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This is good advice for people who make a living wage. But for many people, an emergency fund is a luxury. I remember not too long ago when I had to decide betw

This is good advice for people who make a living wage. But for many people, an emergency fund is a luxury. I remember not too long ago when I had to decide between paying utilities and buying food. Every single month. Saving just wasn't an option. Many of my friends and family are still in this position, and they've all lost their jobs simultaneously. I'm not surprised that people are scared right now, because they're used to the anxiety of being one paycheck away from homeless for their entire lives. And now they don't have a paycheck.

syshum 7y ago
I am not saying your situation is like this, but I know many people that say "I dont make enough money to save" but then if you look at their daily life they eat out often, stop a Starbucks routinely, have the latest iPhone, have subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and a 100 Channel TV Line up, have massive credit card debit from buying things they did not need, etc etc etc Again you may actually be in a bad spot financially and if you are I hope you get out of it soon, but I know many many many many people that simply can not budget properly, and even when they make more income their "needs" raise to consume that extra income about 2 seconds after they get the increase
- peteradio 7y ago
  There are shit loads more people in a position where they don't have the money. You probably just encounter more of the type who are frivolous because of where you live and who you interact with. Step outside your neighborhood, your county your state.
  - TallGuyShort 7y ago
    I've worked with homelessness and welfare programs in 4 states and 4 countries including Zimbabwe. If you're using the word 'state' in a sentence and aren't a clinically insane or drug addicted homeless person, then FOH. You have such a ridiculously huge leg up in this country and so many resources to buy groceries, get meals and get help. People are in sucky situations. They're hard. They don't deserve it. But excuse making and pity parties help no one. Look at the article you're commenting on and tell me everyone eats this smart. Jesus.
    - peteradio 7y ago
      WTF are you even responding to? I'm responding to a person other than you first of all. State as in New Jersey or Ohio, not state of mind. Chill the fuck out. What is the intent of your messaging here?
      - TallGuyShort 7y ago
        I'm responding to your comment. Scroll up to see my initial interest in this thread. Yes, State as in New Jersey. As in, you're in the United States. Where there are far better WIC-like programs than many other countries. You are better off than people who are happier than you are. Poverty is relative. It sucks, but if you are eating when there's no pandemic, a very slight change over a long time will prepare you for pandemics, job loss, other such events. You will have more freedom, more well-being. If you don't like that, great, be unprepared in the next pandemic if you insist, but I actually do a lot of work with and donate a huge amount of money to various shelters, kitchens, and other assistance programs. But every time I comment with actual common sense advice, there is always some comment like, "well ACKTUALLY... there's just people who make less money than you do now, so clearly you lack compassion and understanding".
        selimthegrim 7y ago
        WIC is all well and good but I want to know who in USDA was so petty as to keep cilantro off of it? I saw a mother at save a lot denied it once and it made no sense.
        peteradio 7y ago
        I'm responding to the dickhead making generalization about poor people buying tvs iphones and eating avocado toast or whatever politically motivated talking point they are clearly pushing. I'm definitely not responding/repudiating to your point.
        TallGuyShort 7y ago
        Ok, but I've gotten out of my state and met with lots of people on assistance, and that is rampant in the US in a way that's almost unheard of in other countries I've worked in. I've seen people coast off the system, but they still generally live somewhat minimalist lives. Having new flat screens and game consoles, cases of Mountain Dew and a pantry full of nothing but prepackaged junk food when you can't make rent? I know how that sounds like a judgmental stereotype, but that seems like a uniquely American epidemic to me.
  - syshum 7y ago
    It is more my experience working with Housing Authorities in 5 different states, and the stories from front line Social Workers that see some of the abuses of these systems first hand
    - peteradio 7y ago
      Do you feel that those anecdotes give you enough confidence to make broad statements like the below? "if you look at their daily life they eat out often, stop a Starbucks routinely, have the latest iPhone, have subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and a 100 Channel TV Line up, have massive credit card debit from buying things they did not need, etc etc etc" Show me your bootstraps folks I know you all got em. Put down your iphones and pull up your pants. Listen up I'm here to condescend.
senordevnyc 7y ago
There are many more people who can save but don’t than there are people who genuinely can’t save.
- jtolmar 7y ago
  They have no bearing on those who can't. The people who can't still need food.
  - selimthegrim 7y ago
    There are people who live in situations where they have no stove or no room in or access to a fridge. Historically many people got food from the market each day.
TallGuyShort 7y ago
You're literally commenting on an article called "Eat for $1.50 per day". If you can't, over years of plenty, build up a few weeks reserve then we're having a different discussion because a mere broken bone or car battery failure will then wipe out your independence. And yes there are people in that situation. But most people are a little beyond that. And even those WAY beyond that are helpless and dependent on rushed government solutions and the preparedness of others right now.
- korethr 7y ago
  I agree with this. For most of my adult life, I lived paycheck to paycheck. And when I look back on my earlier years, I didn't have to. There were opportunities to start building up a reserve, and I failed to recognize them or take them. And when the previous recession hit, I learned the hard way fast that having no reserve can quickly lead to bad times. In addition to your point, I'd dare say that one has a duty to his fellows to build up a small reserve during times of plenty, not just of monies, but basic living supplies, like food, water, hygiene products. When one has just a bit more security of his own, he's better able to help others. One's less likely to panic buy and contribute to a shortage. It's easier to remain calm when others are freaking out. The reduced stress makes it easier to not get sick(er) and remain as able-bodied as one is normally. And that's the kind of person I'd want as a neighbor or part of my community in a crisis.
- mellavora 7y ago
  You might want to check official govnt stats on this. A surprising number of american households are not a little beyond that, they are exactly there, where a $400 expense would put them over the edge. Or, in this case, $400 in lost income. Looking at the person you are replying to, who for many months had to choose between utility bill or food, please show a little compassion for how difficult saving can be when you have an unstable income (i.e. you are a shift worker at any of the many US companies that uses shift workers and computer algos to only schedule people for when there is workplace demand).
  - TallGuyShort 7y ago
    It sounds like you're making my point. A $400 expense will put them over the edge. If they can find a way to eek out 1 extra can or box of shelf-stable food a week and put it aside. Within a year they can easily absorb having to go a couple of weeks with no trip to the grocery store because of that expense. I have compassion on all the people who felt absolutely fucked this week because they had never done that. Also I did this on minimum wage for 4 years. I'm not judging I'm giving advice. If you disagree, I an my supply of toilet paper, rice and pinto beans will keep on truckin'.

syshum 7y ago

I am not saying your situation is like this, but I know many people that say "I dont make enough money to save" but then if you look at their daily life they eat out often, stop a Starbucks routinely, have the latest iPhone, have subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and a 100 Channel TV Line up, have massive credit card debit from buying things they did not need, etc etc etc Again you may actually be in a bad spot financially and if you are I hope you get out of it soon, but I know many many many many people that simply can not budget properly, and even when they make more income their "needs" raise to consume that extra income about 2 seconds after they get the increase

peteradio 7y ago
There are shit loads more people in a position where they don't have the money. You probably just encounter more of the type who are frivolous because of where you live and who you interact with. Step outside your neighborhood, your county your state.
- TallGuyShort 7y ago
  I've worked with homelessness and welfare programs in 4 states and 4 countries including Zimbabwe. If you're using the word 'state' in a sentence and aren't a clinically insane or drug addicted homeless person, then FOH. You have such a ridiculously huge leg up in this country and so many resources to buy groceries, get meals and get help. People are in sucky situations. They're hard. They don't deserve it. But excuse making and pity parties help no one. Look at the article you're commenting on and tell me everyone eats this smart. Jesus.
  - peteradio 7y ago
    WTF are you even responding to? I'm responding to a person other than you first of all. State as in New Jersey or Ohio, not state of mind. Chill the fuck out. What is the intent of your messaging here?
    - TallGuyShort 7y ago
      I'm responding to your comment. Scroll up to see my initial interest in this thread. Yes, State as in New Jersey. As in, you're in the United States. Where there are far better WIC-like programs than many other countries. You are better off than people who are happier than you are. Poverty is relative. It sucks, but if you are eating when there's no pandemic, a very slight change over a long time will prepare you for pandemics, job loss, other such events. You will have more freedom, more well-being. If you don't like that, great, be unprepared in the next pandemic if you insist, but I actually do a lot of work with and donate a huge amount of money to various shelters, kitchens, and other assistance programs. But every time I comment with actual common sense advice, there is always some comment like, "well ACKTUALLY... there's just people who make less money than you do now, so clearly you lack compassion and understanding".
      - selimthegrim 7y ago
        WIC is all well and good but I want to know who in USDA was so petty as to keep cilantro off of it? I saw a mother at save a lot denied it once and it made no sense.
      - peteradio 7y ago
        I'm responding to the dickhead making generalization about poor people buying tvs iphones and eating avocado toast or whatever politically motivated talking point they are clearly pushing. I'm definitely not responding/repudiating to your point.
        TallGuyShort 7y ago
        Ok, but I've gotten out of my state and met with lots of people on assistance, and that is rampant in the US in a way that's almost unheard of in other countries I've worked in. I've seen people coast off the system, but they still generally live somewhat minimalist lives. Having new flat screens and game consoles, cases of Mountain Dew and a pantry full of nothing but prepackaged junk food when you can't make rent? I know how that sounds like a judgmental stereotype, but that seems like a uniquely American epidemic to me.
- syshum 7y ago
  It is more my experience working with Housing Authorities in 5 different states, and the stories from front line Social Workers that see some of the abuses of these systems first hand
  - peteradio 7y ago
    Do you feel that those anecdotes give you enough confidence to make broad statements like the below? "if you look at their daily life they eat out often, stop a Starbucks routinely, have the latest iPhone, have subscriptions to Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and a 100 Channel TV Line up, have massive credit card debit from buying things they did not need, etc etc etc" Show me your bootstraps folks I know you all got em. Put down your iphones and pull up your pants. Listen up I'm here to condescend.

senordevnyc 7y ago

There are many more people who can save but don’t than there are people who genuinely can’t save.

jtolmar 7y ago
They have no bearing on those who can't. The people who can't still need food.
- selimthegrim 7y ago
  There are people who live in situations where they have no stove or no room in or access to a fridge. Historically many people got food from the market each day.

TallGuyShort 7y ago

You're literally commenting on an article called "Eat for $1.50 per day". If you can't, over years of plenty, build up a few weeks reserve then we're having a different discussion because a mere broken bone or car battery failure will then wipe out your independence. And yes there are people in that situation. But most people are a little beyond that. And even those WAY beyond that are helpless and dependent on rushed government solutions and the preparedness of others right now.

korethr 7y ago
I agree with this. For most of my adult life, I lived paycheck to paycheck. And when I look back on my earlier years, I didn't have to. There were opportunities to start building up a reserve, and I failed to recognize them or take them. And when the previous recession hit, I learned the hard way fast that having no reserve can quickly lead to bad times. In addition to your point, I'd dare say that one has a duty to his fellows to build up a small reserve during times of plenty, not just of monies, but basic living supplies, like food, water, hygiene products. When one has just a bit more security of his own, he's better able to help others. One's less likely to panic buy and contribute to a shortage. It's easier to remain calm when others are freaking out. The reduced stress makes it easier to not get sick(er) and remain as able-bodied as one is normally. And that's the kind of person I'd want as a neighbor or part of my community in a crisis.
mellavora 7y ago
You might want to check official govnt stats on this. A surprising number of american households are not a little beyond that, they are exactly there, where a $400 expense would put them over the edge. Or, in this case, $400 in lost income. Looking at the person you are replying to, who for many months had to choose between utility bill or food, please show a little compassion for how difficult saving can be when you have an unstable income (i.e. you are a shift worker at any of the many US companies that uses shift workers and computer algos to only schedule people for when there is workplace demand).
- TallGuyShort 7y ago
  It sounds like you're making my point. A $400 expense will put them over the edge. If they can find a way to eek out 1 extra can or box of shelf-stable food a week and put it aside. Within a year they can easily absorb having to go a couple of weeks with no trip to the grocery store because of that expense. I have compassion on all the people who felt absolutely fucked this week because they had never done that. Also I did this on minimum wage for 4 years. I'm not judging I'm giving advice. If you disagree, I an my supply of toilet paper, rice and pinto beans will keep on truckin'.