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Americans and their Jobs WTF???? Why oh why do Americans always boast about working two or
even three jobs at a time to support themselves or their family?? I mean, in Europe I've never heard of anyone who had to work three jobs to support themselves. With one decent job you've got enough money to pay the rent, gass, water and electricity, food, BEER and even spend some cash on hobbies and savings. So why is it always "I work three jobs to make ends meet and then I go to school and work to like, 5 o clock in the morning and then get up again at like, 6 o clock in the morning to go to work". ??? I'm not talking about single parents with one or two or more kids, because that's obvious. They really need to work a lot harder than other people to support themselves and their children. But regular people? Pleazzze and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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Our economy is fucked up over here. I make over $70k a year and i can't afford a decent home in Cali. THIS SPACE IS DEDICATED TO THE GREATEST BISCUIT OF THEM ALL, "C"BISCUIT | |
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theC said: Our economy is fucked up over here. I make over $70k a year and i can't afford a decent home in Cali.
Agreed.  | |
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theC said: Our economy is fucked up over here. I make over $70k a year and i can't afford a decent home in Cali.
See, than that's the problem. I mean, I make less than you man, much less. But from that I can still pay for a huge appartment, and do whatever I want in my spare time and buy heaps of crap I don't really need every month. $70k net is what my ex boyfriend made and he was a fcking gynaecologist man. Seems like we get payed less and have more spending power whilst you get payed more and have less spending power. and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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I do have to say though, it really depends on where you live. If I made $70K in Minnesota, I'd be riding high in a fancy house!
It's relative, BUT in the current economy the space between living expenses and your income, are quickly closing in on each other. 
. [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 7:13:23 PST 2003 by LaVisHh] | |
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theC said: Our economy is fucked up over here. I make over $70k a year and i can't afford a decent home in Cali.
That's messed up. In Europe, salaries are nowhere near that high for most people, so American salaries often sound astronomical (especially my line of work, I'm sick of hearing what my American counterparts earn!) but of course living is expensive in the US and the money disappears every bit as quickly as it does over here. The thing that is really fucked up in the UK and Ireland is property prices. There are people paying over half a millon pounds UK sterling for a pokey flat in London, or the same amount for a tiny house in some shitty suburb of Dublin. People can't afford it so they are getting mortages for like 5 times their salaries with no real hope of ever paying it all back, and both partners end up working full time even if they have kids. It's a shit situation altogether. That's why I still rent my flat instead of just buying one. It's wasted money but I've no intention of spending the rest of my life struggling to pay for a bloody 2-bedroom matchbox  | |
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I've never heard anyone boasting about having to work 3 jobs. If anything people lament the fact that they have to work so much. Although personally I don't know of anyone over the age of 25 who has to work multiple jobs. | |
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I'm a college graduate and I'm considering taking on a second job for a while. The reason? Because my student loan payments each month equal out to the cost of a new car payment plus car insurance.
If I lived in Europe and my education was subsidized I wouldn't have a student loan payment and I would be more well-off than I am now. | |
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applekisses said: I'm a college graduate and I'm considering taking on a second job for a while. The reason? Because my student loan payments each month equal out to the cost of a new car payment plus car insurance.
If I lived in Europe and my education was subsidized I wouldn't have a student loan payment and I would be more well-off than I am now. Hey I'm not saying this was for everyone, but I paid every dime of my college education without loans. I didn't get any financial aid and my parents didn't help me so I don't feel all that sorry for people who took out loans. I would actually work 40-50 hours a week while attending school full time. I am proof that student loans are optional you just really have to be ready to WORK. . [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 7:27:39 PST 2003 by lovemachine] | |
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Our country rewards the wealthy with tax breaks while the working class carries the burden and goes without some basic needs. Today is the deadline for us to receive our earning statements from last year. i work two jobs and even tho i claimed no exemptions and had taxes taken all year, i still owe the government over a thousand dollars. My car, which allows me to work, has over 227,000 miles on it and i have no idea when i will be able to replace it. Our President gives businesses a $8700.00 tax break for owners of SUV's, and large corporations pay little because of loop holes. Ordinary working citizens struggle to heat their homes and eat...i think it's greed that hints of the problem here in the USA. | |
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lovemachine said: applekisses said: I'm a college graduate and I'm considering taking on a second job for a while. The reason? Because my student loan payments each month equal out to the cost of a new car payment plus car insurance.
If I lived in Europe and my education was subsidized I wouldn't have a student loan payment and I would be more well-off than I am now. Hey I'm not saying this was for everyone, but I paid every dime of my college education without loans. I didn't get any financial aid and my parents didn't help me so I don't feel all that sorry for people who took out loans. I would actually work 40-50 hours a week while attending school full time. I am proof that student loans are optional you just really have to be ready to WORK. . [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 7:27:39 PST 2003 by lovemachine] Well, I did work...in fact, the last year of my education I had been hired full-time by the newspaper I was working for and also had 4 classes a semester. There were times before that when I had 2 and 3 part-time jobs. I had to have enough money to support myself, have a car, pay for rent, food, etc...I had no other means of support. So, when the opportunity came for me to take out a loan, I did. Did you have other means of support from family or friends? | |
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In my experience, the only way to get out of the situations that people are writing about here is to make more money.
I put myself through school and have slowly made more money every year. Now it is clear to me that the only way to get out of the trap of taxes vs. living expenses is to make more money. Period. Start a business, invest in real estate, work your ass off all the way and maybe you'll have just enough money for your funeral. | |
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True, university education is a lot cheaper in Europe than in the US.
For me, I was the first person from my family to attend university ever, and I couldn't have afforded to do so if it wasn't for the fact that the fees were free. I worked full-time throughout my student years to pay rent and stuff, and in the end I came out with some student loans of about $8000, which I'm sure you'll agree, is fuck all compared to what a lot of American graduates end up owing when they come out of college. | |
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Things might be hard for many people over here in the US.
But... It's also pretty evident that many Americans live above their means. Example, my wife and I went to a comedy club a while back. Standing in line, I look behind me and I see 30 - 40 kids with cell phones. Walking out to the parking lot, I see these same people getting into very nice cars, knowing full well that they can't possibly afford it, cause they looked like they were barley out of high-school. Talking with folks like these people, they will tell you how broke they are and how bad they are struggling and then tell you about the new "X-box" or "Play station" system they just got and how cool the new game is. Driving down the street, I'll see a tore-down "hoopty" with a 5,000 plus sound system in it with a DVD installed in the dash. Completly pimped out ride, with the custom rims and tint jobs. But the motor sounds like crap! Why is it that most americans that earn 20,000 or less wear all the top brand name cloths as well as buy it for their children before they buy them dinner? I truly believe a lot, I'm not saying all americans, but a lot of americans keep themselves broke. Go visit someone who lives in a trailer park and see what's inside their home. I know this: Cable TV is almost $45.00 a month for just basic cable. The premium package is about $100.00 a month for all the channels. (lots of poor people get this. Why?) Cell phones: People pay between 35 and 85 a month for a social light tool. Not to mention all the assesories like the blinking lights on the antenna, and the latest, greatest cover displays. Personal licence plates: I see them on the raggadiest of cars. Home entertainment centers: I kid you not, I know I guy that lives in a shack with 3 kids that has one of those flat screen plazma things that go for 5,000 and up. Tennis shoes: 100 - 300 dollar pairs of shoes. And they just keep making them more uglier with each new style. So, the way I see it, a lot (not all) of Americans work themselves to death to keep up with the Jones's... I work like crazy, but not always for money. I just like to keep busy. I work a lot on my art and music. [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 8:03:08 PST 2003 by yamomma] All Rights Reserved. |
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The biggest joke in America is minimum wage...If I was struggling to pay my bills on $11 an hour how the fuck were ppl supporting themselves on $5.85? | |
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yamomma said: Things might be hard for many people over here in the US.
But... It's also pretty evident that many Americans live above their means. Example, my wife and I went to a comedy club a while back. Standing in line, I look behind me and I see 30 - 40 kids with cell phones. Walking out to the parking lot, I see these same people getting into very nice cars, knowing full well that they can't possibly afford it, cause they looked like they were barley out of high-school. Talking with folks like these people, they will tell you how broke they are and how bad they are struggling and then tell you about the new "X-box" or "Play station" system they just got and how cool the new game is. Driving down the street, I'll see a tore-down "hoopty" with a 5,000 plus sound system in it with a DVD installed in the dash. Completly pimped out ride, with the custom rims and tint jobs. But the motor sounds like crap! Why is it that most americans that earn 20,000 or less where all the top brand name cloths as well as buy it for their children before they buy them dinner? I truly believe a lot, I'm not saying all americans, but a lot of americans keep themselves broke. Go visit someone who lives in a trailer park and see what's inside their home. I know this: Cable TV is almost $45.00 a month for just basic cable. The premium package is about $100.00 a month for all the channels. (lots of poor people get this. Why?) Cell phones: People pay between 35 and 85 a month for a social light tool. Not to mention all the assesories like the blinking lights on the antenna, and the latest, greatest cover displays. Personal licence plates: I see them on the raggadiest of cars. Home entertainment centers: I kid you not, I know I guy that lives in a shack with 3 kids that has one of those flat screen plazma things that go for 5,000 and up. Tennis shoes: 100 - 300 dollar pairs of shoes. And they just keep making them more uglier with each new style. So, the way I see it, a lot (not all) of Americans work themselves to death to keep up with the Jones's... I work like crazy, but not always for money. I just like to keep busy. I work a lot on my art and music. Great post yamomma. I think it is this. People that ain't nothing, want to look and appear as IF they GOT something. Funny...Bill Gates is the world's richest man and he wears clothes that look like they come out of Walmart and you got people that are stuggling trying to wear all of those high priced designer clothes. I know some people like the ones you explained in your post. | |
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AprilMichelle said: The biggest joke in America is minimum wage...If I was struggling to pay my bills on $11 an hour how the fuck were ppl supporting themselves on $5.85?
Amen to that...that's why people are working 2 and 3 jobs. | |
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IstenSzek said: theC said: Our economy is fucked up over here. I make over $70k a year and i can't afford a decent home in Cali.
See, than that's the problem. I mean, I make less than you man, much less. But from that I can still pay for a huge appartment, and do whatever I want in my spare time and buy heaps of crap I don't really need every month. $70k net is what my ex boyfriend made and he was a fcking gynaecologist man. Seems like we get payed less and have more spending power whilst you get payed more and have less spending power. AWWW im gonna have to weigh in here. We live excessivly! We say it's out of balance but after traveling a good deal, i see how we live "over the top". Now fellow Americans may argue the point...but come here.. See for yourself! It will stun you. | |
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For the price of the average meal at any given fast food joint in america, (5-7 bucks) one could easily get a loaf of bread and some cold cuts and feed themselves for the week.
Yet most of the people I work with eat out every day. Breakfast, lunch, and delivery for dinner. I know for a fact breakfast and lunch daily. Figure that out. 3-5 bucks for breakfast at McDonalds, 5-10 dollars for lunch. Even though we have coffe machines here in the office I see guys running accross the steet for Starbucks. It's really taken me up until I got married last year to realize that I didn't need to make that much more money but to quit spending so much. Laziness really. All Rights Reserved. |
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My wife really cracked the whip on eating out. Not to mention cutting the blockbuster nights from every weekend to one a month.
I used to rent 3 or 4 movies every friday. Now just one a month. I used to eat out for lunch every day with my wife when she worked with me before the baby, now she packs me a lunch. AND NOW we have money in the bank! It's the nickel and dime crap that keeps most people broke! All Rights Reserved. |
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yamomma said: Things might be hard for many people over here in the US.
But... It's also pretty evident that many Americans live above their means. Example, my wife and I went to a comedy club a while back. Standing in line, I look behind me and I see 30 - 40 kids with cell phones. Walking out to the parking lot, I see these same people getting into very nice cars, knowing full well that they can't possibly afford it, cause they looked like they were barley out of high-school. Talking with folks like these people, they will tell you how broke they are and how bad they are struggling and then tell you about the new "X-box" or "Play station" system they just got and how cool the new game is. Driving down the street, I'll see a tore-down "hoopty" with a 5,000 plus sound system in it with a DVD installed in the dash. Completly pimped out ride, with the custom rims and tint jobs. But the motor sounds like crap! Why is it that most americans that earn 20,000 or less wear all the top brand name cloths as well as buy it for their children before they buy them dinner? I truly believe a lot, I'm not saying all americans, but a lot of americans keep themselves broke. Go visit someone who lives in a trailer park and see what's inside their home. I know this: Cable TV is almost $45.00 a month for just basic cable. The premium package is about $100.00 a month for all the channels. (lots of poor people get this. Why?) Cell phones: People pay between 35 and 85 a month for a social light tool. Not to mention all the assesories like the blinking lights on the antenna, and the latest, greatest cover displays. Personal licence plates: I see them on the raggadiest of cars. Home entertainment centers: I kid you not, I know I guy that lives in a shack with 3 kids that has one of those flat screen plazma things that go for 5,000 and up. Tennis shoes: 100 - 300 dollar pairs of shoes. And they just keep making them more uglier with each new style. So, the way I see it, a lot (not all) of Americans work themselves to death to keep up with the Jones's... I work like crazy, but not always for money. I just like to keep busy. I work a lot on my art and music. [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 8:03:08 PST 2003 by yamomma] "Style ain't the Jeep you bought when you know your broke ass got bills." Excellent points, yamomma. These days I'm working a lot less and my bank account is still the same. It's definately about being frugal with your money. I have no credit cards, no student loans to pay back and I do not have expensive tastes. I was fortunate enough to have been in the telecom industry at the height of its success. I worked my ass off and made tons of cash (at least the most I had ever made in my life. I'm 31). Instead of spending it on fancy designer clothes (remember that clothes eventually clean furniture) and a fancy ride, my exboyfriend actually persuaded me into investing my savings into real estate. Now I have two income properties which bring in a nice little extra. I was laid-off six months ago and I've been doing contract work which strangely enough pays more but I work less yet I'm still earning almost the same amount as last year. Not to imply that I don't like wearing and buying nice things but my cheap ass is going to buy them on sale. For example, I buy all my music at Amoeba, here in Hollywood, because I can buy the CDs used. Thus far I have always found even 'new' releases in used CD bins. Plus I love to travel a lot and if I need to get drunk I'd rather get drunk in bars all over the world then to fork down cash on booze week after week at my local watering hole. And I'm currently looking for a good deal on my dream car. I want to buy it used though. Your first two years of car payments usually go to pay off the interest anyway. Let some sucker pay those two years off for me. People should read THE MILLIONAIRE NEXT DOOR by Thomas Stanley & William Danko. They pretty much outline how the true millionaire's don't drive the latest fancy cars and wear the fancy clothes. Stating what your net worth is. How much cash do you have in the bank, savings etc. As oppossed how much expensive junk you have accumulated. 
"...literal people are scary, man literal people scare me out there trying to rid the world of its poetry while getting it wrong fundamentally down at the church of "look, it says right here, see!" - ani difranco | |
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I wouldn't boast about 3 jobs -- I hate having one. I recently left L.A. (I hear it's 87 there today -- damn I miss that!), and was unemployed for about 3 months. I was shocked at returning to Denver how bad the economy is. No one believed that I quit the job I did, when I did. It was a good job, not great, but I was burned out after 2 years and just didn't want to do it. Anyway, like TheResistor, I bought property -- only one, dammit! -- that I've been renting it since I moved to Cali. It's doubled in value. My plan is to pick up another condo or townhouse while I'm back, stay for a year, then rent that out when I'm ready to go back to Cali.
Now I'm back at a mortgage company that I worked at in the past, and I'm doing contract work for the place in Cali -- hey, I guess I do have 2 jobs! But I'm doing them both in fewer than 40 hrs/week. Considering the economy, I guess I'm pretty lucky. http://elmadartista.tumblr.com/ http://twitter.com/madartista | |
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You are very right. I just moved to Europe from the ATL (atlanta) in Oct. I got tired of Living to Work. Here they Work to Live. And socially its much better. Workers rights are high, and the elderly and children dont have to worry about health coverage. If you like to buy electronic toys you will pay a lot more. All in all, people enjoy living a lot more and are not so materialistic (in general)
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it's ironic. americans like to own the latest 'labor saving devices' (cars, washing machines, etc.) yet, we work longer hours to pay for them...
labor saving?! | |
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People have to work two or more jobs because neither of their jobs pay shit. A majority of people are not making $40,000, $50,000, $60,000 a year. They're getting $8 per hour for a job that should be paying them $35,000+ per year at least. Employers are milking people because they don't have much of a choice at this point. Working full time for $7-8 per hour amounts to less than $20,000 per year which is basically poverty level. Thats about $1100 a month. Now you pay rent, insurance, car payment, groceries, and credit cards, not to mention student loans, and tell me what you have left. | |
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in the end the person with three jobs doent work any more than the person with one job | |
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I dunno.
I rented a house. A WHOLE HOUSE! for $400 a month. I only got 8 dollars an hour at the time. I made about 1500 a month, simi-long hours. Granted, you won't find places like that to live in the classifieds, but if you look hard enough, you'll find affordable places to live that are way better than "over priced, in-the-hood" appartments. I live in an appartment building now for the first time. NEVER AGAIN! When I met my wife she lived in one of those cottages behind the main house in one of those real ritsy neighborhoods by the ocean. She only paid $300 a month! She only made $6 an hour doing retail. She still managed to save enough for quite a nice downpayment for her first car a year later. She took a bus to work before that. Even though I had a the house, it had no heat, wall unit air conditioner, and nasty well water, but I had a whole lot of space! 400 bucks a month! I should start looking for something again. You have to be on it, cause good places to rent go fast! [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 12:09:44 PST 2003 by yamomma] All Rights Reserved. |
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By the way, that was only a little over a year ago, so I don't think inflation has effected "a good deal" just yet. All Rights Reserved. |
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If they're going to school and working three jobs, imagine just how they are doing. In the city, a lot of adults who are single, live with their parents because just to get an apartment is so dar* expensive, and it they're out on their own, and are trying to go to school, they probably have two part-time jobs to support themselves, or one full time job. If not, just imagine how they're doing in school is what I'm saying, and for those who have families and work three jobs, they wouldn't even have time to sleep, all though, there are some who actually go ahead with it, like those who probably own houses, but please, it is not most of them because most people I know, or see everyday only have one job, if they can find one, a decent one that is, other than taking up the part-time jobs mostly available to them, such as working at fast foods and retail stores, because so many people get fired like every other day... [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 14:39:26 PST 2003 by Starmist7] | |
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yamomma said: I dunno.
I rented a house. A WHOLE HOUSE! for $400 a month. I only got 8 dollars an hour at the time. I made about 1500 a month, simi-long hours. Granted, you won't find places like that to live in the classifieds, but if you look hard enough, you'll find affordable places to live that are way better than "over priced, in-the-hood" appartments. I live in an appartment building now for the first time. NEVER AGAIN! When I met my wife she lived in one of those cottages behind the main house in one of those real ritsy neighborhoods by the ocean. She only paid $300 a month! She only made $6 an hour doing retail. She still managed to save enough for quite a nice downpayment for her first car a year later. She took a bus to work before that. Even though I had a the house, it had no heat, wall unit air conditioner, and nasty well water, but I had a whole lot of space! 400 bucks a month! I should start looking for something again. You have to be on it, cause good places to rent go fast! [This message was edited Fri Jan 31 12:09:44 PST 2003 by yamomma] and that shows how the cost of living varies from state to state, city to city. There certainly are no habitable houses available for $400 in the L.A. area -- and definitely not close to the ocean. Crazy, crazy world. http://elmadartista.tumblr.com/ http://twitter.com/madartista | |
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