Money

I'm reading and clicking through this really interesting series on CNN Money called "America's Money: In their own words" where ordinary Americans write brief descriptions of how they're doing with money. Hey, even I'm very underemployed but I feel bad for these ppl. At least I didn't buy a home in the last few years, need to move and sell that house, or have kids that are sick.

Here's a random sampling of one of the stories, there are 52 total.

There are some other interesting articles and videos on CNN Money about ppl looking for work for months, sending out 10 resumes a day with no response, etc. It makes me feel better bc yes, job searching sucks. It's frustrating, demoralizing, and depressing to do a lot of work and get no return. (Maybe I can even talk about it bc I have a third interview next wk that is looking good. But no promises).

Reading the stories, I feel two simultaneous responses. One, annoyance at the chirpy ppl who politely boast that they saved for a rainy day, and refinanced at the right time, and "live modestly," and just can't scratch their heads enough to understand how so many other ppl are struggling and losing their jobs and homes. Why didn't they smartly plan like us? is the implied naive question. "Those ppl are so foolishly spend-happy and not wise like us." FIRST of all, at least in the CNN Money series, all of these ppl are white. Did you stop to ask that maybe you're getting better loans bc you're white and seem as reliable borrowers? That maybe your parents helped you with a down payment, when not everyone has that advantage? Ok, besides race, did you think that maybe only luck and God has kept you together and you yourself are only one major illness or crisis away from foreclosure or bankruptcy? Are your children healthy? Is your job in a stable industry? One woman wrote that she planned for a job in an industry that could provide the lifestyle she wanted. Ok, that's great but some ppl want to follow their DREAMS and do something different than engineering or a lawyer or doctor. What about them? Are you a caretaker like others? Do you think some ppl are financially strapped bc they are selflessly taking care of their elderly parents, children, or grandchildren? Our lives don't always work out the way we think they will and sometimes we need other ppl to help us. Do you feel proud bc you live in a cheaper state like Minnesota? Well damn, I don't want to live in Minnesota. Do you look down at ppl who "choose" to live in the more expensive states like California and Hawaii? There are many other factors in life for why we live where we live more than is gas 80 cents cheaper. Gawd. I get very angry at ppl who attribute their good fortune to only their wise planning and intelligence and not the advantage of being white, darn luck, not needing to care for troubled family members, and God somehow blessing you and sparing you from a major health crisis or similar financial disaster.

The second smaller response I have is seemingly opposite. I think, ok, now, could you afford that bigger house? Do you need cable and a large cell phone plan if you're not doing well financially? I really think that the American idea of what is "standard living" has risen dramatically. We think large screen HD TV's are normal, buying Coach and Vittuin (?) is normal, buying $800 shoes, eating out and spending is normal. And we feel anti-normal when we spend less, buy clothes infrequently, shop at Target for a purse. One woman wrote that her and her husband were going to upgrade their modest house to a bigger house a few years ago. The payments would have been 2 maybe 3 times their former payments. Luckily the husband said no and now a few yrs later, the wife is unemployed and the only way they're surviving is bc they live in this modest house. She's so grateful for her husband's logical thinking. We should all live like that.

Don't be so foolish to base your good-fortune on your intelligence and wisdom. Bc when the shit falls, and it will fall on you someday, your viewpoint will be unable to see it as an accident or just life's shit. You will blame yourself as if you could have stopped it. But you are not the center of the universe. You cannot foresee the housing crisis, Bear Sterns sinking like a torpedo, your health emergency, or anything else. You can only do the best with what you have, try to save, and live below your means. And not f'ing judge other people bc you don't know their life.