[foo]

Struggling Americans... their personal stories

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')nsurance agent, 34, Tustin, Calif.

My husband and I had to close our copy/printing business in January due to poor sales. We have three sons and are barely getting by on my salary.

My husband is trying to find a job and staying home watching our 2-year-old son in the meantime. We can't really afford childcare right now. We have to watch EVERYTHING we do. I can't afford to buy a lot of groceries and boys eat a lot!

Due to the debt incurred by the business going downhill, we recently had to file for bankruptcy and give back one of our cars. I downgraded to a small, gas-friendly vehicle but while it used to cost $20 to fill up, it now costs more like $60. I work 20 miles from home and I'm trying to think of alternative, cheaper ways to get to work.

We struggle every week. Our kids are 17, 13 and 2 and all they hear is "no." We can't afford to go out to eat, see movies or anything anymore. We can't afford to buy them things they want and can hardly afford to buy them what they need. My husband and I go without a lot to make sure the kids are taken care of. It is truly a struggle and I'm terrified of what may happen if it continues this way. We could lose everything we've worked so hard for.

[Baldwin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')hey have to give up that 4000 sq ft house that was bought with no money down? Have to sell the big-ass SUV due to high fuel prices? Sell the boat that is used twice a year? Can't eat out at nice restaurants every week any more? Can't afford to send their children to expensive colleges? Can't travel, so there is nothing to do? Boohoo. After reading this, it seems to me many Americans really are still living in a dreamworld. But that's all about to change. Maybe they should open their eyes and see how modestly most of the rest of the world is living. Give me a #$#"% break. I really am sick of this typical American entitlement attitude. Like a bunch of spoiled brats or something. I have always lived a modest lifestyle by choice. What the hell is wrong with modest living? Sheesh.

[Benzin]

People in the US need to seriously lower their expectations. I eat out at least once a week so that means I cut back on everything else. It's called a budget. Get rid of the crap and the excess; save and get only what you really want. How hard is that? Though I imagine if everyone did this, the US economy would be in shambles right now.

How did we get to the point to where the only thing that keeps this system going is by spending money on excess and waste?

[Dreamtwister]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Benzin', 'T')hough I imagine if everyone did this, the US economy would be in shambles right now.

[Benzin]

Well to be fair, could be a lot worse. No?

[Prince]

Thanks for the link. As a sadist, I find these stories absolutely fascinating.

I like the Kostenko story:

The picture of their human Xerox copies in front of Pooh-Bear is charming, isn't it?

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')e bought a home in Orlando, Fla., in February 2005, the height of the boom here. At the time, we could afford the home, the taxes and the insurance. It would be tight but we kept planning on "the bonus" or "the raise."

[alokin]

I read through some of the stories and it does not look very severe - lots different than the PO articles about the crisis.
And cut down by going out or even eating out - which normal family eats out?? and every week? These are a bit strange expectations.
Buying stuff (toys) for the kids, on toy each at birthdays and Chrissie would be enough I reckon (mine don't know it different)

[foo]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Prince', 'T')his woman needs to have her reproductive organs forcefully removed with steak knives so that she doesn't flood the world with any more stupidity. Yea, I'm tactless and blunt, but this family gets no sympathy from me... at all.

[vision-master]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')aybe they should open their eyes and see how modestly most of the rest of the world is living. Give me a #$#"% break. I really am sick of this typical American entitlement attitude. Like a bunch of spoiled brats or something. I have always lived a modest lifestyle by choice. What the hell is wrong with modest living? Sheesh.

[3aidlillahi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Yesterday I ran across a viet that lives on $700 Month.

[Prince]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('3aidlillahi', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')So they aren't making a dime on the rental, then at **AGE 40** they wipe out his only funds for retirement to buy... ANOTHER HOME!

[3aidlillahi]

Here's some absolute genius from the next generation:

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')He found a job the same day with another company for less money. He now drives over 70 miles a day for work. The truck he drives gets 11 miles to a gallon. We spend well over $800 a month just on fuel.

If things get much worse we don't know what we will do. We do well compared to some people out there, but like most we carry $17,000 in credit-card debt and don't have much in savings.

[3aidlillahi]

Struggling? Hardly.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')y husband and I live in Plano, Texas, and we are doing just fine. We had an ARM loan that was set to reset in 2010 but refinanced when the rates dropped last month because I was concerned about rising rates, inflation and the economy.

We don't live in a "McMansion" but in a nice modest, one-story home with our three children that's only slightly bigger than the ones we grew up in when we were young. I'm not ashamed to admit we are still in our first house but we love it here!

We have cut back our spending a lot and especially our driving. We are using our rebate check to get out of debt and will be free of credit-card debt before summer. We own both our vehicles and are still putting money away in our retirement accounts and our savings accounts. I am grateful for my husband's job and that we have managed to learn to live off of one salary so I can stay home with our children.

[PeakingAroundtheCorner]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('3aidlillahi', 'S')truggling? Hardly.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'M')y husband and I live in Plano, Texas, and we are doing just fine. We had an ARM loan that was set to reset in 2010 but refinanced when the rates dropped last month because I was concerned about rising rates, inflation and the economy.

We don't live in a "McMansion" but in a nice modest, one-story home with our three children that's only slightly bigger than the ones we grew up in when we were young. I'm not ashamed to admit we are still in our first house but we love it here!

We have cut back our spending a lot and especially our driving. We are using our rebate check to get out of debt and will be free of credit-card debt before summer. We own both our vehicles and are still putting money away in our retirement accounts and our savings accounts. I am grateful for my husband's job and that we have managed to learn to live off of one salary so I can stay home with our children.