4 ms·

Coming from poverty, the tiniest issues: flat tire, injury, etc. will easily take that sliver of cash you had left and that's when things like overdraws start.

Coming from poverty, the tiniest issues: flat tire, injury, etc. will easily take that sliver of cash you had left and that's when things like overdraws start. You then get stuck in an endless cycle of loans, credit cards, etc. to cover basic expenses while you try to rebound. It'd be very easy to say "Don't spend what you don't have." but unfortunately many people need more than they're given.

restingrobot 9y ago
I understand issues come up, that doesn't mean that you must overdraft or take a crappy loan. There are so many options for every scenario. Also coming from poverty, one of the hardest life lessons I had to learn was how to be self reliant. I started by changing my thinking. Overdraws and loans are one option and not the only option is most cases. >but unfortunately many people need more than they're given. I have a problem with this statement. I don't think many people in poverty are "given" anything. They need more than they "earn". To say given trivializes the blood, sweat and tears that many people shed just to survive.
Powerofmene 9y ago
Or a hurricane comes through and gas jumps to $3.00 a gallon and you have to buy diapers w your last $15 so now you have to choose. Or heaven forbid you get the flu and miss a day or two of work....you don't work then you don't get paid. In cases like these payday lenders may not be ideal but they are quick and easy (for a reason I might add). Now you out have another bill you probably can't pay but if your kids are hungry today...well tomorrow if a different problem.
- restingrobot 9y ago
  A hurricane is hardly a good example. Its a tiny minority of people in the poverty discussion.
  - Powerofmene 9y ago
    I am just saying that something as obscure as a hurricane can throw a family with no safety net into a free fall financially. But for better examples, 1. You get the flu and miss a days work. 2. Your child needs their teeth cleaned or worse a cavity filled and you don't have entail coverage or a $50 deductible etc. 3. Your 1st grade child is sick and can't go to school so you now can't go to work. 4. Your parent passes and you have funeral arrangements to make and service to attend, etc. 5. Your get in a car accident (not your fault) and now you have no transportation. 6. You are injured at work and short term disability is a fraction of your pay and that is only after a number of days unpaid. 7. You find out you or your child need glasses. 8. Your child needs shoes, school supplies, medicine, a haircut, etc. 9. Bus drivers are on strike and now you cannot find a way to work so you can't get paid. 10. The laundromat close to you shuts down and now it is a 20 mile ride to the next closest one with two kids in tow (along with all of your laundry) and the closest you can get is 4-6 blocks from it. 11. Your wallet is stolen. 12. Your company cuts your hours or worse, it is closing and you are losing your job. Or if none of those are good, how about You or your child (or both) have life threatening allergies and you need an epi pen with the ridiculous out of pocket that comes with that. The point is that risk is around every corner for people living paycheck to paycheck. You cannot fault people for making poor choices when the choice a) is really bad and choice b) is disastrous.
  - Powerofmene 9y ago
    People in the hurricane are not necessarily who I was talking about. I was not affected by a hurricane other than gasoline in my area has increased 80 cents a gallon in ten days. Any person who purchases gasoline has been impacted. I am simply saying that this increase hits those with less padding in their budget are hit harder than those who have more discretionary income.
- AstralStorm 9y ago
  You pointed out one major thing. US reliance on cars is actually worsening this. As opposed to gas prices and car maintenance, public transportation tends to have somewhat predictable prices and term discounts.

restingrobot 9y ago

I understand issues come up, that doesn't mean that you must overdraft or take a crappy loan. There are so many options for every scenario. Also coming from poverty, one of the hardest life lessons I had to learn was how to be self reliant. I started by changing my thinking. Overdraws and loans are one option and not the only option is most cases. >but unfortunately many people need more than they're given. I have a problem with this statement. I don't think many people in poverty are "given" anything. They need more than they "earn". To say given trivializes the blood, sweat and tears that many people shed just to survive.

Powerofmene 9y ago

Or a hurricane comes through and gas jumps to $3.00 a gallon and you have to buy diapers w your last $15 so now you have to choose. Or heaven forbid you get the flu and miss a day or two of work....you don't work then you don't get paid. In cases like these payday lenders may not be ideal but they are quick and easy (for a reason I might add). Now you out have another bill you probably can't pay but if your kids are hungry today...well tomorrow if a different problem.

restingrobot 9y ago
A hurricane is hardly a good example. Its a tiny minority of people in the poverty discussion.
- Powerofmene 9y ago
  I am just saying that something as obscure as a hurricane can throw a family with no safety net into a free fall financially. But for better examples, 1. You get the flu and miss a days work. 2. Your child needs their teeth cleaned or worse a cavity filled and you don't have entail coverage or a $50 deductible etc. 3. Your 1st grade child is sick and can't go to school so you now can't go to work. 4. Your parent passes and you have funeral arrangements to make and service to attend, etc. 5. Your get in a car accident (not your fault) and now you have no transportation. 6. You are injured at work and short term disability is a fraction of your pay and that is only after a number of days unpaid. 7. You find out you or your child need glasses. 8. Your child needs shoes, school supplies, medicine, a haircut, etc. 9. Bus drivers are on strike and now you cannot find a way to work so you can't get paid. 10. The laundromat close to you shuts down and now it is a 20 mile ride to the next closest one with two kids in tow (along with all of your laundry) and the closest you can get is 4-6 blocks from it. 11. Your wallet is stolen. 12. Your company cuts your hours or worse, it is closing and you are losing your job. Or if none of those are good, how about You or your child (or both) have life threatening allergies and you need an epi pen with the ridiculous out of pocket that comes with that. The point is that risk is around every corner for people living paycheck to paycheck. You cannot fault people for making poor choices when the choice a) is really bad and choice b) is disastrous.
- Powerofmene 9y ago
  People in the hurricane are not necessarily who I was talking about. I was not affected by a hurricane other than gasoline in my area has increased 80 cents a gallon in ten days. Any person who purchases gasoline has been impacted. I am simply saying that this increase hits those with less padding in their budget are hit harder than those who have more discretionary income.
AstralStorm 9y ago
You pointed out one major thing. US reliance on cars is actually worsening this. As opposed to gas prices and car maintenance, public transportation tends to have somewhat predictable prices and term discounts.