For those Americans who work for a living (Full Version)

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TheHeretic -> For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 7:19:53 PM)

How are you adjusting to the smaller paychecks? What's getting cut in your budget?



Baroana -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 7:23:54 PM)

Uh, what smaller paycheck?



TheHeretic -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 7:29:28 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Baroana

Uh, what smaller paycheck?



Do you meet the criteria of the thread title?



Marini -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 9:00:24 PM)

quote:

How are you adjusting to the smaller paychecks? What's getting cut in your budget?


Rich, I started on a major league "saving" mission a few months ago.
The paycheck is getting a tad smaller, gas is on its way up to at least
$5 a gallon in the near future, prices continue to rise at the grocery store, etc.

I am still determined to save for my goals!

I have seriously cut my discretionary spending, unless it is a special occasion.
This includes/but is not limited to: no fast food {not healthy anyway} and better health is a big goal, I rarely eat in restaurants, rarely ever go to the movies, no concerts, little night life, limited shopping, etc.

I cut EVERYTHING that is considered discretionary spending.
This is a great topic, I have been looking at the budget and looking for something else to cut.
I don't have a lot of debt, but I am trying to reduce debt.
I budget and I try to plan for what I need.

I enjoy a lot of inexpensive and free activities.
I love visiting friends and family.

I do work for a living, it is possible, to live with less wants and address the needs, and still be very damn happy.

This is a great question Rich, cause I know that there are many that are seriously hurting these days.
I really don't know how many people are making ends meet.

I also don't see any end in sight, especially anytime soon.

Great topic.



Baroana -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 9:08:57 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic


quote:

ORIGINAL: Baroana

Uh, what smaller paycheck?



Do you meet the criteria of the thread title?



Not only do I work for a living, but I pay more taxes than most. Why? Because I am a single, childless, non-homeowner. Those qualities exclude me from receiving many of the government handouts contained in the Internal Revenue Code. So, I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with your paycheck, but I'm going to ask you to go whine to someone who cares.


Edited to add: I'm sure Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney would tell you that you make the money you deserve to make. Personal responsibility and we built it and yadda yadda yadda.



OsideGirl -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 9:10:26 PM)

I work for myself and I'm actually doing better than the previous two years. To the point, where I've bought a second business and we're looking at starting up a third.

I'm going to add something here: When many years ago the tax amounts withheld were reduced, it really screwed me over.

Being single with no kids and not owning a home, meant that if I had withheld what the government said I should, I would owe thousands come tax time. Thousands that I couldn't afford. So, the only option was to take ZERO deductions.

Same thing when Master and I got married. We refused to take part in the real estate frenzy and buy a $500K house, we had no kids, now we owed even more above the withholding.

Now, that the real estate market has calmed down we bought a house, and at least working for myself I get to have write offs. We're finally paying a much better tax rate, although I'm still paying a higher percentage than Mitt.




Marini -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 9:16:41 PM)

quote:

So, I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with your paycheck, but I'm going to ask you to go whine to someone who cares.


I don't see Rich {as whining}, Rich asked a very legitimate question.

Maybe you aren't familiar with this forum, but we ask a lot of questions like this down here.

If you don't like the question, don't answer it.

No need to bash/or belittle people, because you don't understand, like, or can't relate to the topic.

In this economy, MANY people can relate to this topic.


Have a great evening.



Baroana -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 9:21:23 PM)

Really? The topic looks to me like a snide criticism of the government, thinly veiled as a working man's tale of woe.



Marini -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 9:24:02 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Baroana

Really? The topic looks to me like a snide criticism of the government, thinly veiled as a working man's tale of woe.


Rich is a conservative, I am a democrat, we often don't agree.
Rich still has a right to criticize the government, I often criticize the government.

BUT, I prefer to bash most of the evil, greedy, soulless policies behind corporations/big business.

We are allowed to criticize the government/corporations/political figures, etc. down here, that's why it's called politics/religion.

If anything, this topic is mild for this place.



TheHeretic -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 10:11:19 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

quote:

So, I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with your paycheck, but I'm going to ask you to go whine to someone who cares.



Maybe you aren't familiar with this forum, but we ask a lot of questions like this down here.

If you don't like the question, don't answer it.

No need to bash/or belittle people, because you don't understand, like, or can't relate to the topic.




Have a great evening.



I dunno, Mari. Her snark struck me as being right in line with this forum. That which does not fit the dominant paradigm must be attacked, mischaracterized, and eliminated. Those who disagree must be insulted, and demonized.

She looks like amateur hour to me. Fortunately, this forum does still seem to be equipped with one anti-ankle button that works.

My semi-monthly check is down a tank of gas, and a, "don't feel like cooking, let's hit the Mexican place," night.

I can swap cars with the wife, at least a few days a week, and save a bit on gas. Some of the runs to the local, family owned, restaurant can be shifted to picking up Subway, but that isn't going to cover all of it. Obviously, more of our necessity purchases are going to have to come from WalMart, and the washer and dryer aren't going to get upgraded this year. Waitresses in strange restaurants are going to get stiffed for the tip. If I see a hitchhiker, I'm not going to be able to stop, and give him a ride up to the junction.

You've still got to enjoy life, though, so now that I have found a place that sells Mexican Coke (still made with real sugar), I'm going to use that for mixing my drinks from now on.






Marini -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 10:29:46 PM)

quote:

You've still got to enjoy life, though, so now that I have found a place that sells Mexican Coke (still made with real sugar), I'm going to use that for mixing my drinks from now on.


That Mexican Coke sounds tasty, do those that produce it have any form of quality control?

We have all heard don't drink the water when in Mexico, how can you trust those that produced the coke?

Is gas $5 a gallon yet there?

The issue I have with the mandated medical care, is it just doesn't address a lot of the issues we have with the cost of insurance and health care.

Is there a limit to how high the cost of health care can go?

I still feel Single-payer is the way to go.



TheHeretic -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/15/2013 10:46:44 PM)

There should be a high enough alcohol content to cure Mexican water. Hell, the same thing happens if I drink too much anyway. [:D]

Gas just broke $4 at the cheapest station in the area. It's up about 50 cents a gallon over the last month.

Health care is a whole other kettle of fish. I don't like single payer, but I'm certainly open to a discussion of nationalizing free health care, with rapidly diminishing entitlements at retirement and beyond. That would be a different thread, though.



BamaD -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 1:26:02 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Baroana

quote:

ORIGINAL: TheHeretic


quote:

ORIGINAL: Baroana

Uh, what smaller paycheck?



Do you meet the criteria of the thread title?



Not only do I work for a living, but I pay more taxes than most. Why? Because I am a single, childless, non-homeowner. Those qualities exclude me from receiving many of the government handouts contained in the Internal Revenue Code. So, I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with your paycheck, but I'm going to ask you to go whine to someone who cares.


Edited to add: I'm sure Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney would tell you that you make the money you deserve to make. Personal responsibility and we built it and yadda yadda yadda.

you are aware are you not that on ssan alone you took the equivilant of a 2% cut in pay (it increased by 2% of your gross pay) this has nothing to do with what anyone claims they will do or what you want to believe they would say it is fact.



TheHeretic -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 2:20:20 AM)

The beginning of Obama's first term wasn't all that, "many years ago," OsideGirl. It does seem that way at times, I admit.

Since the wife and I both earn a salary, and don't get the kid credits and deductions, that didn't work out well for us at tax time. Fortunately, the artificial affluence did afford the opportunities to replace and upgrade things before they were completely used up, allowed us to donate good quality stuff to the charities we support, and at least have enough write-offs to balance it out a little bit.

Not only will we not be getting some new appliances this year, neither will the family that would have scored our old ones at the DV shelter's warehouse or thrift store. The guys my size coming out of the homeless program across town aren't going to have as many dress clothes to pick through, to take to a job interview.

Rates went up. All else being equal, an individual whose earning get run through the tax tables before the check is cut, is getting a smaller check.

That's not a conservative truth, or a liberal truth. It's just the way it is.



Level -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 4:07:49 AM)

I lucked out a bit; hitting my 10th year of employment here gave me a raise, so I saw a small increase on my check.



Politesub53 -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 4:37:44 AM)

Welcome back Rich.



DomKen -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 6:05:05 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Marini

quote:

So, I'm sorry to hear that you're unhappy with your paycheck, but I'm going to ask you to go whine to someone who cares.


I don't see Rich {as whining

Then you must be unfamiliar with him.



chatteTBR -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 6:15:23 AM)

I am genuinely confused. I look at my pay stub every 2 weeks and haven't seen a decrease in my take-home amount at all. I work for lawyers and they follow the tax codes, so I expected to see a decrease even without a salary increase-but there was no change. I am single, no children, and don't own a home. Perhaps my salary is still too low to be negatively impacted?

I have savings goals and I know I still have discretionary spending I could cut, but I haven't yet. I eat vegetarian, don't buy new items unless what I have breaks beyond repair, and I always live inside my means. I have 1 credit card for emergencies (that is an actual emergency, not I need some new clothes to go out emergency), and use the library for entertainment.



vincentML -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 6:20:22 AM)

Whining? So are Walmart and Family Dollar Stores, and for the same reason:

Wal-Mart and discounters such as Family Dollar Stores Inc. are bracing for a rise in the payroll tax to take a bigger bite from the paychecks of shoppers already dealing with elevated unemployment.



DomKen -> RE: For those Americans who work for a living (2/16/2013 6:34:12 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: chatteTBR

I am genuinely confused. I look at my pay stub every 2 weeks and haven't seen a decrease in my take-home amount at all. I work for lawyers and they follow the tax codes, so I expected to see a decrease even without a salary increase-but there was no change. I am single, no children, and don't own a home. Perhaps my salary is still too low to be negatively impacted?

I have savings goals and I know I still have discretionary spending I could cut, but I haven't yet. I eat vegetarian, don't buy new items unless what I have breaks beyond repair, and I always live inside my means. I have 1 credit card for emergencies (that is an actual emergency, not I need some new clothes to go out emergency), and use the library for entertainment.

Check your FICA withholding. If it didn't go up on Jan 1 you should check to see if they ever decreased witholding back when the payroll tax cut was implemented.



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