Pay day

[vesta111]

Don't know where to post this, move if necessary.

Well well, seems we are now considered upper class in America.   

Hubby just called to tell me got his pay check with $30.00 a week missing.   Now Hubby does not make $30.00 an hour unless working over time.    To top it off, he tells me the electric rates are going up 25% a month.
 I tell him to wait to see what medical insurance go up to------He is not amused.

Hubby tells me to start thinking about ways to cut down expensises----Cable and PC access.  Cell phones and back to land line.

All the things that we spend money on, Vet expenses have to go, need to keep the temperature at 60 degrees in the house in the winter.

Whole new life style for us to work around.   Hubby tells me the new CEO of the company came in and saw all the new cars in the parking lot and decided that the workers did not need a raise or a bonus this year. 

Now I have heard from family that State workers with College degrees are being laid off, ------There go our experts on roads and bridges left to those that have to guess what to do.

Just the start, I myself would like to sell out, buy a few acres in an unincorporated town in Maine and survive in a travel trailer on a lake.   Seen them before and one land owner raised of all things Wolf puppy's found in dens when the mother was killed. These people were as happy as someone winning the lottery.

Getting techie here, things will get worse before they get better.  One only has one life on Earth and why not gambol on a life with an an outhouse and a red pump in the kitchen for water.  Don't forget to leave a cup of water to prime the pump.   

[Splashdown]

Lose the land line. Keep the cell line.

[marv]

Put your troubles aside, and take a $7,000,000 vacation to Hawaii. That'll cure your blues......

[sidebar]
Somebody needs to write a song about that......
[/sidebar]

[Karin]

Today was payday here as well.  Raped paycheck. 

[Ralph Wiggum]

Today was payday here as well.  Raped paycheck. 

I've been dealing with small business clients for the past few weeks, adjusting tax tables with contingencies.  Giant pain in the arse, but at least it is making me money.

[J P Sousa]

Well, as a small business owner we did not take a paycheck this period. January is a normal low income month because people spent their money for Christmas and delay paying their bills.

I certainly hope they pay next month........ if they can. %&$#@ marxist in the white house. 
.

[17 Oaks]

Cell fone is generally cheaper than landline.

LOTS of ways to save money.  I do this every year and as a general rule my costs goes down:  Contact you INS providers, review your policies on EVERYTHING you own.  Drive less miles a year, rates go down, house may well be over insured, mine was BIG TIME!

Got a HVAC thermostat that you can program?  Buy for less than $50 anywhere and program it save big time.

Cars suck to much gas or diesel.  Buy this and watch yourself save 10-20% on you monthly fuel bill:  Vacuum gage, mounted on the dash!  Drive by it, live by it and watch you mpg go up!

Speaking of saving fuel costs:  Stop by Wal Mart, buy a Gift card and save as much as $0.15 cents per gallon on fuel at Wal Mart.  Even better buy it on your charge card like I do, I get $1000 at a time, which gives me 1000 miles, gift card is free, just put you money on it.

[Wineslob]

18 bucks less.

[Chris_]

I don't get paid until next week, but I know exactly what my take-home pay is (or was).

[FiddyBeowulf]

After the small raise I got in November I am now working for less than I did before the raise.  you Obama.

[BlueStateSaint]

My first payday was last week, and it was $40 less.  I expect more to come out of next week's check. 

[rich_t]

Started a new job a couple of weeks ago, so I don't have anything to compare my new pay stub to.

[Dori]

I've been dealing with small business clients for the past few weeks, adjusting tax tables with contingencies.  Giant pain in the arse, but at least it is making me money.

Did the income tax rates change?  Or are you talking about the FICA taxes?

I was under the impression that nothing (besides FICA) on the Fed. side changed for those making less than $400k.

[Wineslob]

Did the income tax rates change?  Or are you talking about the FICA taxes?

I was under the impression that nothing (besides FICA) on the Fed. side changed for those making less than $400k.

SSI went up 2%

[RobJohnson]

My FICA went up like everyone else.

For the lurking DUmmies, my income tax went up because my wife and I make just a little over 600k a year.

I plan on cutting back on the $900 a month I donate to the local homeless shelter and food bank. I just can't afford it under these Obama tax hikes.

I will start sending the $900 to every Republican candidate I can think of, even if they are not in my state or district.

Screw the homeless, they should have jobs and should be working. The last time I stopped in at the homeless shelter, most of them were posting on DU from their smart phones.

I just hired two guys that had their unemployment run out last November. I plan on giving them the axe this month. I simply can't afford to keep them. They have not worked long enough to re-qualify for the 99 weeks of unemployment they enjoyed for the past two years. Maybe their teenage kids can get jobs and support the parents? I am sure they will figure something out.

It's not easy being one of these damn hard nosed evil conservative types.

[17 Oaks]

My FICA went up like everyone else.

For the lurking DUmmies, my income tax went up because my wife and I make just a little over 600k a year.

I plan on cutting back on the $900 a month I donate to the local homeless shelter and food bank. I just can't afford it under these Obama tax hikes.

I will start sending the $900 to every Republican candidate I can think of, even if they are not in my state or district.

Screw the homeless, they should have jobs and should be working. The last time I stopped in at the homeless shelter, most of them were posting on DU from their smart phones.


I just hired two guys that had their unemployment run out last November. I plan on giving them the axe this month. I simply can't afford to keep them. They have not worked long enough to re-qualify for the 99 weeks of unemployment they enjoyed for the past two years. Maybe their teenage kids can get jobs and support the parents? I am sure they will figure something out.

It's not easy being one of these damn hard nosed evil conservative types.

Yes, but you do not pay FICA on $600k per year, not sure where the cut off is, but its around $110k or so, there is a cap on it...

[Teri]

My FICA went up like everyone else.

For the lurking DUmmies, my income tax went up because my wife and I make just a little over 600k a year.

I plan on cutting back on the $900 a month I donate to the local homeless shelter and food bank. I just can't afford it under these Obama tax hikes.

I will start sending the $900 to every Republican candidate I can think of, even if they are not in my state or district.

Screw the homeless, they should have jobs and should be working. The last time I stopped in at the homeless shelter, most of them were posting on DU from their smart phones.

I just hired two guys that had their unemployment run out last November. I plan on giving them the axe this month. I simply can't afford to keep them. They have not worked long enough to re-qualify for the 99 weeks of unemployment they enjoyed for the past two years. Maybe their teenage kids can get jobs and support the parents? I am sure they will figure something out.

It's not easy being one of these damn hard nosed evil conservative types.

I live in MA. and I won't donate to the homeless shelter after years ago I learned what I did about this rampant abuse of the taxpayers here. 

Homeless people, most of them get free healthcare, free cell phones, free food stamps they trade for cash and drugs, free clothing vouchers.  While they're receiving free food stamps, they're also getting three free meals a day at the shelters.

Not only that, but the taxpayers also fund what they call "soup kitchens" here where the homeless can eat free. 

I can drive downtown and see them scattered all over the place.  Most of them are criminals, ex cons, prostitutes, drug dealers and thieves just looking to score more free stuff. 

A cop who's a friend of mine told me that every time they bring in a prostitute they are required to take and AIDS test...he told me that almost all of them are infected and still actively having sex on the streets.

I came to the conclusion that donating to this cause is not helping them, but enabling them to continue in a lifestyle that's nothing more than a burden to the taxpayers and pox upon society. 

Now if I donate cash, it's to a local church to support those doing the Lords work and charities...  I will never again give anything to homeless shelters.

[17 Oaks]

I live in MA. and I won't donate to the homeless shelter after years ago I learned what I did about this rampant abuse of the taxpayers here. 

Homeless people, most of them get free healthcare, free cell phones, free food stamps they trade for cash and drugs, free clothing vouchers.  While they're receiving free food stamps, they're also getting three free meals a day at the shelters.

Not only that, but the taxpayers also fund what they call "soup kitchens" here where the homeless can eat free. 

I can drive downtown and see them scattered all over the place.  Most of them are criminals, ex cons, prostitutes, drug dealers and thieves just looking to score more free stuff. 

A cop who's a friend of mine told me that every time they bring in a prostitute they are required to take and AIDS test...he told me that almost all of them are infected and still actively having sex on the streets.

I came to the conclusion that donating to this cause is not helping them, but enabling them to continue in a lifestyle that's nothing more than a burden to the taxpayers and pox upon society. 

Now if I donate cash, it's to a local church to support those doing the Lords work and charities...  I will never again give anything to homeless shelters.

Teri you are dead on!

Right now the so called poor are in fact not at all.  Not only have folks like us given money time and time again, but the feds are pouring money into their pockets at an alarming rate.

The last big check I wrote was to the 9/11 folks, then I found out the average payout was between $5 and 7 MILLION per person...I donated money to HELP them, not for them to retire to Hawaii in a beach front condo (I happened to know one and she did just that, as for her hubby who died, as she told me "that marriage died years ago".  In fact they did not even live together, he there in NYC and her at the other home in Texas, but he was a high paid exec and it was more beneficial for them to stay married than to be single.

Like you I have stopped most all giving except to the church and other orgs or causes I know my money helps then to there feet, not to a hammock on the beach...

I suggest ALL relook your donations and INSURE they really go to a legit and worthy cause...

[Celtic Rose]

I live in MA. and I won't donate to the homeless shelter after years ago I learned what I did about this rampant abuse of the taxpayers here. 

Homeless people, most of them get free healthcare, free cell phones, free food stamps they trade for cash and drugs, free clothing vouchers.  While they're receiving free food stamps, they're also getting three free meals a day at the shelters.

Not only that, but the taxpayers also fund what they call "soup kitchens" here where the homeless can eat free. 

I can drive downtown and see them scattered all over the place.  Most of them are criminals, ex cons, prostitutes, drug dealers and thieves just looking to score more free stuff. 

A cop who's a friend of mine told me that every time they bring in a prostitute they are required to take and AIDS test...he told me that almost all of them are infected and still actively having sex on the streets.

I came to the conclusion that donating to this cause is not helping them, but enabling them to continue in a lifestyle that's nothing more than a burden to the taxpayers and pox upon society. 

Now if I donate cash, it's to a local church to support those doing the Lords work and charities...  I will never again give anything to homeless shelters.

I stopped donating to a food pantry/clothing closet a couple years ago after one of their pre-work pep talks.  Before we started work sorting things, they came in to talk to us, and they talked about how people can get one item of clothing per family member when they come in, and that many end up throwing the clothes away when they get new ones because they can't wash them.  I'm sorry, but I've washed clothes in a sink with a bar of soap when I've had to, and most of the clients of this facility were not homeless.  Also, when I was in the food pantry, they mentioned that many people refuse to take dried beans or bags of rice because they don't know how to cook them.  My solution for that would be to put instructions in each bag they handed out, but apparently that wasn't an option.   

I'm very particular about which charities I donate to now. 

[Teri]

Teri you are dead on!

Right now the so called poor are in fact not at all.  Not only have folks like us given money time and time again, but the feds are pouring money into their pockets at an alarming rate.

The last big check I wrote was to the 9/11 folks, then I found out the average payout was between $5 and 7 MILLION per person...I donated money to HELP them, not for them to retire to Hawaii in a beach front condo (I happened to know one and she did just that, as for her hubby who died, as she told me "that marriage died years ago".  In fact they did not even live together, he there in NYC and her at the other home in Texas, but he was a high paid exec and it was more beneficial for them to stay married than to be single.

Like you I have stopped most all giving except to the church and other orgs or causes I know my money helps then to there feet, not to a hammock on the beach...

I suggest ALL relook your donations and INSURE they really go to a legit and worthy cause...

Jeez...that's really something isn't it and unbelievable too.  There's hard working middle class families struggling to put food on the table while their paychecks keep shrinking, taxes and the price of everything rising and jobs more scarce while these parasites are comfortably living off of them, not to mention greedy people taking money from those with big hearts who don't even need the money at all.

I keep my focus on the disabled and the elderly.  Nothing touched my heart more than when I saw and old woman hunched over and could barely walk getting on a bus with frail arms trying haul two sacks of groceries.  Was probably food for a month for her.  Made me want to just grab her and take her home with me, but usually people like that won't take charity because they're too proud and sometimes it's an insult to them.  Not too many of those left around for sure.

I take care of two extremely disabled people whose families gave them up.  I have a fairly good size home with plenty of room.  I watch these people struggle to get spoon to their mouths to eat every day, yet still...they never complain.  It's not always about money....your love, care and time is sometimes more valuable than actual cash.

[J P Sousa]

 Now if I donate cash, it's to a local church to support those doing the Lords work and charities...    

That is the way I have looked at giving for many years, Once I saw how little money actually went to those that were supposed to get help and that INCLUDES the government.  

 there are currently 126 separate federal government programs designed to fight poverty.  

http://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/american-welfare-state-how-we-spend-nearly-$1-trillion-year-fighting-poverty-fail?gclid=CJXDpJK26LQCFQZnOgod_VEADQ

The governments fight against poverty is a failure.

.

[vesta111]

 

That is the way I have looked at giving for many years, Once I saw how little money actually went to those that were supposed to get help and that INCLUDES the government.  


The governments fight against poverty is a failure.

.

I gave food, clothing and what ever I had to the Salvation Army in the next town.  No, I could not donate my time working 10 hours a week but I tried to help out the homeless and lost.

To my surprise I found a couple coworkers that ate there every day, one even received extras to take to work for lunch, he  and friend, was in my pay scale about $30,000 a year. 

Then there was a blurb in the paper, a complaint that only adults were allowed to come inside and eat, childten outside were given a cold lunch.   Adults were allowed to eat hot meals in a warm building but kids had to stay outside in the cold with a bag lunch.

Sounds outrageous but the society had a good reason for this.    Seems so many of the customers were child molesters that they could not be around children.     So No children allowed, the heat, warmth and hot food went to the poor, homeless, monsters--The innocent kids got a PB&J sandwitch and an apple.

Yikes.

[RobJohnson]

Yes, but you do not pay FICA on $600k per year, not sure where the cut off is, but its around $110k or so, there is a cap on it...

I know that.

Fed income taxes also went up.

For the record, I am not married and do not make 600k   

[RobJohnson]

.  

Now if I donate cash, it's to a local church to support those doing the Lords work and charities...  I will never again give anything to homeless shelters.

I donate to faith based charities. This is one of them, they provide job training to those in need. http://www.southsidemission.org/

As for the homeless. In cooperation with local law enforcement and my church in Illinois, I took homeless people into my home. It was a pretty much thankless job, but rewarding at the same time.

My current city has a no questions asked food pantry. It really helps families that are strapped for cash during the summer months when the kids are home during the day. There is a group of senior citizens that pull up in new vehicles, with handicap plates, and the food pantry has to carry the food to them. They don't have to stand in line. These people are there the first thing in the morning, while the parents of the children that really do need help, are having to get kids ready, waiting for a ride, or simply having to walk in the hot NV sun. On the other hand, some familes almost starve before they will ask for help, that is why they keep it no questions asked. Some will stop in several times before taking any food home. There will always be some type of abuse and I hope those that abuse the program are happy with themselves.

Every Christmas I help one local family have a better Christmas, and it's never the same family twice. This year it was a family that moved here from Texas to get away from a very bad domestic situation and a father that was on drugs. The oldest son is a senior in high school an ROTC captin, great student and plans on going into the military after he graduates from high school.

I live in a land of very high unemployment and my wages suck compared to the good old days. But I still try to do all I can to help others that are actually willing to help themselves.

All programs will have some type of abuse. But I find the faith based charities keep a closer eye on things and have lower administrative costs.

[NHSparky]

Yes, but you do not pay FICA on $600k per year, not sure where the cut off is, but its around $110k or so, there is a cap on it...

$113,700 this year, IIRC.