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2nd Trimester
For those of you judging people on their finances...
This discussion has been closed.
Re: For those of you judging people on their finances...
You might not be judging but a lot of people in this post are however judging those who do have money and how they choose to spend it. I have lived paycheck to paycheck, I am now not. We have no debt aside from our mortgage, have savings and still have disposable income leftover. Do I realize that the bottom could fall out in this economy, yes. It's about choices, and we are all at liberty to make them. I have a $1000 stroller b/c aesthetically and functionally it worked best for me. I did however buy my crib from Ikea b/c I just liked the simplicity of it. I don't think I'm better than other people b/c of the objects that I have and I resent the notion that other people are judging me based on material things b./c they just assume I am living beyond my means.
Damn duplicate post. See... this is what happens when you procrastinate on The Bump from work and their silly server glitches. Shheeeesh!
My other reply is below. Sorry.
No, it's actually not. If you have an e-fund, are able to save any money each month (as two posters who said they live paycheck to paycheck stated they do/have), then you're not living paycheck to paycheck. That's Publius' point. The other posters are acting as if the choices are live paycheck to paycheck, or have debt. That's not true. People who are really living paycheck to paycheck aren't able to save money. Living paycheck to paycheck =/= spending all your money after you've put $$ into savings, retirement, etc.
Anyone who thinks that just because you may not live paycheck to paycheck today, you will always live like that may be in for a rude awakening. Layoffs, unexpected emergencies, accidents, poor investments, and many, many other things can change your financial situation within a matter of seconds. So... enjoy the comfort of not having to worry quite as much right now, but NEVER think that what you have today is what you'll have forever.
The key is to always be thankful for what you do have (be it a little or a lot), and do your best to plan for the things you can, no?
If this is true you're not living paycheck to paycheck.
Thank you. I was starting to think that nobody here had any clue what "living paycheck to paycheck" actually means.
Living paycheck to paycheck means that you have absolutely no money whatsoever left over from each paycheck. It means that if for some reason you were to not receive that next paycheck, you would be totally screwed because you are just barely covering your expenses with your pay.
I think it's funny how many people here are trying to argue that they are living paycheck to paycheck, as if it's a good thing. It's not a good thing. Be happy that you aren't really living that way and realize you are better off than many people in this country.
Nope sorry. Living paycheck to paycheck has nothing to do with the amount of debt you have. Living paycheck to paycheck means that to pay this weeks bills (that can include debt payments), you have to wait until your next paycheck comes in. So, you cannot pay the bills this week with your last paycheck because it's already gone.
I don't live to paycheck to paycheck. I only have a mortgage which is currently paid by my tenant. However, if I sold said house, I still wouldn't be living paycheck to paycheck. Not having debt doesn't mean that you are living paycheck to paycheck.
To others, you are very confused. Saying that you have no debt, then in the next sentence saying you have a mortgage, medical bills and a car payment. This is debt. Any money owed to someone else or entity is debt.
A mortgage = debt
Medical bills = debt
Owing your friend money for the dinner she paid last week = debt
Living to paycheck to paycheck does NOT = no debt.
Further, I think the OP meant that she shouldn't be judged because she cannot afford a particular named brand. She is proud that she doesn't use credit cards to purchase it and doesn't want to be judged for her choice of not buying what she cannot afford. If I summed this up correctly, I agree with her.
However, it seems as many of you are jumping on the "yeah I live paycheck to paycheck and it's awesome, but i still buy things i cannot afford like getting my nails done for $25" bandwagon. This is something I judge you for. If you are barely able to afford your bills, get some extra money, and spend that on your nails vs. being responsible and saving for the future, then I'm going to judge you. Debt or no debt.
My thoughts EXACTLY.
And like a pp said, this goes both ways. You can't judge someone that likes to spend money on nice things, because they have it and can afford to. That's not fair either.
This exactly. Having been there, it certainly wasn't a choice or something I was proud of.
This. I think a lot of people are confused about what living paycheck to paycheck means. My DH and I do. It wasn't like this until recently because we had something unexpected happen. We do have a small savings that we started building before but now we have just enough money to pay our bills and it takes every cent we have. We no longer have any left over money to put in savings and if anything happened to my DH's job we would be royally screwed. It sucks.
I fully enjoy the comforts of my life without guilt or apology. I also do it without passing judgment on anyone who has less or more than I do. I am also not naive enough to think that I am set for life and you shouldn't be naive enough to think that just b/c people have more than you that they don't appreciate it. I didn't see anyone in this post acting that way so your statement is kind of unnecessary.
When people live paycheck to paycheck it is not a good thing and nothing to be proud of - most people would not choose it but you have to do what you have to do and sometimes this happens not because one is being irresponsible but because it works out like this sometimes.
You are wrong - you are not living paycheck to paycheck. If you have an aggressive savings plan and you can put money into a savings account (for a house, emergencies, whatever) - you still have cash if you absolutely need it. Your family is not going to go hungry for a few days until you get paid (unless your insane) if you have savings to cover an occasional over-run.
Some people on here say the have $10 in the world to their name for a few days until they get paid. They are screwed if they need food, extra gas, really anything. That's not you. You make yourself feel like you are living paycheck to paycheck to max your savings - I do this too - but if need be I still have cash on hand to cover me if something comes up. The difference in the stress of both scenarios alone makes a difference. You are not trying to get your LO by on bread and water for four days if you have savings - people who live paycheck to paycheck have no choice. And again, if you would make your LO resort to bread and water for 4 days to avoid dipping into your savings for a new home you're certifiable.
Oh thank god, some smart people arrived.
I'm not suprised that someone with a hideous dead baby ticker posted something like this.
Living paycheck to paycheck means that if said paycheck went away you would have no money to live on. If you have savings to fall back on you aren't only relying on your current paycheck to survive. It has nothing to do with debt or how much is in your checking account at the end of the month.
What dead baby ticker?
The pregnology tickers. Those pictures aren't of living feti. Just saying.
hahaha, love.
I'm not sure what you're trying to say here but I think you've misread some things. First of all, I don't have a mortgage, or a car payment, or medical bills. None.
This is what paycheck to paycheck means. "Shiit, my car insurance is do on the 15th, and I get paid on the 14th. That will cover that. I get paid about on the 30th, and that will cover the rent."
PAYCHECK to PAYCHECK. You live your life one paycheck at a time.
You described being a paycheck in the hole, which many people are, but that's not what we are discussing.
Also, if you don't get that check, you're screwed. That doesn't mean I can't afford 25 bucks for my nails, but that means I can't afford to lose a paycheck.
Even with your current explanation, you still aren't living paycheck to paycheck.
Are you working poor?-Then you probably aren't living paycheck to paycheck.
Do you have any money in savings, or put money into savings? Again, you aren't living paycheck to paycheck.
Do you have retirement? Would a medical emergency possibly force you to go bankrupt? If the answer is no, then you aren't living paycheck to paycheck.
Check the above definitions for a true definition of what living paycheck to paycheck means.