Are you "making it" in America? Does your income meet your NEEDS?

Thank you Terilee. I appreciate your response. It helps others understand about living moderately. Personally, I think we too easily get caught up in the continual marketing and advertising that is pushed at us non-stop.

We all want a little more, but when we jump too quickly to go after it, that can create problems.

Hi Angel,
I think moving in with your Grandma was a smart idea. I'm sure she's happy for the company and having others to help out. Many families live together to help pool their resources. Having our own place is important to us all, but I hope that you find appreciation in this arrangement for all of you so that you can take the time you need to get straightened around. When you get back to being more financially secure, I'm sure you'll feel it was worth it.

Good Luck!

Hi Zukepr
Yes, one income is certainly difficult in today's times. But I also think it means a lot to the family and the breadwinner to have someone at home that helps maintain comfort there for everyone.

Do you look into cost saving ideas that others post on the internet? Perhaps that it a good discussion for you to build here:)

There are some really creative people around. Together you might find some real ways to help each other.

Thank you for responding.

Hi Dragon
Yes early 50s is a difficult age. We have experience but generally other issues that make us unattractive to employers. My husband goes through that. He works construction which often means finding a new job when the last one is completed. They appreciate his experience, but still only want to pay an entry level wage, which we can't live on.

Have you looked into any of the Make Extra Money discussions? I am going to start one on Yuwie. I recently became a member of that. There is much misinformation going on around the net about it. It does have real potential to make some added income while enjoying your social time on the net.

There are some real jobs available through the net, it just takes time and some effort to find them sometimes.

Thanks for responding.

I'd love to find a job on the net but 99.9% of those seem to be scams--pay us and we'll teach you to make millions. So why aren't they making the millions, otherwise they wouldn't have to advertise? Click to pay is tedious and low paying.

It's a shame that, despite what AARP says, employers don't appreciate all the benefits they can get with older workers...we're on time, we don't take sick days unless we absolutely can't get up and move, we have experience, etc. Oops, it's really hard not to go off on a rant.

Good luck to your husband! I'll look forward to your post in the money making part of MyLot.

That's what Yuwie is doing. They give back a percentage of their advertising earnings to the users. Yuwie was created on the idea that its not right for places like MySpace to be making literally billions off the content of their users and not compensating them back.

Yes, Keymandan
These are some of the people I was hoping to highlight here so that others might have some understanding. Living on the edge is very scary and it doesn't take much to topple you. My husband and I are in a similar situation, as I think many in America are today.

Networking on places like this can help sometimes to get some real ideas, but also it just helps to know that others understand and are in the same boat.

It's great that your sis-in-law is going to school. I hope that will provide a step up for them. Hanging on in the mean time with nothing extra can get tiring after a while. It helps to have some good friends for support.

I'm finding that at places like this and Yuwie. Your pic looks familiar. Are you on Yuwie?

No, I'm not on Yuwie, I am on myspace and facebook, though I do not go on those sites very much. Hopefully, you haven't seen my picture at the post office.:O

Doing a sampling of how people are doing financially with mylot is not a true picture of America or the world as a whole. We have time to participate in these discussions, and those who are doing well usually are quite busy. Still, we are seeing a decline in the middle class' standard of living due to lower paying jobs, inflation, increased debt, and the break up of the family structure. We can't do well when we have the highest per capita inmate population in the world - those people could be producing but instead are a drain. Living in debt is another form of prison - the interest demands that you make more money than what you did when you made the loan, and once you do make more money, you have to pay off the debt, so you can't spend it on the things that you want or need. A trap for sure. If on the other hand, you declare bankruptcy, then you can't buy anything on credit, which means that you have to make more than enough to pay your bills (you still have to have shelter, food, heat, and transportation along with liability insurance, plus you still have to pay taxes on what you consume) in order to purchase anything of value.

To show just how "up a creek" we are as the consumer, consider how much of the year we work to pay for things that we have no control over: according to several studies, we work until May 15 to pay all the taxes we owe - income tax, sales tax, license fees, property tax, vehicle tax, capital gains tax, inheritance tax, social security tax (and yes it is a tax, as we have no legal claim to the money collected), and school tax to name but a few. Now, most of us have some amount of debt - mortgage, car loans, credit cards. We probably work another 2 months to pay the interest on the debt we have, so now we are at July 15 before we earn money for things like food & shelter (the principle on the mortgage). Finally, we are required to have insurance on everything we borrow money on - our homes & cars, mostly. But like taxes and interest, we have to pay it because we don't have the money to obtain those goods and services ourselves. So, it is likely that we work another month to pay for the insurance on everything we own (and liability insurance for vehicles MUST be paid, so it is actually a tax), so now we are working till Sept. 15 to pay taxes, interest, and insurance. That leaves 3-1/2 months for food, clothing, shelter, fuel, vacations, and luxury items. You can see how quickly a family goes down hill financially if one or more of the members has an alcohol or drug habit. Even if they don't, every penny must count; every thing and everybody in the household must produce, or else they will go further in debt, and ultimately will face a slow financial death.

I don't want to be pessimistic about the family's chance to do well, only to emphasize that there can be no slackers.

Yes, Keyman, You're right. I know that the cross section of MyLot folks is not a good reference for a true study. I just wanted to give folks an opportunity to let their voices be heard, perhaps get some ideas and encouragement from others, etc.

Your points are very well taken. Thanks.

Yes Sylvrrain,
The lack of good paying jobs is becoming more and more of a problem in the States today. With jobs being outsourced overseas, what are Americans to do? It's a major problem that I hope will get addressed if the focus comes back to America, rather than Iraq with a new president.

Though I'm sure it's difficult, I'm glad for you that you are "cutting in close" rather than being under the wire:)

Thanks for responding.

Well, dlkuku, it seems you have worked hard to get the measure of security you have. I'm glad for you. Applying for everything you can, and starting early when it comes to college financial aid and scholarships is great advice for others.
Thank you.

Sid, yes, I hear you. Thank you for the positive position you take, even though your situation could be brighter. When they label us, you and I fall into that new category of "missing" Middle class; meaning that we make too much for help but not enough to be considered middle class. We ride the edge day to day struggling to make sure that we don't fall off the wrong side of the fence.

The difficulty of that lifestyle is unknown to many, and one of the reasons I created this discussion. I was curious how many would respond in that manner.

Thanks for your response.