Uh, some of these reasons seem pretty silly. I was an engineering major but I borrowed books from the college library, too. English majors are not the only ones who can think and have great parties. Engineers have the best nerd parties with board games, video games, and booze.
Oh by the way, English is my second language but I think the word is probably "hire" and not "higher" in this sentence "There’s a bookstore in San Francisco that seems to only higher college graduates and what did they major in? You guessed it—English."
Exactly what I tell students (about English, Biology, Political Science, Anthropology, Philosophy, Sociology -- any liberal arts major)! Well, not exactly. I have to be a bit more tactful.
Now, if you'll go in and fix the following sentence (Ms. English major!):
"I don’t know that I’m too keen on their being more cops..."
It should be 'there' rather than 'their', I promise to forward this link to the English Department chair at my university. She'll like this.
It's all about being able to laugh at one's self right? I'm sorry if people do not have a sense of humor. I go to bat for my students all day long but I also encourage them away from trendy majors and towards the ones that might have more longevity. I'm finding though that majoring in English is paying off in many ways---even though it sounds silly to have majored in the language one speaks....so be it.
Meg (2): The ability to communicate is an important thing, but not the only thing. Flexibility is just as important.
Guest(3): Lighten up.
Meg (4): likewise
Jim T (5): If you don't think the ability to stay awake during boring presentations (aka meetings) is important, you will probably never reach your full earning potential.
Robin (6): You have a BS in Chemistry and you party by... drinking??? You have never heard the saying "better living through chemistry?"
poor and broke (7 & 8): You could probably find better rent options. what city do you live in?
The DH and I just put a security freeze on our credit info with the three agencies. This prevents anyone from checking our credit, and makes it highly unlikely that anyone could open new accounts in our names, even if they had our social security numbers, etc. It did cost $10 per agency, per spouse, plus $24 to send everything by certified mail. But it will pay for itself over a $10 per month service in nine months. If we want to open a new account ourselves, or get credit approval for something, we can have the freeze lifted temporarily, again for a small fee. Since we're not planning to move, and we're paying cards down, not opening new ones, this works for us. Check it out at consumersunion.org/securityfreeze.htm
p.s. Rents are up here 20-25 percent over the last three years. I used to be able to afford a small studio apartment, now all I can afford is a room in a house with eight other people.
I'm not worried about immigrants coming here and taking my job. But I am worried about the EXCESS (illegal) immigrants who are filling vacant housing units and thereby driving up rents.
I'm glad I have a BS in chemistry. Now for 6 years of grad school, yippee! And everybody knows chemistry majors throw the best parties... :) Well, we all drink, at least. Speaking of which, I think I need some amaretto...
Earning an English degree is so generic. It's like winning an award for good attendance. All it tells your future employers (if any) is that you managed not to sleep through most of your classes.
As humorous as some of the reasons you listed are (e.g. do English majors really have better parties or is that wishful thinking?), I think it is very important to consider what you want to do when choosing a major. Granted, you might not know what you want to do, and I definitely believe that being well-rounded is important. And with an English major, there are definitely many available career paths.
However, not all career paths are easily accessible without a degree in that field. Just look at the minimum requirements on job listing sites! Unless you know someone who knows your skills, you may find it difficult getting your foot in the door. And even then, you generally have to have some specific skills -- many of which are taught in specific degree programs.
Looking at the list of careers you gave, some of those are going to require an additional degree -- or no degree at all. Many require specific skills or experience or knowledge or capital or talent, etc. etc. etc. An English degree won't make you a singer. It probably won't hurt, but if you have the talent, then you're probably better off saving your money and investing in singing lessons. In that respect, having an English major isn't anything special per se.
Now, I'm not against English degrees -- I just don't think that they're one size fits all solution. If you want to take an English degree for professional or personal reasons, that's great, but know why you're taking it as with any major. It's a lot of money to spend if really you're just undecided.
And as an English major (or any other type of major), add on other majors or minors to help differentiate yourself from the crowd, intern as much as you can, get work experience, start projects. Do not think that a college degree entitles you to a job, period.
Being a teacher yourself, you come off highly critical of people in the education field. You are so impressed with your ability to read and write papers "comparing and contrasting things that have no similarities". Who exactly do you think it was that taught you to read and write? Or gave you the foundation for the critical thinking skills that allowed you to write such papers? That would be an elementary teacher. We aren't all idiots who say "Oh my gosh, do we have to like read all those books?" I am currently pursuing my Master's, but just finished up teaching 2nd grade. Coming right out of undergraduate, I had my choice of jobs. A friend from college who was an English major spent that same year looking for a job, and finally decided to go back and get her Master's in something that would offer more job security in the future.
And on the note of mocking your students in the "popular" fields right now...How can you be a good teacher if you don't believe in your students and their goals? I was taught to set the bar high for my students and expect the best, so that then in turn they expected the best of themselves.
I have a degree in English, won a bunch of awards for it, etc, but job offers have been slim. Perhaps it's where I"m located, or the fact I'm too poor to venture out beyond a certain mileage (in addition to too poor to do much of a commute sans bicycle). I approached college wanting to maximize my chances at landing a self-fulfilling job, in whatever field that may be, so I undertook a course of study to teach me to think and communicate at a very high level (English and philosophy) rather then learn a specific set of information that I could probably pick up in a few months on a new job anyway. The more I try to enter the "B.A. Job market", the more I see that it's that latter part in demand, not the former.
Your evaluation of in-college benefits is right on though--I date a Math/Education major, and, while her books are reusable (not to say that novels, collections aren't) the prices are through the roof! As for parties, well, having dinner and drinking with George Saunders, getting drunk with David Dubal (Jerome Rose's student) and getting to interview Lewis Black were certainly highlights of my collegiate English career.
Dell does the same thing. While the ink levels say one thing, the cartridge says another. When it says extremely low or empty, I can usually get 30-60 prints more.
Will Chen's advice is good - "how to" on a budget is why we're here. Philip Brewer's piece on the new face of poverty offered insight into the economics of food; that's the kind of information that should provoke activism. This article does neither but hey, I've enjoyed the comments and learning about Junkfood Science and Marion Nestle. I'll definitely be following them both.
We have a huge old as dirt HP 4v laser printer. We got it for free when a bank in town was tossing it out. We have had the printer since about 2004 and have bought two refilled toner cartridges for $20 each since. This included all of my hubby's work and business printing when he worked out of the house two years out of that. So it averaged out to $10 a year.
Wow I just read through all the comments. Philip had a good article a while ago called The New Face of Poverty Is Fat . That one didn't get so many haters because it talks about the reasons why modern day poor people tend to be fat. So perhaps it is not totally true that fat causes people to be poor and accumlate less wealth. I think body type is hereditary, but with frequent exercise and healthy eating it is possible to be in a healthy weight range. However, like the other article pointed out, cheap food is unhealthy.
I certainly don't think any Wise Bread writer believes that being overweight is an easy issue to deal with, or that it is somehow an individual's fault for not staying thin.
Like many of you have pointed out, there are so many factors that contribute to our overall health problems. There's genetics, environment, culture, economics, politics, and even corporate corruption.
One of my personal favorites is Andrea's explanation of why is it so expensive to be healthy. While we all have to take some personal responsibility of our own health, as you can see from Andrea's article, very often the odds are stacked against us.
The blogging format has its limits. One of its biggest limitations is that it is sometimes difficult to tackle extremely complex issues in a single post. And I'm sure you'll all aggree that healthy living is a complex issue deserving of several volumes of text.
I apologize if any article on Wise Bread gives off the impression that complex health issues can be easily solved with some gumption and elbow grease. That is certainly not our intent.
On a personal note, I'm one of those "hidden" overweight people. I'm tallish and lanky, and I carry most of my fat in my beer belly, which is easily concealed by my oversized polo shirts. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels are terrible, and my 16 hour days in front of a computer isn't helping any. While people don't think of me as overweight, I am certainly living an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle.
So I think it is perhaps more helpful to move this disucssion towards "how can we all get healthier on a small budget."
Well said. I think a lot of the extra costs apply more to obese people than overweight, based on my experience as someone who is borderline obese (30BMI). I need a sweater when it is under 70 degrees.
Honestly, one of my motivations for losing weight is to be able to shop great fashion on sale. How many great deals have I walked past because I could not fit into size 10? Sigh.
But as others have said, losing weight is HARD! It takes commitment, dedication, support and time. While I have lost before, this time around is tough due to age and a post-baby body. After failing a few times I am starting SLOW with small steps. Cutting 100 calories every few days rather than jumping to a 12-1400 calorie diet is helping a lot. A FREE place to track you diet & exersize is fitday.com. Writing down (or entering online) is the most effective way to lose weight.
I almost feel bad about the shallow, consumption-driven reason I finally committed to losing weight. (I want to dress like the skinny chicks) But, it is about what is the right message at the right time for the right person to commit to losing weight. If saving money is the motivation one person reading this needs - great and good luck!
And remember - it is HARD and takes some time. Be patient and stay committed. Be honest with yourself (or your food/ fitness log). And feel proud for every 5 pounds you lose!! Enjoy the accomplishment.
Here is my perspective on decreased mobility and energy with obesity:
My husband is one of those "fat and fit" people. He was overweight when we married 10 years ago, and he is currently on the low end of obese. Yes, he grew up fat, and I would never say that it has been easy for him to lose weight. In fact, I probably take in more calories than he does and exercise MAYBE little more but his metabolism just makes the equation harder for him than it does for me.
My husband is in his mid 30s. His parents are in their late 50s. They are in the category of obese and unhealthy. They have both become diabetic, one has had both knees replaced, and both have a very difficult time being outside on a warm day, walking a couple blocks from the car, that kind of thing.
A couple decades ago, they too were merely overweight and in good health, and still found it relatively easy to get around. So unfortunately, although I hope my husband can remain fit, the future doesn't look rosy for him unless he loses weight or at least avoids gaining any more.
Most of my observations about people paying more for little things due to obesity come from seeing friends and relatives need to do so. Sure, everyone's situation is not the same, but what they have to deal with is quite common for people of their size.
Notice I didn't title my post "LOSE Weight and Save." That's because I have seen through the struggles of loved ones just how difficult losing weight is. I wouldn't try to advise people how to do something I've scarcely ever accomplished myself. But I DO know that it's easier to stay thin if you are already thin than it is to lose weight, hence the title.
After one memorable spring in which many oh-so-adorable clearance trinkets ended up in my driveway to become someone else's treasure (in other words, I had a yard sale), I implemented a "yard sale rule." It's simple: when the siren song of the clearance sale draws me in, I ask myself, "Will I enjoy this for years to come or will it end up in another yard sale?" If I even waver, it stays on the shelf. If I'm still thinking about the item a few days later, I'll go pick it up. Last yard sale, I had far fewer of those type things populating my driveway.
As the mother of two constantly growing children, however, I do shop the clearance racks in the clothing departments. Most stores in the US have all of their summer merchandise on clearance now. I live in the Southeastern US, where we may have hot weather through mid-October. So it's a good time to stock up on a few extra items to see them through that time, especially since some are starting to look worn from months of constant use.
Uh, some of these reasons seem pretty silly. I was an engineering major but I borrowed books from the college library, too. English majors are not the only ones who can think and have great parties. Engineers have the best nerd parties with board games, video games, and booze.
Oh by the way, English is my second language but I think the word is probably "hire" and not "higher" in this sentence "There’s a bookstore in San Francisco that seems to only higher college graduates and what did they major in? You guessed it—English."
Exactly what I tell students (about English, Biology, Political Science, Anthropology, Philosophy, Sociology -- any liberal arts major)! Well, not exactly. I have to be a bit more tactful.
Now, if you'll go in and fix the following sentence (Ms. English major!):
"I don’t know that I’m too keen on their being more cops..."
It should be 'there' rather than 'their', I promise to forward this link to the English Department chair at my university. She'll like this.
It's all about being able to laugh at one's self right? I'm sorry if people do not have a sense of humor. I go to bat for my students all day long but I also encourage them away from trendy majors and towards the ones that might have more longevity. I'm finding though that majoring in English is paying off in many ways---even though it sounds silly to have majored in the language one speaks....so be it.
Margaret Garcia-Couoh
I think some people missed the message though.
Meg (2): The ability to communicate is an important thing, but not the only thing. Flexibility is just as important.
Guest(3): Lighten up.
Meg (4): likewise
Jim T (5): If you don't think the ability to stay awake during boring presentations (aka meetings) is important, you will probably never reach your full earning potential.
Robin (6): You have a BS in Chemistry and you party by... drinking??? You have never heard the saying "better living through chemistry?"
poor and broke (7 & 8): You could probably find better rent options. what city do you live in?
cheers,
Ken
The DH and I just put a security freeze on our credit info with the three agencies. This prevents anyone from checking our credit, and makes it highly unlikely that anyone could open new accounts in our names, even if they had our social security numbers, etc. It did cost $10 per agency, per spouse, plus $24 to send everything by certified mail. But it will pay for itself over a $10 per month service in nine months. If we want to open a new account ourselves, or get credit approval for something, we can have the freeze lifted temporarily, again for a small fee. Since we're not planning to move, and we're paying cards down, not opening new ones, this works for us. Check it out at consumersunion.org/securityfreeze.htm
p.s. Rents are up here 20-25 percent over the last three years. I used to be able to afford a small studio apartment, now all I can afford is a room in a house with eight other people.
I'm not worried about immigrants coming here and taking my job. But I am worried about the EXCESS (illegal) immigrants who are filling vacant housing units and thereby driving up rents.
What's your answer for that?
I'm glad I have a BS in chemistry. Now for 6 years of grad school, yippee! And everybody knows chemistry majors throw the best parties... :) Well, we all drink, at least. Speaking of which, I think I need some amaretto...
Earning an English degree is so generic. It's like winning an award for good attendance. All it tells your future employers (if any) is that you managed not to sleep through most of your classes.
As humorous as some of the reasons you listed are (e.g. do English majors really have better parties or is that wishful thinking?), I think it is very important to consider what you want to do when choosing a major. Granted, you might not know what you want to do, and I definitely believe that being well-rounded is important. And with an English major, there are definitely many available career paths.
However, not all career paths are easily accessible without a degree in that field. Just look at the minimum requirements on job listing sites! Unless you know someone who knows your skills, you may find it difficult getting your foot in the door. And even then, you generally have to have some specific skills -- many of which are taught in specific degree programs.
Looking at the list of careers you gave, some of those are going to require an additional degree -- or no degree at all. Many require specific skills or experience or knowledge or capital or talent, etc. etc. etc. An English degree won't make you a singer. It probably won't hurt, but if you have the talent, then you're probably better off saving your money and investing in singing lessons. In that respect, having an English major isn't anything special per se.
Now, I'm not against English degrees -- I just don't think that they're one size fits all solution. If you want to take an English degree for professional or personal reasons, that's great, but know why you're taking it as with any major. It's a lot of money to spend if really you're just undecided.
And as an English major (or any other type of major), add on other majors or minors to help differentiate yourself from the crowd, intern as much as you can, get work experience, start projects. Do not think that a college degree entitles you to a job, period.
Being a teacher yourself, you come off highly critical of people in the education field. You are so impressed with your ability to read and write papers "comparing and contrasting things that have no similarities". Who exactly do you think it was that taught you to read and write? Or gave you the foundation for the critical thinking skills that allowed you to write such papers? That would be an elementary teacher. We aren't all idiots who say "Oh my gosh, do we have to like read all those books?" I am currently pursuing my Master's, but just finished up teaching 2nd grade. Coming right out of undergraduate, I had my choice of jobs. A friend from college who was an English major spent that same year looking for a job, and finally decided to go back and get her Master's in something that would offer more job security in the future.
And on the note of mocking your students in the "popular" fields right now...How can you be a good teacher if you don't believe in your students and their goals? I was taught to set the bar high for my students and expect the best, so that then in turn they expected the best of themselves.
I have a degree in English, won a bunch of awards for it, etc, but job offers have been slim. Perhaps it's where I"m located, or the fact I'm too poor to venture out beyond a certain mileage (in addition to too poor to do much of a commute sans bicycle). I approached college wanting to maximize my chances at landing a self-fulfilling job, in whatever field that may be, so I undertook a course of study to teach me to think and communicate at a very high level (English and philosophy) rather then learn a specific set of information that I could probably pick up in a few months on a new job anyway. The more I try to enter the "B.A. Job market", the more I see that it's that latter part in demand, not the former.
Your evaluation of in-college benefits is right on though--I date a Math/Education major, and, while her books are reusable (not to say that novels, collections aren't) the prices are through the roof! As for parties, well, having dinner and drinking with George Saunders, getting drunk with David Dubal (Jerome Rose's student) and getting to interview Lewis Black were certainly highlights of my collegiate English career.
Dell does the same thing. While the ink levels say one thing, the cartridge says another. When it says extremely low or empty, I can usually get 30-60 prints more.
My major is Criminology with a minor in History. My degree can take me anywhere:
Forensics Investigator
History teacher
Criminology teacher
I love my major.
First of all, I AM NOT SAYING IT'S EASY TO LOSE WEIGHT. (And I haven't seen anybody here say any such thing.)
That out of the way...
I realize that junk food is often cheaper than health food in a dollars-for-calories comparison, but this is just patently false:
1000+ calories of tuna or beans or even potatoes cost you 5-10 $
1000 calories of light tuna canned in water: 5.24 cans. A can costs maybe 70 cents. 1000 calories = < $4.
1000 calories of canned beans: more or less 2 cans, depending on the type of bean. A can is what, a dollar? 1000 calories = ~$2.
1000 calories of potatoes: 3.03 pounds. You can get a 5 pound bag for around $2-$3. 1000 calories = ~$1.50.
If you think 1000 calories of healthy food costs $5 - $10, you clearly haven't even looked at real prices.
Will Chen's advice is good - "how to" on a budget is why we're here. Philip Brewer's piece on the new face of poverty offered insight into the economics of food; that's the kind of information that should provoke activism. This article does neither but hey, I've enjoyed the comments and learning about Junkfood Science and Marion Nestle. I'll definitely be following them both.
We have a huge old as dirt HP 4v laser printer. We got it for free when a bank in town was tossing it out. We have had the printer since about 2004 and have bought two refilled toner cartridges for $20 each since. This included all of my hubby's work and business printing when he worked out of the house two years out of that. So it averaged out to $10 a year.
Wow I just read through all the comments. Philip had a good article a while ago called The New Face of Poverty Is Fat . That one didn't get so many haters because it talks about the reasons why modern day poor people tend to be fat. So perhaps it is not totally true that fat causes people to be poor and accumlate less wealth. I think body type is hereditary, but with frequent exercise and healthy eating it is possible to be in a healthy weight range. However, like the other article pointed out, cheap food is unhealthy.
Oops, it was originally "journalism". I FAIL
Healthy living is such a complex issue.
I certainly don't think any Wise Bread writer believes that being overweight is an easy issue to deal with, or that it is somehow an individual's fault for not staying thin.
Like many of you have pointed out, there are so many factors that contribute to our overall health problems. There's genetics, environment, culture, economics, politics, and even corporate corruption.
One of my personal favorites is Andrea's explanation of why is it so expensive to be healthy. While we all have to take some personal responsibility of our own health, as you can see from Andrea's article, very often the odds are stacked against us.
There are a number of good articles on the topic here on Wise Bread, starting with Sarah's Healthy eating--it'll cost you, and Tannaz's Save the world and save a dime: eat locally. Be sure to look at some of the great articles Myscha has written on cheap, healthy eating. Also check out Philip's: Eating locally on a budget, Healthy recipes with cost data.
The blogging format has its limits. One of its biggest limitations is that it is sometimes difficult to tackle extremely complex issues in a single post. And I'm sure you'll all aggree that healthy living is a complex issue deserving of several volumes of text.
I apologize if any article on Wise Bread gives off the impression that complex health issues can be easily solved with some gumption and elbow grease. That is certainly not our intent.
On a personal note, I'm one of those "hidden" overweight people. I'm tallish and lanky, and I carry most of my fat in my beer belly, which is easily concealed by my oversized polo shirts. My blood pressure and cholesterol levels are terrible, and my 16 hour days in front of a computer isn't helping any. While people don't think of me as overweight, I am certainly living an incredibly unhealthy lifestyle.
So I think it is perhaps more helpful to move this disucssion towards "how can we all get healthier on a small budget."
Well said. I think a lot of the extra costs apply more to obese people than overweight, based on my experience as someone who is borderline obese (30BMI). I need a sweater when it is under 70 degrees.
Honestly, one of my motivations for losing weight is to be able to shop great fashion on sale. How many great deals have I walked past because I could not fit into size 10? Sigh.
But as others have said, losing weight is HARD! It takes commitment, dedication, support and time. While I have lost before, this time around is tough due to age and a post-baby body. After failing a few times I am starting SLOW with small steps. Cutting 100 calories every few days rather than jumping to a 12-1400 calorie diet is helping a lot. A FREE place to track you diet & exersize is fitday.com. Writing down (or entering online) is the most effective way to lose weight.
I almost feel bad about the shallow, consumption-driven reason I finally committed to losing weight. (I want to dress like the skinny chicks) But, it is about what is the right message at the right time for the right person to commit to losing weight. If saving money is the motivation one person reading this needs - great and good luck!
And remember - it is HARD and takes some time. Be patient and stay committed. Be honest with yourself (or your food/ fitness log). And feel proud for every 5 pounds you lose!! Enjoy the accomplishment.
Okay, I can't let this pass by...
"journalists that publishes"? ;)
Here is my perspective on decreased mobility and energy with obesity:
My husband is one of those "fat and fit" people. He was overweight when we married 10 years ago, and he is currently on the low end of obese. Yes, he grew up fat, and I would never say that it has been easy for him to lose weight. In fact, I probably take in more calories than he does and exercise MAYBE little more but his metabolism just makes the equation harder for him than it does for me.
My husband is in his mid 30s. His parents are in their late 50s. They are in the category of obese and unhealthy. They have both become diabetic, one has had both knees replaced, and both have a very difficult time being outside on a warm day, walking a couple blocks from the car, that kind of thing.
A couple decades ago, they too were merely overweight and in good health, and still found it relatively easy to get around. So unfortunately, although I hope my husband can remain fit, the future doesn't look rosy for him unless he loses weight or at least avoids gaining any more.
Most of my observations about people paying more for little things due to obesity come from seeing friends and relatives need to do so. Sure, everyone's situation is not the same, but what they have to deal with is quite common for people of their size.
Notice I didn't title my post "LOSE Weight and Save." That's because I have seen through the struggles of loved ones just how difficult losing weight is. I wouldn't try to advise people how to do something I've scarcely ever accomplished myself. But I DO know that it's easier to stay thin if you are already thin than it is to lose weight, hence the title.
I blog at www.shopliftingwithpermission.com.
After one memorable spring in which many oh-so-adorable clearance trinkets ended up in my driveway to become someone else's treasure (in other words, I had a yard sale), I implemented a "yard sale rule." It's simple: when the siren song of the clearance sale draws me in, I ask myself, "Will I enjoy this for years to come or will it end up in another yard sale?" If I even waver, it stays on the shelf. If I'm still thinking about the item a few days later, I'll go pick it up. Last yard sale, I had far fewer of those type things populating my driveway.
As the mother of two constantly growing children, however, I do shop the clearance racks in the clothing departments. Most stores in the US have all of their summer merchandise on clearance now. I live in the Southeastern US, where we may have hot weather through mid-October. So it's a good time to stock up on a few extra items to see them through that time, especially since some are starting to look worn from months of constant use.
Thanks for the great find, really helped me get Titanic & Coach Carter for just 2.75. Awesome!!!