheck, but our cushion is not as great as it should be. We can only go about 2 months before the roof caves in. At one point we did have about 6 months, but we had a lot of emergency expenses just as our income started decreasing so our savings took a hit.

As far as advising others, I've tried with relatives and like others have said, unless there is motivation, people are not open to changing their lifestyle unless there are dire circumstances.

**Ima saver** · 11-11-2006, 12:32 PM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

But my friend does ask me for advice, but then argues that I don't know what I am talking about. Before cell phones became popular, they use to have $200-300 a month long distance bills, but could not pay their rent.

**shelbylovesmelby** · 11-13-2006, 06:49 PM

Re: Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?

Originally posted by creditcardfree

If you've never commented on it before and you can be tactful, it doesn't hurt to bring the subject up once. Unfortunately, there are some people who will always believe they can't get ahead without outside intervention.

I agree! I had some co workers (before I became a sahm) who just complained to no end about the Power Co was going to cut their service ect ect... & yet when lunch time came they were the first ones to start taking orders for carry out & I was this grump who didn't want to participate & part w/ my money. But yet somehow my bills were current & are now current even on half our income. I think alot of those people are just trying too keep up w/ the Jones' & it's pretty normal.

BTW we are a pay check to pay check family w/ a lil savings on the side to cover if the furnace blows

Are You Living Paycheck to Paycheck?