why do people create their own financial misery?
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From: limerick
Originally Posted by thatguyjosh,May 27 2006, 12:12 AM
Honestly, I don't think there's a huge problem with taking $4-5K out in student loans every year while in school IF you know you're going for a good degree.
For example, I'm going to leave pharmacy school with about $29K in debt but will start off making about $90,000-$100,000K per year. Now was it worth acquiring $29K in debt (I worked full time while in school for first 4 years) to actually enjoy life and have a couple of nice things while in college?
Absolutely!! Don't be stupid with your money and you will be fine.
For example, I'm going to leave pharmacy school with about $29K in debt but will start off making about $90,000-$100,000K per year. Now was it worth acquiring $29K in debt (I worked full time while in school for first 4 years) to actually enjoy life and have a couple of nice things while in college?
Absolutely!! Don't be stupid with your money and you will be fine.
Yeah I know its an exception to the rule.
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From: limerick
Originally Posted by BITSA,May 29 2006, 12:01 PM
Actually, the ever accelerating level of abuse with respect to credit cards is but yet another symptom of the fact that American workers have not enjoyed an increase in "real wages" since 1973, all the while we have increased our collective productivity infinitely. IOW, financially speaking, we - the American working-class have been headed in a backward direction for some thirty-three years.
And then the master's overseeer with the whip exclaimed: Work harder, slaves! Work faster, slaves!!!
And then the master's overseeer with the whip exclaimed: Work harder, slaves! Work faster, slaves!!!
That's total
The average production workers salary is at a all time high adjusted for inflation.
Series Id: CES0500000006Seasonally AdjustedSuper Sector: Total privateIndustry: Total privateNAICS Code: N/AData Type: AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS OF PRODUCTION WORKERS
Year Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual
1996 11.84 11.86 11.88 11.94 11.96 12.02 12.04 12.08 12.12 12.14 12.19 12.23
1997 12.27 12.30 12.35 12.37 12.42 12.45 12.48 12.55 12.58 12.65 12.70 12.73
1998 12.77 12.82 12.87 12.91 12.95 12.97 12.99 13.07 13.10 13.13 13.16 13.19
1999 13.25 13.28 13.32 13.37 13.42 13.45 13.50 13.54 13.60 13.62 13.64 13.68
2000 13.73 13.78 13.83 13.89 13.92 13.97 14.02 14.05 14.11 14.17 14.22 14.26
2001 14.28 14.36 14.40 14.44 14.48 14.53 14.54 14.58 14.62 14.64 14.70 14.73
2002 14.74 14.77 14.80 14.82 14.87 14.92 14.95 15.00 15.04 15.10 15.13 15.19
2003 15.19 15.27 15.27 15.26 15.32 15.35 15.38 15.41 15.40 15.41 15.45 15.45
2004 15.48 15.52 15.54 15.58 15.63 15.65 15.68 15.74 15.77 15.79 15.81 15.84
2005 15.88 15.91 15.95 16.00 16.03 16.07 16.14 16.16 16.19 16.28 16.28 16.35
2006 16.40 16.47 16.52(p) 16.61(p)
p : preliminary
http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/surveymost?ce
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From: limerick
[QUOTE=MDXLuvr,May 30 2006, 08:38 AM] Please list all the other countries you have lived in since you made such an insightful statement. 
IMHO, if you don't have a BS or higher degree or if you don't have entreprenurial skills then you are plain screwed in USA.
IMHO, if you don't have a BS or higher degree or if you don't have entreprenurial skills then you are plain screwed in USA.
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From: MAHT-O-MEDI
Hasn't anbody posted it yet in this thread?????
"How do I do it? I AM IN DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS!"
The only debt I "allow" myself is mortgage and one car payment.
That rule got tossed out the window though. I cut my cash savings in half, and put over $10k (at 0%) on a credit card to help finance a ring and a wedding in Hawaii. Debt keeps me up at night. I will be screwed for a year or so, then be fine. I have not cut back on my retirement savings though.
I love to watch neighbors who make less come home in the new Navagator, put in the pool, and spend like drunken sailors and tell you what a great deal they got on a consolidation loan, or third home equity loan. When I am 55 I hope they don't wake me on thier way to work, I want to sleep in a little when I retire. I figure they will have to keep going another 15 yrs at least.
"How do I do it? I AM IN DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS!"
The only debt I "allow" myself is mortgage and one car payment.
That rule got tossed out the window though. I cut my cash savings in half, and put over $10k (at 0%) on a credit card to help finance a ring and a wedding in Hawaii. Debt keeps me up at night. I will be screwed for a year or so, then be fine. I have not cut back on my retirement savings though.
I love to watch neighbors who make less come home in the new Navagator, put in the pool, and spend like drunken sailors and tell you what a great deal they got on a consolidation loan, or third home equity loan. When I am 55 I hope they don't wake me on thier way to work, I want to sleep in a little when I retire. I figure they will have to keep going another 15 yrs at least.
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From: N. Tx.
Originally Posted by exceltoexcel,Jun 1 2006, 07:16 AM
No college education >$100k a year
If you're good at what you do you don't need a degree.
btw, I am really good doctor but IIRC I still needed a degree.
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From: Nashville
Originally Posted by vader1,Jun 1 2006, 09:34 AM
Hasn't anbody posted it yet in this thread?????
"How do I do it? I AM IN DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS!"
The only debt I "allow" myself is mortgage and one car payment.
"How do I do it? I AM IN DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS!"
The only debt I "allow" myself is mortgage and one car payment.
I could ramble on and on about all the people I live near, work with, rent to or am related to about all of the dumb stuff......
I also love how my section 8 tenants always have big screen tv's. Sometimes they have 1 for games and 1 to watch..
I guess people want to work until they die. I would like to be done in about 5 years and do something that I actually enjoy from there on out....
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From: Nashville
Originally Posted by MDXLuvr,Jun 1 2006, 09:45 AM
you are an exception. I would say that the avg. HS grad makes way less than that.
Our plant employees are non-union and make ~$35k for busting their asses. Some local distribution places are at a similar pay scale but I think they are mostly union so they lose some of their $ to the fees..... same with the average customer service clerk here.... high 20's, low 30's......
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From: Los Angeles, Miami
Originally Posted by exceltoexcel,Jun 1 2006, 09:16 AM
No college education >$100k a year
If you're good at what you do you don't need a degree.
Sure makes it easier to get in the door but with 16 years of programming experience now a BS seems completly not relevant.
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From: Columbus
Originally Posted by vader1,Jun 1 2006, 10:34 AM
"How do I do it? I AM IN DEBT UP TO MY EYEBALLS!"
I've been refering to people like that the ones we are talking about as "Stanley Johnsons" I have many Stanley Johnsons in my life, my family and my neighborhood.
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From: MAHT-O-MEDI
Average person in 20-30's walking into a car dealership. "Hey I'd like that new $35k car, how much can I get for my trade?"
Dealer "What is your trade?"
GenXYer "Its a 96 Pontiac Sunfire with 64,000 miles. I only owe $17k on it. But I need low payments because of my high student loans and credit card debt. I need to look like a baller though."
Dealer "We can get you some financing."
GenXYer "Sweet! Where do I sign?"
Dealer "What is your trade?"
GenXYer "Its a 96 Pontiac Sunfire with 64,000 miles. I only owe $17k on it. But I need low payments because of my high student loans and credit card debt. I need to look like a baller though."
Dealer "We can get you some financing."
GenXYer "Sweet! Where do I sign?"