Friday evening

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-22-1999
Friday evening
21
Fri, 08-21-2009 - 7:15pm

Right now, I

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-25-2009
Mon, 08-24-2009 - 6:58pm

I wouldn't use the word "chastise", but Ski Marie was perhaps being direct. I have known to be very blunt myself as well.

Cannot speak for others, but I have lived on less than $28,000 a year as well as on low six figures. In another post about compulsive spending I believe one should live within his/her means. When I did not have money, I scaled down to the absolute basics: rice and beans, almost cheap almost expired bread, etc. These days things are a bit better, and I do allow myself a bit more spending money. I think Ski Marie was just using herself as an example as someone living within/below her means, and to show that there are many things one could do without.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 9:06am
Why is it that people who make "well over $150K a year" feel like they can chastise those of us who don't make anywhere near that much? Nobody knows what we all face everyday in trying to make our paychecks stretch to cover our bills.

I don't think it's the income difference in this case.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 11:05am

Let's see how and why we make the $150k we make.




iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 11:15am

Stacy -


Apparently you are a bit touchy and took the post the WRONG way.




iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 2:02pm

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2005
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 2:44pm

I'm sorry Marie.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 3:56pm

No issue taken, we are singing from the same choir.




iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2008
Tue, 08-25-2009 - 7:22pm

I also studied hard in high school and worked 30 hours a week while attending college full-time. I earned a BA and found a new job immediately. I went back to college when my kids were in grade school and earned two certificates, which I needed to get a better job. Then I got divorced and assumed all of the debt from the marriage. I received ZERO child support. I just earned another certificate in December so that I would be prepared in another field should I get downsized.

The vast majority of my debt is a result of Parent Plus loans I took out to help pay for my daughter's college education. She just graduated with her BSN, passed the state boards for RN, and got a good job. Now she has over $40K in school loans to pay back and I have $33K in parent loans. It's worth it, but it's still hard to live with it.

All I'm saying is that no one knows the circumstances in another person's life. In some cases it is not possible to earn triple digits due to one's vocation or location. It seems to be easier when the marriage is intact and both people work, but then again that situation may be harder for some people.

When someone says look at everything we did and on a $150K salary, well that's comparing apples to oranges. If I had a $150K salary, I'd be out of debt in less than a year, and I'd have paid off my daughter's school loans, too.

Mary Jo









iVillage Member
Registered: 08-04-2008
Wed, 08-26-2009 - 9:10am

Quill,


Have your DD ask her hospital if they will pay back her student loans if she stays for a period of time, most around here will.




iVillage Member
Registered: 02-01-2008
Thu, 08-27-2009 - 8:19pm

Thanks, Marie. Anne's hospital is a state-run hospital and they do not offer bonuses. However, there is a government program she can apply for in 2010. If she qualifies it'll help with her loans, but not the parent loans.

I know how you must feel looking at your ex taking it easy while you work so hard and pay all the bills. My ex gets increasing amounts of disability income, hasn't worked in years, and has everyone feeling sorry for him. Meanwhile, I took two hours of vacation at the end of today to go home and take a nap, as I was exhausted.

Mary Jo