Middle class crunch

[cptacek]

We are lucky in some things: degrees in high-paying jobs

This wasn't luck! This was a good decision! Good for you. Don't apologize for it.

[tripods68]

A broader picture to look at, real wages simply hasn't keep with up with the cost of housing and health care cost coupled that with negative savings rate and increasing credit card debt. No wonder Americans has very little to show for.

The Motley Fool's Credit Center mind-blowing statistics 2004 Data:

Total consumer credit: $1.7 trillion.
Credit card debt carried by the average American: $8,562.
Total finance charges Americans paid in 2001: $50 billion.
Percent of U.S. households deemed credit worthy by the lending industry: 78%.
Number of credit card holders who declared bankruptcy last year: 1.3 million.

Americans Have Negative Savings Rate, Consumer Credit Grows In 2005 At Slowest Pace In 13 Years - CBS News

[PrincessPerky]

I cannot sympathize with buying diapers on CC,,,if you already spent half your check on luxuries...sorry buy the diapers first, put some extra away for 'just in case' (in case your kid has a reaction to some food, decides to regress on Potty training..or just plain manages to pee in mid change multiple times..there a tons of reasons why a normal amount of diapers wont work sometimes).

I do have kids, and 'wait till you have them' is no excuse.

It is all about priorities, and labeling your kid as a priority so you can buy them fancy toys or fancy clothes, classes, etc, is NOT the same as putting your kids first.

Not that I don't understand the desire to eat out because of kids, and the desire to hire a maid..because the boys pee on the potty! I don't do that, my husband doesn't do that, it is the kid!

Or the desire to 'escape' because of kids....really I get it. But just because they are cuter than most other reasons to hire a maid, eat out, or take a vacation, doesn't make it any less of an excuse! (on the other hand I really want a maid!)

What I don't get is the desire to buy a big screen TV...for the kids...err their brain needs it less than you do...(though if you have the loot and want one, whatever-just don't go buying diapers on CC tomorrow to make up for it, please)