What I don't understand- help me with this

[protus]

replying to your 1st statement in bold: thats still less than $600 a month each. they can still absorb that cost and keep playing video games.

i've been working 50+ hours a week for the entire month of may. we managed to get ONE new hire on board this week. hopefully a couple more next week. i don't have my new schedule yet but I'm assuming I'm clopening for the 3rd time in a week today/tomorrow. clopening is what we call working the closing shift, getting off work at about 1am and being back at 10 am to open.

replying to the 2nd bold statement: the middle class is a bunch of clueless stains and honestly they have caused the problems we see in the restaurant business. they use to just tell their kids to not work a "mcjob" now they don't bother telling them to work or make them work at all. I have, no shit not making this up at all, taught 2 grown ass men in the last 2 years how to sweep a floor. one of them was 31 married and with kid #2 on the way. the other was 22 years old. neither of them knew how to use a broom.

remember..they are not like you or me.
they don't see it as 600 each.
that's more for a new car ,console or vacation.etc etc.

also what we knew as middle class in 84' is not that today.
I make decent bank doing what I do.
in fact only 20k less than my Dr. Dad did in 85'.
I consider myself bottom rung on middle anything lol.

others in that Gen X and up ages have placed many wants before the needs.
I know many that even combined make less than my household.
but guess what they are rocking.
lots of credit card debt, newer cars. Bigger homes etc.

only thing that's kept many afloat and awash in extra income was the stimulus bucks for popping out crotch fruit.

you industry and the trades are screwed.
my buddy keeps asking me to hire on doing electrical work. But money/benefits aren't there for me.
he's gone through several helpers/new guys already the past 2 months......and the younger guys just can't and will not hang ( adjust to real work).

the fed wants no middle class...true mega city dreams man......

my kid had a teacher have them read/watch hunger games.
I told her....
that what they want...elites with it all and everyone else fighting for scraps...

[Bill Foster]

Years ago, I read a book by Larry Burkett (Christian Financial Concepts) called The Coming Economic Earthquake. In the book he urged people to pay off their home. When the housing market goes up, your house goes up too. In a down market, your home brings less money, but your new home will cost less as well. People who owe 125% of their home’s value are the one’s who are stuck when the market tanks; I’ve known a few people in that condition. One of the best feeling in the world is getting that paid-in-full letter.

[surviort_wwdnet]

When I retired, I pulled my 401K. When my husband retired he pulled his 401K and the first thing we did was pay off the house - what a great feeling! The only debt we have is the motorhome, and it's a small balance that we're carrying while we get other things updated here (pool deck - done - new roof on house and workshop - in 2 weeks - etc.) for which we will pay cash. I still use my credit cards, but never carry a balance more than the time it takes for the balance to post to the account.

We have a small 3/2 with a huge yard, a pool, jacuzzi, and (of course) my vegetable gardens. Is there anything we need? Not really, although I'm sure there are things I want but can live without. I'm not sure I can live without a small portable greenhouse before next winter...

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

"I'm not sure I can live without a small portable greenhouse before next winter..."

Me too....

[surviort_wwdnet]

We need to get a head start for spring planting! I couldn't plant until well into March this year due to unusually cold weather, and it's put me behind where I need to be. I'm going to ask Santa for one...or Mrs. Claus. I'll start shopping now.

[Patriotic Sheepdog]

let me know what you are planning to put on your Christmas list....:)

[surviort_wwdnet]

Will do! I have a small landing outside my side door (we don't use that door), so I'll measure it and see what would fit there. It's where I do all my seed starters now. If I go with that area, it will be relatively small, maybe 3x3 or thereabouts, enough to start 50 plants or so.