Comments on: In Pennsylvania, It’s Still the Economy

By: Jeni

Jeni — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 02:54:00 +0000

Speaking as someone from Pennsylvania, you better believe it is “still the economy!” I’m on social security and if my daughter and son-in-law and their kids didn’t live with me, I have no idea where I could find a place to live! Filling up a gas tank for $50 -I wish! Mine takes close to $60 to fill -my son-in-law’s pickup (old, gas hog yes, but used, paid for) takes abotu $100 to fill the tank which lasts about a week before needing filled again and he doesn’t even have a long commute to/from work. Groceries -geez, we’ve cut back every place we can with that but with two small children, both autistic, who won’t eat certain foods, due to texture, not taste -well, you have to find ways around that here and there, which sometimes don’t make the shopping cheaper. Fuel oil -$500 bought us 140 gallons of fuel -Penna is not a “warm” state you know. That 140 gallons, even with warmer weather coming still won’t last all that long in the economic scheme of things. My son-in-law has a job that is not reliable -actually, his employer is the one who is not reliable. He’s an auto mechanic, a good one, wants to open his own garage and inspection station but how? Debt, poor decisions earlier in life has his credit rating down at piss-poor -fair would be a blessing. So his income even at its best is not great; my daughter works part-time, waitressing -her job will be ending as the owners of the restaurant are trying to sell the place. Fine dining in this area of the state -even when the food is excellent -too many here who can’t afford the luxury of something like that. Because of the therapy sessions both the children receive, my daughter can’t work fulltime hours at this point in time. We pool our resources and for doing that, we get slammed by the state with respect to the LIHEAP fuel program. They can’t afford to rent a place of their own, I can’t afford to live in my home on my own either. Together, our income is barely over $40,000 a year for six people. You do the math.
My best friend from high school, recently retired as did her husband. He is eligible for social security medicare, she is not. Searching for supplemental insurance, they are currently paying out over $1,100 a month for health insurance that will supplement ss for him and cover her until she is eligible for medicare. Who the heck can “afford” that? Ok, Bill Gates, Madonna, and those in that type of income bracket, but not people of median incomes.
Yep, it’s still the economy. The war on not becoming poverty stricken is alive and well in Pennsylvania!

By: Gunfighter

Gunfighter — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:32:00 +0000

I have dramatically cut back on my book-buying.

I am fortunate in that federal law enforcement is a growth industry… there are lots of people to train to do battle, and fewer and fewer dollars being spent on the people to actually conduct the training. This is where my rather esoteric skills come into play.

I am making a ton of overtime… which will pay for our summer vacation.

By: ChefSara

ChefSara — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 20:48:00 +0000

We’re trying to figure this out too. With a kid on the way, a hubby in grad school, and nothing resembling paid maternity leave at work (talk about an ignored issue at the national level, but that’s an entirely different rant), we’re looking at having to take out a home equity loan just so I can afford to take my measly 12 weeks offered under FMLA. Yeah, selling the house and downsizing would be nice, but with this housing market, NOTHING in our neighborhood is selling. We’ve had other houses in the neighborhood on the market for over a year. So even though our mortgage is our biggest expense, we couldn’t downsize it if we wanted to. We’ve already gotten rid of the satellite television, don’t have a long distance plan. We pretty much have to suck it up!

By: Carole

Carole — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:01:00 +0000

Okay, I have only ever voted Democratic, am pro-union, even studied economics Berkeley, etc, etc, etc… and I am afraid I will sound a bit like Marie Antoinette saying “let them eat cake” but…

I don’t think it’s the government’s problem that you would like new clothes, or an iPod, or a vacation.

I think it’s good social policy to invest in education for all so we can be globally competitive, health care so we can live long productive lives, and make sure our most vulnerable citizens are well-fed and safely housed… but everything else?

By: karrie

karrie — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 01:33:00 +0000

We really need something approaching a budget over here. I'm not materialistic but I do spend on books, travel, food....and since we're being honest, clothes for my son. I'll wear jeans that are several years old and originally grabbed from the Old Navy sale rack, but think noting of snapping up cute things for Max.

My new car that I drove more than 10,000 miles this winter is a gas hog.And I'm already trying to figure out my next trip.

On the positive side I'm planning an elaborate container garden, and the tent I bought this morning is far less expensive than staying in hotels. And I've been using the interlibrary loan system since I realized that basically any book I see and want on Amazon is available from one of the gazillion library networks.

I do feel guilty at times, even though I know that I probably spend a lot less than many women I know. Until a few years ago, owning more than I could fit in my 1983 Volvo made me uncomfortable. Now my son's wardrobe would not even fit in that old 240 sedan.

My husband is the real shopper in our house though. He's terrible!

By: PunditMom

PunditMom — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 03:31:00 +0000

I guess one good thing is I love my 20-year-old sweaters. I’d love mt ten-year-old jeans if I could still fir into them!

And go opera!

By: sweetbeans

sweetbeans — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 01:58:00 +0000

Well, I just re-analyzed our budget. With inflation, we are now spending $300 more/month on gas and groceries combined. We’re already bare bones…I was laughing at myself today because I had on a 20-year-old sweater and a 10-year-old pair of jeans (at least I can still wear them, I guess). I’m going to get a part-time job on nights and weekends to help with the shortfall. We’re also thinking of starting an opera blog, that will, of course, be wildly popular and successful (my husband and I are former singers). C’est la vie!