BlogHer - middle class - Comments

I've No Clue!

BookLady Alison — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:50:01 -0600

If I knew what our President Elect should handle first maybe I'd have applied to be president. Sorry, I have no clue - I can't imagine anyone less qualified to comment than I am. Hopefully his advisers are a lot better than my economic analysis skills, which are non-existent.

My own priority would be related to the environment, not just because I care about the Earth, which I do, but because I think it is vital that we all begin to care for the Earth in a more practical day-to-day way. I think we need to find a way forward where we are doing things that are good for not just us but for the Earth too. I've been reading plenty of commentary suggesting that if there are going to be more stimulus and bail-out packages they should be in that direction. The Thin Green Line has some commentary on what we should expect to see if our President Elect is serious about green issues and Crunchy Chicken had stuff to say today about a New Deal for the environment.

BookLady Alison

Blogging about Life, The Universe and Everything at Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy

Wow!

WellnessGuru — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:05:56 -0600

That is a tall order... But I agree.... it is definitely needed. what do yo think he should tackle first. Becase of course we all know Rome wasn't built in a day! :)

Monica L. Rowland

Check Out My Blog! www.themoneymom.blogspot.com

The Money Mom~Creating Financial Wellness Through A Balanced Life!

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See the big picture - motivate us

BookLady Alison — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:41:34 -0600

You asked what I want to see when our new President enters the White House. I want to see evidence of vision, of a President who rises above the daily problems and the managing of the crises. Of course I want him to try his best in making sure that crises are handled, but that is not something he can do by himself. I want him to inspire others by not just being a President but by being presidential. I want to know that our next President sees the big picture of where we are heading and tells us bluntly about what we need to do to get there. I want evidence that he has good advisors who understand economics and science. I want him to do the right thing not for a good 4 years, but for a decade, a century and a millenium. This all may sound like a tall order, but I believe it is what we need.

BookLady Alison

Blogging on life at Homeschoolers Guide to the Galaxy

A lot of interesting

grannysu — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 21:35:09 -0600

A lot of interesting thoughts and suggestions here. I've sort of been there-done that. My five sons are all raised and gone (although one may be back to roost soon) but I now have a grandson living with me.
I commute over 50 miles one way to work, and my husband's work (bricklaying) is sporadic, so we depend on my income.

When I look at my paycheck, about 50% goes to taxes, health insurance, retirement, etc. While my income has gone up steadily as my position has advanced, I'm really no better off financially than I was when my salary was half of what it is today!

I'm one who keeps her spending down. I shop second-hand. Our mortgage is low by today's standards, and if we sold 30 acres of our land we could pay it off. We carry a lot of bills from the years we raised 5 sons and I went to college and grad school. We garden, don't eat out much or go out on weekends, except to grandchildren's events. We heat with wood, provide a lot of basic needs for ourselves (well water, septic) and stay out of stores. We're finally at a point where there is occasionally money to put into savings.

And yet...I resent seeing my paycheck disappearing before I even see it. I'm considering giving up the job that I struggled so hard to attain, and just focus on my writing and my professional storytelling career. We'd be broke again like we were 20 years ago, but I think we'd be more satsfied. I have security now, but satisfaction? That has become even more important.

Granny Sue
Stories from the Mountains and Beyond
www.grannysu.blogspot.com
susannaholstein@yahoo.com

I wonder what..(and a few suggestions)

dms — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 15:14:24 -0600

I wonder what top financial adviser Suze Orman would say about this. Send your blog to her?
And..why is there a HUGE Advertising space right in the middle of your blog? Do they pay you? If they did, that might help with the budget. :)

From what I've gleamed from Suze's financial books and advice, you either have to earn more or seriously control your spending and 'pay yourself first' before the bills. That works wonders when you have leftover cash after the mortgage, I understand. Aside from buying the large pretzel bag and dividing it into portions (this I read from the site you created a link to), I have some tips that have worked for me in the past.

1) Examine your tax deductions at work. Talk to your tax person but if it's possible, increase the deductions to increase your take home pay - therefore not giving the government a loan.
2) Go to the same tax person or get one, and really take a look at your business deductions if you are writing for a living/working other than a 9-5 salaried job.
3) Make family-sized meals. A big pan of whatever you feel like that will freeze nicely. When you cook, go all out.
4) Send a financial adviser your budget and ask for tips.
5) try not to put anything on a credit card, esp. not gas, food, or consumables. transfer all cc's to 0% cards. make all of your payments on time to avoid negative credit and therefore high rates.
6) If you have a mortgage, do you have the option to take out a small equity line and pay off all debt? you can write off the equity line on your tax return and therefore get more money back. Also, the consolidation will help.
7) Make more than the min payment after you consolidate.
8) alternative childcare? nanny instead of daycare? shared nanny? relative part-time?
9) you might not like this one. you and your husband cut back alternating hours to watch the children (the idea is a little less salary but a lot less daycare money spent). Instead of a raise, negotiate less hours/same pay? this would also cut down on the gas bill.
10) I don't know where you live, but if it's expensive to live there, could you live elsewhere? you write so that may be flexible..if you wish to stay near family, is there a true benefit to do so or is it hurting you financially?
11) Do you really need a land line? Could you consolidate cable with internet, etc?
12) Have you truly identified where you are spending your money - on an annual basis? For example, a monthly budget does not include the annual car sticker fee, auto maintenance, gifts, and surprise bills. Do you budget for these expenses monthly?

I hope any of this helps,

it's a squeeze...

kazari — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 23:49:41 -0600

and not just in America.
in our adopted city (Canberra), two income families are the norm. childcare is booming, and increasingly scarce. the economists have invented a new term here, housing stress. it means more than a third of gross income is being spent on rent or mortgage repayment.
we have over a half a million families in australia officially in 'housing stress'.

it's not all bad news. i'm a member of an online community called Simple Savings. there's a lot of support and advice for families and everybody else, and lots and lots of time/money saving hints. but you have to have the time to read them of course...
here's the link to the American version of the site
http://www.simplesavings.net

Am there now

Busy Mom — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 09:16:13 -0600

No wisdom, just understanding.

Busy Mom Blog
GenBetween
Career and Kids

Childful and Child Support

moddivorce — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:02:19 -0600

It's even more painful if your spouse has to pay child support to the tune of 25% of his gross income plus summer camp/day care when the kids are with their dad for the summer! It all makes it seem impossible to live the lives our parent's had...although, as I write this I realize my mom worked at least part time after the youngest went into kindergarten.

Helene
The Modern Woman's Divorce Guide
http://themodernwomansdivorceguide.com

making it

fidget — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 14:03:49 -0600

We have to make it on 1 income. the deficit created by putting 2 kids in full time daycare and 1 in part time day care, plus the cost of work clothing and commuting would leave us in the hole every single month. I can afford 10 more kids if I stay home, but if I go back to work I'd have to sell at least 2, if not all three to gypsies.

Fidget
Finding Yourself Despite Yourself

Makes me feel better

kheintz — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 09:45:53 -0600

Glad to know it's not just me that feels this strain...

A real gasser

mama2bna — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 15:41:35 -0600

I ache every sentence of this post. My childcare, only half time, while I work full time, is 50% of my take home pay. I have another bay due in April and between now and then Blue Shield is going up 12-15% and our gas bill is sure to skyrocket. It is such a struggle. I suppose some would say we ought not have kids if we can't afford it, I am choosing to find different ways to make ends meet. I think the birth of diaologues such as this one are a good start.

Thanks for another great post.

Amanda
http://lifewithbriar.blogspot.com
http://toddlywinks.blogspot.com