Anyone still feel like they belong to the middle-class? Vent...

[Iluvmychickens]

I work for a major bank and the largest issuer of credit cards. I work in the collections department. Credit Card companies are out to make money bottom line. Do they issue credit to those not worthy? All the time. In my 17 years of my job, those that have credit problems are those that had to have everything everybody else had at any cost. Most are not as fortunate as others and try to live the American dream whatever you define that to be. Am i rich? no way, am I comfortable? Yes. My daddy raised me with the mind that if you can't pay cash for it then you do not need it. He did not believe in "credit cards" or charge cards as they used to be called, So even though I do have credit cards I like others use then for all the perks, and free things you can get.
We have one card that we put everything on, food gas, doctor, household bills etc. and we pay it in full every month. We average 1200-1500 a month in living expences, not including a mortage, my husband paid cash for our home back in 1969 for $9500.00. We got married in 1977 and have lived in the same house. I raised 3 kids in this 962 square foot 3 bedroom , 1 bath home. It was by the grace of God we did not kill each other!!!!!! Now the kids all have these 3000 square foot homes with mortages, and credit card debt out the wing yang. Are they happy? No way- but they are like every young person I know they have to have it all at all costs, They say we made them do without when they were young so they are making up for it now. I think they are banking on our nest egg when we are gone. Little do they know we have plans once I retire. My husband retired at 50. I will be 50 in December and have to work till my husband is 65 due to insurance. He will be 65 in 2013. Man did I ramble or what.....Sorry

DeeDee

 

[SpottedCrow]

I paid a whopping $100 for my wedding gown. Why the heck would you wanna pay all outdoors when it's only going to be worn once, hopefully?

Congrats on getting out of debt, Chickenmama.

Part of my sister's settlement on her ex refinanacing the house was $50K. She paid off her credit cards, put some money towards her kids' dental work (which her ex didn't think was important so he didn't take any of them). She paid off her car and she's fine.
Her ex is making over $100K a year and he keeps getting the electricity cut off and the cable and he didn't take care of his Mustang and the engine seized and the house has been in foreclosure at least 6 times in the past 4 years because he hasn't paid the mortgage.
Now she's got no debts and it's a great feeling.

I think my whole wedding was $3,000.

The newest keeping up with the Joneses thing is "destination weddings". Where you're expected to fly somewhere on your dime to be in the wedding or to be a guest in the wedding...Heck NO!!!

To tell all of you the truth, I have less things, hardly any debt, a neat little car that I love, a chicken, some fish, lotsa books and crafts and DAMMIT, I'M happy!!
Never ever figured I'd ever say that, but I am.

 

[flakey chick]

Quote:
Well mine cost $125 and I was glad to see it worn more than once. My mom altered it first for me and a few years later for my sister. Then it was given to the good will where hopefully someone will save themselves needless expense.

 

[Lucky Ducky]

My husband and I got married for under $700. We only did the whole wedding thing to please our families but I have to say it turned out beautiful. The most expensive thing was the cake!

As I was pregnant at the time that was the only thing that mattered to me. We live in a 29 year old mobile home but it only cost us $1500 over 5 years ago and another $600 to make it livable. The people who owned it took care of it. I'm a stay at home mom so my kids can have me there for them and we stay broke but they are happy. Soooo I'm happy!

 

[eggzettera]

Lucky Ducky thought they could just slide in without getting noticed - 1st post - so

edit lucky not licky...

 

[conny63malies]

I guess it always depends who I compare our family to. I think we are doing alright. We have three kids , a house , motorcycle and a car . We manage to live on my hubbys army income. We have good health/dental. I manage to feed our family on 100$ a week. yeah we are doing alright.

 

[dacjohns]

Such encouraging posts. I don't know what class I am in. I suppose somewhere in the middle class which as mentioned previously is a large class.

So many thoughts running through my mind and I really don't want to take the time to organize them and compose a flowing well thought out post so here goes.

Weddings. I think the cost of weddings is outrageous. I have 4 daughters that got married within 18 months. We told them they got $2000 for their weddings. If they went over they paid the difference. If they stayed under they got the difference. They all stayed under. My wife made the cake and dress for my youngest and we pretty made the invitations with paper bought at a discount paper store. They turned out beautiful. None of them had catered affairs. Friends, family, and low cost appetizer trays or sub sandwiches. Wedding dresses, rediculous.

When the kids were growing they wanted designer clothes, trampolines, etc. because everyone had them. Being in the Army a lot of it was out of the question and it seemed like we were just making ends meet. We did buy a lot of "collectibles" because we liked them. Now they are boxed up because we don't have the space to display the "dust cathers". Only the oldest holds it against us still but that is her problem.

Our kids paid their own way through college. We helped if they needed help but they were on their own. I paid my way through college on the GI bill, working part time, and with grants and scholarships while raising a family.

Credit cards. We have two cards. One for gas purchases and one for everything else. They get paid in full every month and we earn dividends on them. I understand those that don't use credit cards. They work for us and are easier than cash or checks. We live 25 miles from where we bank and do most of our grocery shopping.

Debt. Everything we own is paid for except for the truck which will paid off in less than a year.

We are living on my Army retirement on 100 acres with a pond stocked with fish, with our chickens, with a garden that hasn 't made it thanks to the chickens and an overabundance of rain. Come deer season if things go right I can get up to 4 deer with a free landowners permit. Our neighbor periodically kills a hog or two and makes whole hog sausage.

We live in a pole barn that was supposed to be temporary housing until the real house got built. May not ever happen.

I'm busy to work a 40 hour a week job but we are making it.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Weddings have gotten ridiculous. My hubby and I paid for ours and had an old fashioned wedding. A church wedding, reception in the church hall (a little lunch), and a get together at my MIL house. Maybe 60 people total, small family, lifelong friends, and good friends. My dh's uncle is a retired minister, and he hates weddings; says they aren't about a commitment between two people, but are about the show. Married 20+ years now, well worth the investment.

 

[Royicus]

Most of this can be summed up in the following advice:

Live below your means.

That allows you to put some money away for savings, and also allows for periods of financial hardship (lost job, unexpected expenses, etc). But when you make below a certain amount, then it's hard to really live below your means. Then I guess you have to make things work, or perhaps find a new way to get some income.

 

[speckledhen]

I love you Henry!!! Can I adopt you?!

Sorry, S.C., I have first dibs!

Weddings are a joke these days. We got married in my husband's parents' livingroom. I wore a dress my mother had bought for me to wear to my aunt's wedding anniversary. We lived in my in-laws' bsmt for six months. The wedding probably cost less than $50. We've been married 32 years and are solid.

Live below our means? We do not have credit card debt or owe on cars-they're ancient. We've given up more every year and the government keeps taking more so that when there is no more to give up, it's going to get really ugly. My husband is a disabled veteran who gets nothing for his disability. Had 20% for his back, they arbitrarily decided it was too much, so they sent him a letter saying it was reduced to 10%. Know what he gets for that? Zip. About 100 bucks of his retirement is not taxed. Whoopee. Our free medical we were promised by Uncle Sam while in the Air Force is now costing us hundreds of dollars a year with threats to triple the cost on us. We keep cutting back then things keep getting worse. Pretty soon there will be nowhere to go. Class? Maybe the forgotten class. Oh, but I'm not the least bitter...