When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Jim — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:38:06 GMT

hey, don't get mad at the other guys, we are all in this together. I'm 53 and scared,Iam vested in my carreer but have NO job. I am in the construction industry and have done all the right moves and do not spend beyound my means. I somehow am able to keep up with all my bills but for how long. I have been without steady work for about 2.5 years. This time is the worst I've ever had to endure,I'm sad and busted and still sober after 14 years. Thank You Mark for your service to this wonderful country.

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Jane — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:19:01 GMT

Shawn, how about You man up and join the service, go do a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan and then tell every one else how "nice" we have it with no worries and rent paid for. If Mark has managed to save all that money then great going for him. And my brothers and sisters at arms don't get anything for free. You get to spend your holidays with whomever you choose while we sweat or freeze in the middle of no where so you can voice your opinion. You have no idea what we go through and you have no idea what the spouses go through on a regular basis either. Oh yeah and we also pay our taxes just like everyone else.

I own three homes, a nice car, feed my retirement account and have a nice cushion for emergencies. In our lives and line of work emergencies alway happen.

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Carol — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:10:16 GMT

Wow, there is a lot of anger towards Mark for being smart and planning ahead, as well as being in the military. Shawn, you made your choices in life, as we all do. P, I'm sorry your wife left you, might have either paid more attention to her while married or picked up on red flags before the "I do's". My life choices turned out to be wrong 20 years later, but we all do what we can and move forward. My kids and I have learned we can only depend on ourselves, I hope I don't need health care and we must look towards the future and not back (thank you Mr. Disney). And you go njs!

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Montana Gal — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 06:13:14 GMT

In defense of those who find themselves drowning in debt--I think there are many families who are one financial crisis away or serious illness away from going completely under. Like it or not, there are many many jobs that don't come with the benefit or option of health insurance. Not everyone can go to college to get the high paying, good benefits jobs, why??? Perhaps, their family culture doesn't value or push education. Maybe they just didn'thave the luck to run across a mentor to help, encourage, or show the way. There are millions of jobs that need to be filled but don't have any benefits. Not everyone can progress up the ranks. Yes, you always hear of a janitor who saved millions on his/her salary, but folks, that is the EXCXEPTION! There are those who suffer from mental illness to the extent of not being employable. I have no patience with those who feel "entitled" or whine about losing their $600,000 house when all they make is $60,000. Were they tricked into purchasing such an expensive house? Where is the accountability? It is a rather complex problem--not black and white. All we can do is as well as circumstances permit. Obviously those of us reading/writing this blog know (at least I hope we do) that if you don't understand a business deal you don't sign on the bottom line until you have educated yourself. Let's have some compassion for others until you know their circumstances or stories (then you can be as judgemental as you want--do you really want to play "GOD"?)

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

LaDonna (Sandwiched between D.C. and Balt.) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:30:38 GMT

Let's look at Donna's most re-"cent" history,

She just celebrated the marriage of her only child and helped her out with the food, honeymoon etc. That was paid off before the ceremony even began because they did it within their means.

How many of us are still paying for our own or our child's wedding that happened only a few short months ago?

It's a mindset people.....Live for less.......Invest in yourself, not stuff!

That freezer is comparable to the cellar that 1 or 2 generations before us utilized under the barn/shed or house.

And there was no guarantee that it wouldn't "flood" back then either....

When it rains, it pours!

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Colleen — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 03:19:25 GMT

Thanks Mark and congratulations on being a real American.

I am a 59 year old woman with a 63 year old husband. We raised 5 kids, who all have higher educations, not because of what we paid, but because we told them early on that they had to go to college or tech school, and pay the majority of the cost themselves. They, like Mark, are good, responsible citizens, doing things the right way.

We have a nice home and have money in the bank, not because of a government program, but because we lived within our means, and know the value of a dollar. We have paid our dues and yet we would still be willing to help bail out the rest of you fools , but I doubt you would learn a thing.

NJS is right. Congress makes the laws, and is in charge of oversight.

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Peter — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:01:29 GMT

So many truths among these lines... Painful truths that try to be the only one...

There is no one single story that prevails over the other. We all are part of the same economy, we all have similar fears, we are just trying to see how somebody else’s choices are worst than ours and may be we could blame them for our faith.

Donna asks... When will things get better?

I, as Mark "The Sergeant” think they will get better when you take control of your choices and make them better...

Your bank failed... did you care to see their balance sheet or see the clues saying it was coming down?

Job in the air.... Did you prepare yourself to be marketable? It is great you are going back to college... but if you had made that smart decision 30 years ago you could be enjoying the benefits of it... so you don't want a square job? Then don't complain about job security or the cost of insurance, you seem to like risks even at your age... not wonder of your nightmares.

Credit Card bill for $3K?! Is that reasonable when you are living of school money, your ex-husband’s money and a "job" that allows you to occupy a residence for free?

You give great advice on managing your budget... but the first step to a good budget is... generating an income... Don't depend on handouts they will not last forever.

It all comes down to our choices...

The ARMY? Yes he feels a weird warm feeling hearing about lay offs, The ARMY is buying members from other branches for $10K, $20K or more, so no lay offs for him but as somebody said, if he gets injured, paraplegic or PTS and forgotten by God and State, then his choice may not seem as sound anymore...

Burger King? Hey that is the epitome of bad choices unless you are 17 and getting ready for college or to join... The ARMY.

I don't have the truth... I say make your choices, CHANGE and adjust according to the circumstances... and if at the end you are still in a bad situation try to remember that you did what you thought best and don't blame somebody else for your empty pockets.

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Kevin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:55:05 GMT

Shawn, it's easy to see you never spent any time "SERVING YOUR COUNTRY". You definitely won't get rich in there, at least not in the short term. But you do learn how to budget yourself very quickly. The best advise I can give to anybody is to remember to pay yourself first and never touch it. Even if it only $25 a week. Try buying a couple rolls of quarters every time you cash your check and put it away.

I also agree that the President doesn't make the laws, but Congress and the House does. It might be time to actually go out and vote for somebody brand new, don't you think??

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

Thinking — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:28:33 GMT

Gen: "Instead of bailing out the rich banks give each person in the United States that is over 18 years old mney to pay their debts like mortages, car payment, student loans, credit cards and a little to shop on."

Uhm, this is kinda communism. You can't expect the government to come along and give you a blanket income to survive on just because you made bad decisions. If someone buys a house and puts up no down payment, that is just stupid. If you are in credir card debt, that is your own fault. Sorry. The truth hurts. We shouldn't give people money to pay their debts. Just like a bank that fails, people who create debt for themselves, should not be bailed out.

re: When will things get better? (And how bad are they now?)

s. — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:25:34 GMT

You don't read very well Shawn! What's more it sounds like misplaced anger and jealously to me. Why are you denegrating a young man who's not only serving his country, but has made some good decisions and has his own house in order? Is it because you haven't? It's obvious you know nothing about the real root of the economic problems we're going through. When it gets down to it, you're probably the one "sucking off the govt." I bet you are the kind of person who likes to blame everybody else when something goes wrong instead of holding the right people accountable--perhaps yourself. The SGT. said he's PAYING HIS OWN MORTGAGE - the military is NOT GIVING him anything but the pay and benefits he earns and deserves! How about holding those people accountable who got a mortgage they knew they couldn't afford in the first place but thought they were ENTITLED TO; or the people who charge everything and then can't pay for it, etc., etc. By the way, the last time I checked, the only time a military person is given food, clothing or housing is when he/she first joins and goes to boot camp; he's/she's given housing when he lives on a ship if you want to count that or perhaps when posted overseas. And for the record, do you ever try to help those vets standing next to the freeway with the tin cup or do you figure they deserve it? The SGT deserves some f------ respect!!

What the heck, Shawn, you'll never acknowledge logic or reality so just go on living in your liberal bizarro world and blame someone else--go smoke something, or teach lies or whatever else it is that you do.