Guest post #34 mentioned all of the trappings of modern life and are they really that important, how many more do you really need.
In a way that has sort of been what tripped up our economy and caused so many people even more problems financially. There was either a Corporate or a Government strategy that depending on people buying more and more and more. People have in general started to hit that over-stuffed overload of "stuff". Places are also finding it harder to come up with the next new cool thing that people just gotta have. Or they come up with one and everyone kind of yawns. This is sort of a side note but when our government starts depending on us to go into more debt on disposable crap in order to keep the economy running we have some big problems.
The reason I saw this as relevant is that if the economy, finances and jobs start coming down on more people, more people will need help and have a harder time finding a new job.
I really love this discussion. When I just moved to America my parents were graduate students and didn't have any money. So I went to public school and was in the free lunch program. I had absolutely no shame in taking the free lunch because I figured it was just part of school and I didn't understand English anyway. Later I found out that other kids actually paid for their lunches and I was able to sell some of my lunch tickets that I couldn't use and it seems like other kids had no qualms in using it. I didn't think that I was an abuser of the public assistance, but I know some people do sell their food stamps and use it for drugs and alcohol and that is really horrible.
serving the country as a VISTA straight out of college instead of hitting corporate America up for a job. My husband's bad choices include serving in the National Guard (yes, in Iraq). We also made the bad choice to have children as they are so costly. We thought we had our ducks in a row first, but we were wrong.
State medical coverage is calculated based on income and expenses. There was no line on the form for entertainment or cosmetics. My children are entertainment enough and I don't wear makeup, so that's okay with me. The state determined what I could pay. I had no choice in that or maybe I would have requested they allow me extra cash for bowling or something.
I'm making the choice to stick with my downsized job because of nonmaterial benefits. One of those benefits is flex time that allows me to be with my children. It absolutely is my fault that my children have to get the sideways glance from the school nurse and trust me, I feel the shame. But it's not my fault that medical care in this country is outrageously expensive so as to be exclusive of people like my family. That's a societal ill.
During one of my childhood hospital stays the other kid in my room was dying with brain cancer. His family had just sold their multi-generational farm to pay the medical bills. I think it's much more shameful on society to live with that. The devout Christian in me believes that everyone, even those who make stupid decisions with their money (like the prodigal son), are my brothers in Christ. That being the case, why shame them for asking of me what I've been directed to give?
A person can't be judged when "on the dole" because there is no telling how a complete stranger came to need help. I consider myself a hard-working, tax-paying American who has served my country and whose husband has served the country. Without an instantaneous background check, there's no telling if the next person in line is as well. So, why the need to cast help in such shame? And though I'm beating a dead horse about this, why shame my kids for my sticking with a downsized job?
Wonderful article Linsey. I don't think there's anything wrong or shameful about public assistance at all. During law school I did some volunteer work as a welfare advocate. I saw that lot of people on welfare are not there by choice. One catastrophic medical emergency or a couple of hard months of unemployment could easily send a lower income family into poverty. These people were not lazy, they've simply had bad luck. "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me."
Please know that while the goverment tax rebate that will be floating our way so very soon might be our money, but it seems we are robbing ourselves to get this. Look at the terrible state the government is in and the huge debt it has. Seriously, this money isn't going to help that much. In our opinion (in our home) we view it as government waste and will put it in our savings. Seriously, we ALL need to spend less. I look at our family and see the waste. Clothing, toys, junk foods, cell phones, satellite t.v., frivolous entertainment....the list could go on and on and yet most all of us today view this stuff as necessities of modern living. Look at how much this modern life costs us - computers, internet, phones, television services....we spend sooooo much, yet how much could we really cut out at this point? Probably not much. Kinda sad. Anyway, $600-$1800 dollars or so doesn't go very far in this modern day world of expenses - just a drop in the bucket. I truly wish that everyone who received this money would "one up" the government and just SAVE IT!!!!
Ahh, Lucille, you have hit the nail on the head there. I'm not sure why folks seem so intent on labeling and identifying poor folks, and insisting that they 'look' and 'act' poor.
I too had a year in my childhood on public assistance; food, Christmas presents, and pretty much all clothing. I still remember how proud I was to recieve a barely worn second hand pink sweatshirt with puffy kittens printed on it - very stylish at the time, and retailing for $30. I was accused of stealing it during gym class by a wealthier girl, as everyone 'knew' I couldn't afford it. Talk about shame that will last a life time, along with the nickname "Second-hand Shan" that came out after the truth was widely known. Very cruel.
However, my parents worked their way out of the failed business, and we gradually grew our wealth. Although on public assistance in many forms for only one year, my parents immediately began to give back. I spent many hours of my summers in middle and high school volunteering to teach cooking classes at the food bank. I still spend my Christmases sorting toys and clothes for various toy drives. I know how important it is to that child who thinks they aren't really going to get a present to actually get one, an have her faith in kindness restored.
One thing that has stuck with me is that when you are not actively involved in something, you tend to generalize, and think about others as 'them' and this is my plea to all the posters here.
If you felt fired up enough to post here, go down to your local food bank and donate two hours of your time. Two hours isn't much, and you obviously have lots to give. Get to know who is actually using these resources. Don't judge. Be helpful. Because you've made good choices you are in the unique position of being able to give back something of quality. Your time, and friendship. And please, if you see a little girl in a brand name sweatshirt, don't automatically assume that her family has spent their money unwisely. I agree with many posters that direct ties to those you are helping will help your community and yourself.
In my city, you can get on a budget plan with the utilities company and it's really easy and quick. There isn't any type of qualification program so anybody can do it. They take the average of your past year, and apply something like 5% to it and that's what you pay every month.
The advantage to this is that during the summer, your bills are really low, so they help bring down the average. The disadvantage is that during the summer, you pay more than you normally would. As long as you don't miss a payment there are no penalties.
And the particular area where I live, gas (heating) bills always spike during the January and Feb months. Last year I paid over $200 more than any other month in Feb. When I called to complain (or route out a potential gas leak) they told me that because the weather had dropped suddenly for this one particular night everyone's gas bills spiked. Crazy.
Anyways, it's always an option you can check into.
We are taking #6 to heart. Right now were working on some home improvements geared at making the house more sellable and waiting for the markets to hopefully recover next year. But we decided not only were we just sick of dealing with northern weather but sick of the heating and cooling bills. So our goal is to move to one of about four cities or areas we have targeted that have a more moderate climate both high and low. Here we go from 100 highs in the summer to 50 below zero before the wind chill in the winter. The areas were looking at tend more toward 80 degree highs and 20 degree lows (as averages). If we find a place with decent insulation and possibly some back up heating source we should be able to lower our utility bills cutting our overall expenses. We also looked for places that had a similar or better cost of living.
This problem is common among women, and I am always colder than my son, husband, brother, father, etc. - checking anemia and hypothyroidism at the docs might help. Meds cost money too, but being iron or thyroid hormone deficient (if I forget to take them for a few days) makes me freeze my butt off and crank up the heat!
A wheat bag is safer than a hot water bottle. There's no risk of scalding hot water. It's basically a bag filled with wheat that you microwave for a couple of minutes.
BigRed's comment on why Churches and most charities are not set to fill this need said pretty much everything I wanted to say on that issue. There is simply too much bias and judgment going on in these private entities to ever consider that a viable replacement for the government system we have now. I know so many people who would be either kicked to the curb or treated horribly simply by the virtue of their nationality, religion, sexual orientation or the way they look. I see the government system as imperfect as it is to be a far far better option where most of those biases are set aside and the need is what is focused on.
The initial concept of the "welfare queen" was coined by Ronald Reagan during his run for office in the 80's. It worked so well to create a hate for the government programs that conservative politicians and strategists have used some version of it ever since. They are largely to blame for what has become a large cultural stigma on these programs. It seems that every person who considers themselves a true conservative (tm) has some horror story of someone abusing the system. They all have the same theme of gross displays of wealth combined with use of a system. Sure there are people who abuse the system or stay on it far too long and that does not help matters. But many of these "stories" are embellished to create an excuse for a socially unexceptable behavior towards others.
I do think the programs need more revamping. They need to create two tracks. One track for those who are disabled or retired and need this assistance long term and for a valid reason. The other track as the temporary safety net to get people back on their feet. There needs to be more done for these people to direct them to getting back on their feet through some extra help tailored to their situation. Maybe they just had a job loss and health issue. There might be an opening to get them some help finding a new job, short duration retraining and that kind of thing. If you have someone without skills and hard to place in a job, get them into a program to build skills and get them employed. They should also set some progress requirements in order to keep benefits. They also have to change the cut off of aid formula. Cutting people off because they make a dollar more and other disincentives perpetuate things rather than actually helping people out of the situation. They need a gradual scale back of benefits that creates a slightly larger benefit as you do better for yourself. IE: you end up with $20 more in your pocket because of that raise and your benefit rather than losing all of your benefit. I think there also needs to be some cut off for people who are not willing to help themselves. This may require some jobs programs in areas where jobs are scarce. But the career welfare recipient stereotype such as what came out of NOLA has to end. Either your capable of working or you need to go on disability.
This is a very interesting conversation going on. I have to add one notable story regarding food stamps. The state food stamp cards here happen to look very much like a Wells Fargo debit card, same color scheme. This well dressed woman in front of me was getting some serious dirty looks from the clerk and a few other people in line as she pulled out her card. The clerk very loudly and rudely asked her if it was credit or EBT (food stamps). This was so she could push the right button on the register. This woman was so embarrassed being accused of using food stamps and made a point of explaining and showing that it was her Wells Fargo card. Nobody should be put to that kind of shaming publicly.
What I find interesting is how irate some people get at some very simple items other people might have. Cell phones frequently are about the same price as a land line and many people getting assistance also work. There seems to be a compulsion that poor people must put on a public display of their poverty and wretched ness in order for some people to accept their use of government benefits. I find that really disturbing.
We plug our electric space heater into a programmable lamp timer. We've programmed it to go on an hour or so before we normally go to bed, so the bedroom is nice and warm, and to turn off in the morning shortly before we leave for work, because I tend to lounge around in bed much longer than I should if my other option is getting up and dressed in a freezing cold room. It keeps the bedroom warm when we need it to be, and it's programmed to turn itself off during the times we're not usually around. It's been a huge help.
The comment "People who are worthless and stupid do not [deserve help] unless they become willing to straighten up".
See, here is that prejudice I brought up in my earlier post. It's not even subtle, is it? You feel that you are able to discern who deserves help from those who don't. There are lots of people who feel the same way you do--you work hard and you can probably never project yourself being in a situation where you are on the receiving end of a hand-out. And it is admirable to work hard and save and try to never be a burden on society. I do the same myself, and am trying to raise my older daughter to take charge of her own future. As I pointed out earlier, my younger daughter is autistic, nonverbal and will probably never have an independent life. Which sucks, but that's the way it is.
Unfortunately, life isn't a linear if-then process, where you do the "right things" and then are rewarded with, if not riches, at least stability. You can do your very best, and then your spouse or child or mother has some major health problem that requires they stop working or that maxes out your health insurance, and then eats your savings and investments. And it frequently happens that this crisis occurs in conjunction with another problem: your wife gets sick, you lose your job because you need to spend time shuttling her to medical appointments, then you lose the house because you can't pay the bills, then you're job hunting and living in a relative's home and that's awkward, etc.
I'm a few years older than you, I suspect (42) and have had some time to look back on the beliefs I held with such certainty 20 years ago, and I am amazed at what an ass I must have sounded like. And by middle age, you witness a lot of the things you held so true get turned on their heads. There is a real tendency of people to conjecture about the poor and unfortunate, but it is not as large a divide as we like to think between comfort and certainty, and poverty and the kind of life that we would never imagine for ourselves.
Good post. Some more ideas from Vermont in February:
1. More energy-efficient AND warmer than a electric blanket is an electric mattress pad. Toasty and wonderful.
2. Windows seem to wick the cold. Cover them with plastic. Or use bubble wrap if you just need light from a particular window but not a view. (I have "frosted glass" in the 24-pane window in my bathroom--just sheets of bubble wrap cut to fit. Spray the window lightly with water and the stuff sticks like a lamprey.)
Drapes really can keep the heat in if you have a lot of windows. Open them during the day to get the solar heat.
3. If you have a ceiling fan, turn it so it goes counter-clockwise, driving heated air (hot air rises, remember?) back down into the room.
4. Bake something. A casserole or bread in the oven can make my whole kitchen cosy.
With insulation, plugging leaks, wrapping windows, the woodstove, ceiling fan, bread in the oven, a kettle on the woodstove, heated mattress pad, and a very large cat to sit on my feet, I hope to make it to spring without needing a second mortgage just to cover the oil bill.
I think part of the problem with people staying on systems like this is because it's so hard to get out... If you save $1 over some limit, bloop, there goes your assistance. Suddenly that $1 extra you saved has to make up for a couple hundred $ (or more) that you were getting in assistance, and then you're back where you started from (and start from scratch getting back on assistance). There needs to be some plan that allows people to truly save enough money to dig out of the hole without being instantly penalized for saving that $1 extra. It creates a system where it IS better to stay on then get off.
When we bought a house in Oct, it had a programmable thermostat installed. This little thing has made a world of difference in our gas bill and comfort level this winter.
Having it automatically switch from the 60s to low fifties during the day when we are at work/school, and then warm up before we get home, and then cool down while we sleep has been great.
I would highly recommend them as opposed to trying to remember to turn the heat up and down manually.
As much as we are enjoying certain aspects of winter, the cold and snow removal are exhausting. For years we haven't had to deal with this.
For now, we are enjoying an electric blanket as well as our pellet stove. It's funny you mention the trick of leaving yourself a note. As much as we try to remember, we have forgotten a time or two ourselves.
I disagree with the previous post. I do believe that credit card companies make money of each transaction, but the fees those transactions generate are no where near the fees that are collected from late payment charges and interest collected when consumers pay the minimum payment.
I have a friend who used introductory 0% APR rewards credit cards to for purchases and bills. He would pay the minimum, collect an extra 5% in rewards and then when the 0% period ended, he would pay off the entire balance. Then he'd cancel the card and apply for a new one. He continually did this with multiple cards for many years.
While the card company may have made 3-4% in transactions, they lost out in terms of rewards (most of which were cash rebate checks.) Just recently he has been applying for 0% cards and has gotten rejected. And this is a person who pays everything on time... but he doesn't pay a penny in interest.
Perhaps I'm cynical, but his credit card companies have probably realized that they may be losing money on him and just don't want to extend him any more credit. They may have finally gotten a formula to weed him out.
between someone who is working/paying/earning what they get. My mother also receives state insurance because after she was divorced from my former step father, the expensive cobra plan only lasts two years and then she had nothing. She is self employed and works very hard, with long hours. BUT, she pays for the state insurance, though at a much reduced rate, as you do. There is nothing wrong with that. You are doing what you have to do to survive and take care of your children. My mother has a host of health problems, and finding new ones at the moment, that would probably cost her yearly income. That said, she has made so many stupid choices in her life it is insane. I make more than my mother and I live on a pretty strict budget. I do so because I don't want to spend the rest of my life buried under this mountain of debt and I'm looking down the road towards retirement, emergencies, etc. My mother goes out to the movies, to eat, manicures, pedicures, etc. all the time. my monthly entertainment budget is $10. Seriously, thats it, $10. I may spend more than that, but it is a rare special occassion, not every other week. That is the problem, its people who receieve "help" and don't see it as that. They see it as their right, that they deserve it, that its a part of their life, not the boost they need to get on the right self sufficient(at least partially) track. People who have had too much life deserve help. People who have made stupid choices and have realized their error deserve help. People who are worthless and stupid do not, unless they become willing to straighten up. I have no probelm with my mother receiving state insurance, but I do have a problem with the continuing poor financial and life decisions.
I wish I had something more, but with such a thorough post, all I can say is . . . COOL!
Oh, snap! I do have something. I really like the restating your problem in simplest form and challenging assumptions part. I'm calling a friend right now who can use that exact advise.
I feel compelled to point out that the tax rebate we may or may not be receiving later this year is not a social services program. It's OUR money, being distributed to us a little earlier than we would otherwise get it. Same with income tax refunds--it's OUR money, not the government's.
o.k me and my husband only make maybe if were lucky 20,000 a year so will we get anything back or not because i have been so confused with this hole thing and i've read a couple articles that say different things.
Guest post #34 mentioned all of the trappings of modern life and are they really that important, how many more do you really need.
In a way that has sort of been what tripped up our economy and caused so many people even more problems financially. There was either a Corporate or a Government strategy that depending on people buying more and more and more. People have in general started to hit that over-stuffed overload of "stuff". Places are also finding it harder to come up with the next new cool thing that people just gotta have. Or they come up with one and everyone kind of yawns. This is sort of a side note but when our government starts depending on us to go into more debt on disposable crap in order to keep the economy running we have some big problems.
The reason I saw this as relevant is that if the economy, finances and jobs start coming down on more people, more people will need help and have a harder time finding a new job.
I really love this discussion. When I just moved to America my parents were graduate students and didn't have any money. So I went to public school and was in the free lunch program. I had absolutely no shame in taking the free lunch because I figured it was just part of school and I didn't understand English anyway. Later I found out that other kids actually paid for their lunches and I was able to sell some of my lunch tickets that I couldn't use and it seems like other kids had no qualms in using it. I didn't think that I was an abuser of the public assistance, but I know some people do sell their food stamps and use it for drugs and alcohol and that is really horrible.
serving the country as a VISTA straight out of college instead of hitting corporate America up for a job. My husband's bad choices include serving in the National Guard (yes, in Iraq). We also made the bad choice to have children as they are so costly. We thought we had our ducks in a row first, but we were wrong.
State medical coverage is calculated based on income and expenses. There was no line on the form for entertainment or cosmetics. My children are entertainment enough and I don't wear makeup, so that's okay with me. The state determined what I could pay. I had no choice in that or maybe I would have requested they allow me extra cash for bowling or something.
I'm making the choice to stick with my downsized job because of nonmaterial benefits. One of those benefits is flex time that allows me to be with my children. It absolutely is my fault that my children have to get the sideways glance from the school nurse and trust me, I feel the shame. But it's not my fault that medical care in this country is outrageously expensive so as to be exclusive of people like my family. That's a societal ill.
During one of my childhood hospital stays the other kid in my room was dying with brain cancer. His family had just sold their multi-generational farm to pay the medical bills. I think it's much more shameful on society to live with that. The devout Christian in me believes that everyone, even those who make stupid decisions with their money (like the prodigal son), are my brothers in Christ. That being the case, why shame them for asking of me what I've been directed to give?
A person can't be judged when "on the dole" because there is no telling how a complete stranger came to need help. I consider myself a hard-working, tax-paying American who has served my country and whose husband has served the country. Without an instantaneous background check, there's no telling if the next person in line is as well. So, why the need to cast help in such shame? And though I'm beating a dead horse about this, why shame my kids for my sticking with a downsized job?
Wonderful article Linsey. I don't think there's anything wrong or shameful about public assistance at all. During law school I did some volunteer work as a welfare advocate. I saw that lot of people on welfare are not there by choice. One catastrophic medical emergency or a couple of hard months of unemployment could easily send a lower income family into poverty. These people were not lazy, they've simply had bad luck. "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers you do unto me."
Please know that while the goverment tax rebate that will be floating our way so very soon might be our money, but it seems we are robbing ourselves to get this. Look at the terrible state the government is in and the huge debt it has. Seriously, this money isn't going to help that much. In our opinion (in our home) we view it as government waste and will put it in our savings. Seriously, we ALL need to spend less. I look at our family and see the waste. Clothing, toys, junk foods, cell phones, satellite t.v., frivolous entertainment....the list could go on and on and yet most all of us today view this stuff as necessities of modern living. Look at how much this modern life costs us - computers, internet, phones, television services....we spend sooooo much, yet how much could we really cut out at this point? Probably not much. Kinda sad. Anyway, $600-$1800 dollars or so doesn't go very far in this modern day world of expenses - just a drop in the bucket. I truly wish that everyone who received this money would "one up" the government and just SAVE IT!!!!
Ahh, Lucille, you have hit the nail on the head there. I'm not sure why folks seem so intent on labeling and identifying poor folks, and insisting that they 'look' and 'act' poor.
I too had a year in my childhood on public assistance; food, Christmas presents, and pretty much all clothing. I still remember how proud I was to recieve a barely worn second hand pink sweatshirt with puffy kittens printed on it - very stylish at the time, and retailing for $30. I was accused of stealing it during gym class by a wealthier girl, as everyone 'knew' I couldn't afford it. Talk about shame that will last a life time, along with the nickname "Second-hand Shan" that came out after the truth was widely known. Very cruel.
However, my parents worked their way out of the failed business, and we gradually grew our wealth. Although on public assistance in many forms for only one year, my parents immediately began to give back. I spent many hours of my summers in middle and high school volunteering to teach cooking classes at the food bank. I still spend my Christmases sorting toys and clothes for various toy drives. I know how important it is to that child who thinks they aren't really going to get a present to actually get one, an have her faith in kindness restored.
One thing that has stuck with me is that when you are not actively involved in something, you tend to generalize, and think about others as 'them' and this is my plea to all the posters here.
If you felt fired up enough to post here, go down to your local food bank and donate two hours of your time. Two hours isn't much, and you obviously have lots to give. Get to know who is actually using these resources. Don't judge. Be helpful. Because you've made good choices you are in the unique position of being able to give back something of quality. Your time, and friendship. And please, if you see a little girl in a brand name sweatshirt, don't automatically assume that her family has spent their money unwisely. I agree with many posters that direct ties to those you are helping will help your community and yourself.
Those are some terrific ideas Julie. I love this article!
Myscha, you win my gold star for the day for the use of "oh snap!"
=)
We reuse shower water to flush our toilet. In the winter a tubful of hot water also heats the air (for a little while, at least).
In my city, you can get on a budget plan with the utilities company and it's really easy and quick. There isn't any type of qualification program so anybody can do it. They take the average of your past year, and apply something like 5% to it and that's what you pay every month.
The advantage to this is that during the summer, your bills are really low, so they help bring down the average. The disadvantage is that during the summer, you pay more than you normally would. As long as you don't miss a payment there are no penalties.
And the particular area where I live, gas (heating) bills always spike during the January and Feb months. Last year I paid over $200 more than any other month in Feb. When I called to complain (or route out a potential gas leak) they told me that because the weather had dropped suddenly for this one particular night everyone's gas bills spiked. Crazy.
Anyways, it's always an option you can check into.
We are taking #6 to heart. Right now were working on some home improvements geared at making the house more sellable and waiting for the markets to hopefully recover next year. But we decided not only were we just sick of dealing with northern weather but sick of the heating and cooling bills. So our goal is to move to one of about four cities or areas we have targeted that have a more moderate climate both high and low. Here we go from 100 highs in the summer to 50 below zero before the wind chill in the winter. The areas were looking at tend more toward 80 degree highs and 20 degree lows (as averages). If we find a place with decent insulation and possibly some back up heating source we should be able to lower our utility bills cutting our overall expenses. We also looked for places that had a similar or better cost of living.
This problem is common among women, and I am always colder than my son, husband, brother, father, etc. - checking anemia and hypothyroidism at the docs might help. Meds cost money too, but being iron or thyroid hormone deficient (if I forget to take them for a few days) makes me freeze my butt off and crank up the heat!
A wheat bag is safer than a hot water bottle. There's no risk of scalding hot water. It's basically a bag filled with wheat that you microwave for a couple of minutes.
BigRed's comment on why Churches and most charities are not set to fill this need said pretty much everything I wanted to say on that issue. There is simply too much bias and judgment going on in these private entities to ever consider that a viable replacement for the government system we have now. I know so many people who would be either kicked to the curb or treated horribly simply by the virtue of their nationality, religion, sexual orientation or the way they look. I see the government system as imperfect as it is to be a far far better option where most of those biases are set aside and the need is what is focused on.
The initial concept of the "welfare queen" was coined by Ronald Reagan during his run for office in the 80's. It worked so well to create a hate for the government programs that conservative politicians and strategists have used some version of it ever since. They are largely to blame for what has become a large cultural stigma on these programs. It seems that every person who considers themselves a true conservative (tm) has some horror story of someone abusing the system. They all have the same theme of gross displays of wealth combined with use of a system. Sure there are people who abuse the system or stay on it far too long and that does not help matters. But many of these "stories" are embellished to create an excuse for a socially unexceptable behavior towards others.
I do think the programs need more revamping. They need to create two tracks. One track for those who are disabled or retired and need this assistance long term and for a valid reason. The other track as the temporary safety net to get people back on their feet. There needs to be more done for these people to direct them to getting back on their feet through some extra help tailored to their situation. Maybe they just had a job loss and health issue. There might be an opening to get them some help finding a new job, short duration retraining and that kind of thing. If you have someone without skills and hard to place in a job, get them into a program to build skills and get them employed. They should also set some progress requirements in order to keep benefits. They also have to change the cut off of aid formula. Cutting people off because they make a dollar more and other disincentives perpetuate things rather than actually helping people out of the situation. They need a gradual scale back of benefits that creates a slightly larger benefit as you do better for yourself. IE: you end up with $20 more in your pocket because of that raise and your benefit rather than losing all of your benefit. I think there also needs to be some cut off for people who are not willing to help themselves. This may require some jobs programs in areas where jobs are scarce. But the career welfare recipient stereotype such as what came out of NOLA has to end. Either your capable of working or you need to go on disability.
This is a very interesting conversation going on. I have to add one notable story regarding food stamps. The state food stamp cards here happen to look very much like a Wells Fargo debit card, same color scheme. This well dressed woman in front of me was getting some serious dirty looks from the clerk and a few other people in line as she pulled out her card. The clerk very loudly and rudely asked her if it was credit or EBT (food stamps). This was so she could push the right button on the register. This woman was so embarrassed being accused of using food stamps and made a point of explaining and showing that it was her Wells Fargo card. Nobody should be put to that kind of shaming publicly.
What I find interesting is how irate some people get at some very simple items other people might have. Cell phones frequently are about the same price as a land line and many people getting assistance also work. There seems to be a compulsion that poor people must put on a public display of their poverty and wretched ness in order for some people to accept their use of government benefits. I find that really disturbing.
Who knew?
We plug our electric space heater into a programmable lamp timer. We've programmed it to go on an hour or so before we normally go to bed, so the bedroom is nice and warm, and to turn off in the morning shortly before we leave for work, because I tend to lounge around in bed much longer than I should if my other option is getting up and dressed in a freezing cold room. It keeps the bedroom warm when we need it to be, and it's programmed to turn itself off during the times we're not usually around. It's been a huge help.
The comment "People who are worthless and stupid do not [deserve help] unless they become willing to straighten up".
See, here is that prejudice I brought up in my earlier post. It's not even subtle, is it? You feel that you are able to discern who deserves help from those who don't. There are lots of people who feel the same way you do--you work hard and you can probably never project yourself being in a situation where you are on the receiving end of a hand-out. And it is admirable to work hard and save and try to never be a burden on society. I do the same myself, and am trying to raise my older daughter to take charge of her own future. As I pointed out earlier, my younger daughter is autistic, nonverbal and will probably never have an independent life. Which sucks, but that's the way it is.
Unfortunately, life isn't a linear if-then process, where you do the "right things" and then are rewarded with, if not riches, at least stability. You can do your very best, and then your spouse or child or mother has some major health problem that requires they stop working or that maxes out your health insurance, and then eats your savings and investments. And it frequently happens that this crisis occurs in conjunction with another problem: your wife gets sick, you lose your job because you need to spend time shuttling her to medical appointments, then you lose the house because you can't pay the bills, then you're job hunting and living in a relative's home and that's awkward, etc.
I'm a few years older than you, I suspect (42) and have had some time to look back on the beliefs I held with such certainty 20 years ago, and I am amazed at what an ass I must have sounded like. And by middle age, you witness a lot of the things you held so true get turned on their heads. There is a real tendency of people to conjecture about the poor and unfortunate, but it is not as large a divide as we like to think between comfort and certainty, and poverty and the kind of life that we would never imagine for ourselves.
There but for the grace of God go we.
Good post. Some more ideas from Vermont in February:
1. More energy-efficient AND warmer than a electric blanket is an electric mattress pad. Toasty and wonderful.
2. Windows seem to wick the cold. Cover them with plastic. Or use bubble wrap if you just need light from a particular window but not a view. (I have "frosted glass" in the 24-pane window in my bathroom--just sheets of bubble wrap cut to fit. Spray the window lightly with water and the stuff sticks like a lamprey.)
Drapes really can keep the heat in if you have a lot of windows. Open them during the day to get the solar heat.
3. If you have a ceiling fan, turn it so it goes counter-clockwise, driving heated air (hot air rises, remember?) back down into the room.
4. Bake something. A casserole or bread in the oven can make my whole kitchen cosy.
With insulation, plugging leaks, wrapping windows, the woodstove, ceiling fan, bread in the oven, a kettle on the woodstove, heated mattress pad, and a very large cat to sit on my feet, I hope to make it to spring without needing a second mortgage just to cover the oil bill.
I think part of the problem with people staying on systems like this is because it's so hard to get out... If you save $1 over some limit, bloop, there goes your assistance. Suddenly that $1 extra you saved has to make up for a couple hundred $ (or more) that you were getting in assistance, and then you're back where you started from (and start from scratch getting back on assistance). There needs to be some plan that allows people to truly save enough money to dig out of the hole without being instantly penalized for saving that $1 extra. It creates a system where it IS better to stay on then get off.
When we bought a house in Oct, it had a programmable thermostat installed. This little thing has made a world of difference in our gas bill and comfort level this winter.
Having it automatically switch from the 60s to low fifties during the day when we are at work/school, and then warm up before we get home, and then cool down while we sleep has been great.
I would highly recommend them as opposed to trying to remember to turn the heat up and down manually.
As much as we are enjoying certain aspects of winter, the cold and snow removal are exhausting. For years we haven't had to deal with this.
For now, we are enjoying an electric blanket as well as our pellet stove. It's funny you mention the trick of leaving yourself a note. As much as we try to remember, we have forgotten a time or two ourselves.
I disagree with the previous post. I do believe that credit card companies make money of each transaction, but the fees those transactions generate are no where near the fees that are collected from late payment charges and interest collected when consumers pay the minimum payment.
I have a friend who used introductory 0% APR rewards credit cards to for purchases and bills. He would pay the minimum, collect an extra 5% in rewards and then when the 0% period ended, he would pay off the entire balance. Then he'd cancel the card and apply for a new one. He continually did this with multiple cards for many years.
While the card company may have made 3-4% in transactions, they lost out in terms of rewards (most of which were cash rebate checks.) Just recently he has been applying for 0% cards and has gotten rejected. And this is a person who pays everything on time... but he doesn't pay a penny in interest.
Perhaps I'm cynical, but his credit card companies have probably realized that they may be losing money on him and just don't want to extend him any more credit. They may have finally gotten a formula to weed him out.
between someone who is working/paying/earning what they get. My mother also receives state insurance because after she was divorced from my former step father, the expensive cobra plan only lasts two years and then she had nothing. She is self employed and works very hard, with long hours. BUT, she pays for the state insurance, though at a much reduced rate, as you do. There is nothing wrong with that. You are doing what you have to do to survive and take care of your children. My mother has a host of health problems, and finding new ones at the moment, that would probably cost her yearly income. That said, she has made so many stupid choices in her life it is insane. I make more than my mother and I live on a pretty strict budget. I do so because I don't want to spend the rest of my life buried under this mountain of debt and I'm looking down the road towards retirement, emergencies, etc. My mother goes out to the movies, to eat, manicures, pedicures, etc. all the time. my monthly entertainment budget is $10. Seriously, thats it, $10. I may spend more than that, but it is a rare special occassion, not every other week. That is the problem, its people who receieve "help" and don't see it as that. They see it as their right, that they deserve it, that its a part of their life, not the boost they need to get on the right self sufficient(at least partially) track. People who have had too much life deserve help. People who have made stupid choices and have realized their error deserve help. People who are worthless and stupid do not, unless they become willing to straighten up. I have no probelm with my mother receiving state insurance, but I do have a problem with the continuing poor financial and life decisions.
I wish I had something more, but with such a thorough post, all I can say is . . . COOL!
Oh, snap! I do have something. I really like the restating your problem in simplest form and challenging assumptions part. I'm calling a friend right now who can use that exact advise.
I feel compelled to point out that the tax rebate we may or may not be receiving later this year is not a social services program. It's OUR money, being distributed to us a little earlier than we would otherwise get it. Same with income tax refunds--it's OUR money, not the government's.
o.k me and my husband only make maybe if were lucky 20,000 a year so will we get anything back or not because i have been so confused with this hole thing and i've read a couple articles that say different things.