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It's a very valid point you bring up. Illness in a family is the leading cause of personal bankruptcy (~50%). Where do people who can't afford to pay for medications turn? Their credit card of course! Leading them down a fiancial road that is nearly impossible to turn back from. Therefore forcing them to file for brankruptcy, which, thanks to new laws passed in 2006, still make them responsible to pay for all that debt. (Hmmm, how about each family making over $250K a year, sponsor a family who's been forced into bankruptcy because of illness?) It is true that, as I've been fortunate to experience, you can still work your way from one financial "class" to another, but it's very easy to lose it all without being careless with your money.
Link: http://blog.prosper.com/2008/03/07/the-leading-cause-of-personal-bankruptcyyou-may-be-surprised/

posted 5 years ago
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I'm quite shocked. My partner and I make around $130K combined (we were making about $150+ before moving here from out of state a year ago). I never considered us wealthy, we don't live extravagently (I'm really quite cheap), and I always worry about money, and squrriel away a great deal for retirement. I can't imagine how people can live as a family on $30K! I have no problem with the taxes we pay, or the safegards in place to help those who need assistance...I just wish there was a more effective way to help people get on their feet, and would helop subsidize incomes rather than provide them.
This discussion gave me a new perspective on our position, and I'm very thankful for the financial choices I've made. Oh...and I didn't grow up wealthy. My father was the bread winner, and my parents raised 5 kids (all in private school) on $50-60K/yr. Mom was very good at stretching the family dollar.

posted 5 years ago
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Why is it that people will penny pinch over paying an extra couple dollars for quality, locally grown, healthy food, but don't flinch at spending $35-100 dollars a month on cable TV? If families worked on their own veggie gardens together, as a form of bonding and entertainment and then subsidized the food they grow with locally grown farmer's market produce. I venture to guess they'd be saving money on a monthly basis, while spending more quality time with their family. It all boils down to a matter of priorities. I will always make the choice to buy local, even if it means sacrificing something else.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
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