76% of Americans Are Living Paycheck-To-Paycheck

[love_katz]

67. I can hear you, but...

building stuff yourself works best if you have $ to buy or rent tools. And the skills and know-how to use them. I have neither.

I did pick up some pallets recently. Now I just have to figure out how to saw them apart so I can make something with them. The only saws I have are a pruning saw, and a cheap folding saw that seems to have teeth that are too fine for sawing wood...did not work when I was trying to cut down some giant bamboo which are growing too close to my house. And, I do know that the bamboo can be used for projects...I bought a book (used) from our local wonderful used book store.

I am glad that I don't have kids...even without them, I seem to have no extra $ after I get my paycheck. I am not wasteful nor a spendthrift. I don't drink coffee at all, nor alcohol, don't smoke and never have. For the rest of what I do, please so my post upthread.

Some of us are really scraping bottom. My monthly income has fallen by over $1,000.00 since 2002. I tried to get a better paying job back in 2012. It didn't work out, and although I was extremely lucky to get rehired by my employer, I lost my seniority and took a big drop in pay. My AGI was $5,000.00 less in 2012 than it was in 2011.

My extended family members all seem to be in the same or similar boats...and because they have back injuries, I can't ask them to help me with any project which involves heavy lifting.

I know what you mean...but it doesn't always work out so tidy for everyone, jes' sayin'.