General Discussion

hunter

(40,774 posts)

68. I drive an $800 car, no cable, no satellite, a $7 a month cell phone, and I'm mostly vegetarian.

Thu Jan 30, 2014, 08:32 PM

Jan 2014

Haven't eaten out for months.

It's the crushing medical bills and kid's college (our oldest has graduated) that were $$$.

I graduated from college debt free. My dad had good health insurance, not the crappy kind they have now where a person can go bankrupt even with insurance. My mom and dad enjoy a fairly comfortable pension.

My wife and I thought we had good medical insurance before the shit storms hit, and it's utterly astonishing what college costs now.

We're not suffering, and calls from medical debt collectors don't bother me at all any more, but our credit rating is still in the toilet.

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Has your income decreased? Are you as tired as I am? [View all] CoffeeCat Jan 2014 OP

I doubt you are the only one el_bryanto Jan 2014 #1

"Working your self to debt" is how one friend states it SomeGuyInEagan Jan 2014 #46

Yes. redwitch Jan 2014 #2

I feel that there are many who share your story... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #3

I will keep you and your husband in my heart redwitch Jan 2014 #5

No. safeinOhio Jan 2014 #4

why do you still pay union dues when you are retired? shanti Jan 2014 #8

Retired and still paying dues here too CountAllVotes Jan 2014 #13

Fair enough shanti Jan 2014 #14

no, my income has grown hfojvt Jan 2014 #6

Yes and Yes. nt LWolf Jan 2014 #7

Yes. And sadly, I don't see Dems as having real answers. We aren't thinking big enough. reformist2 Jan 2014 #9

Yes. Way too many elected Democrats are economic conservatives. stillwaiting Jan 2014 #20

Agreed. Myrina Jan 2014 #30

since taking early retirement in 2010 shanti Jan 2014 #10

Yes and Yes Boomerproud Jan 2014 #11

If you're "not begruding the rich" Duer 157099 Jan 2014 #12

It's not all the rich BobbyBoring Jan 2014 #42

Of course there are exceptions to every rule Duer 157099 Jan 2014 #43

YES and YES CountAllVotes Jan 2014 #15

Family income increases glacially. hunter Jan 2014 #16

Yeah but $5 says Munificence Jan 2014 #66

I drive an $800 car, no cable, no satellite, a $7 a month cell phone, and I'm mostly vegetarian. hunter Jan 2014 #68

Steadily downward for 3 years FreeJoe Jan 2014 #17

You're not alone MANative Jan 2014 #18

Yup 2naSalit Jan 2014 #19

Yes and so has every one I know randr Jan 2014 #21

Yes and no. davidthegnome Jan 2014 #22

I'm an engineer as well . . . aggiesal Jan 2014 #23

My retirement plan SCVDem Jan 2014 #24

That is stark, but understandable. grasswire Jan 2014 #33

YES and YES LiberalEsto Jan 2014 #25

Oh, goodness, don't even get me started. knitter4democracy Jan 2014 #26

To be honest ... 1StrongBlackMan Jan 2014 #27

Yes to both. onestepforward Jan 2014 #28

Clearly you're a "taker" and not a "maker".* The only people with rights to make headway in the new SleeplessinSoCal Jan 2014 #29

My husband took a 40% pay cut three years ago LibDemAlways Jan 2014 #31

The playing field is skewed more & more every day. CrispyQ Jan 2014 #32

Wow, what an accurate portrait. Appalling, but real. kairos12 Jan 2014 #39

Real inflation has taken it's toll One_Life_To_Give Jan 2014 #34

I hear you and I share your pain. But regarding your medical expenses, hopefully the totodeinhere Jan 2014 #35

Company I worked for went bankrupt abelenkpe Jan 2014 #36

But But unemployment has dropped!? = Tired Phlem Jan 2014 #37

i feel ya Burf-_- Jan 2014 #38

welcome Burf marions ghost Jan 2014 #59

Yes. woo me with science Jan 2014 #40

Yes and yes Little_Wing Jan 2014 #41

I am in my 50's and I really do not know anyone who feels they can retire "comfortably" anymore salib Jan 2014 #44

I live in the suburbs... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #48

The answer to your headline is yes donnasgirl Jan 2014 #45

Try being over 60........ llmart Jan 2014 #47

I sure felt that way when I opened my electric bill Lifelong Protester Jan 2014 #49

Yes, I get what you are saying... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #53

I agree. Lifelong Protester Jan 2014 #54

Our utilities all have service charges on them now. leftyladyfrommo Jan 2014 #60

I know, all these somewhat 'mysterious' charges Lifelong Protester Jan 2014 #61

My income at the moment is almost zero. But that was my choice. KentuckyWoman Jan 2014 #50

Yes and Yes 7wo7rees Jan 2014 #51

anyone who doesn't feel that way is either rich or not paying attention Skittles Jan 2014 #52

I wish I'd only taken a 35% income cut. magical thyme Jan 2014 #55

Many, many people that I speak with are feeling squeezed more than in the past. GoneFishin Jan 2014 #56

It's a secret festering in the majority of homes... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #57

Yes. I see it at all levels also. Just consider the cost of putting gas in your tank to get to work. GoneFishin Jan 2014 #63

As per our upcoming 2014 tax filings, we are making exactly 1/4 of what we made Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #58

If you don't mind me asking... CoffeeCat Jan 2014 #62

We both left our cushy (and highly stressful) jobs Le Taz Hot Jan 2014 #64

It's disgusting Tree-Hugger Jan 2014 #65

It's not just your imagination; welcome to the new normal. TheFrenchRazor Jan 2014 #67