Author Topic: Another insight into the rest of the world...  (Read 6808 times)

bluecollarmusician

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Dee

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2013, 06:56:22 PM »
Wow, so many comments.  The ones I read were so negative -- no "good for them", just comments about how they are unrelateable because they earn more than average, how it wouldn't be easy to do on less income, how all they gave up were luxuries... I say good for them!

JamesAt15

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #2 on: April 24, 2013, 07:19:36 PM »
Good for them, indeed!

Jesus, reading the comments on these things makes me grind my teeth something awful.

The point, people, is that they decided they had a huge debt they wanted to eliminate, so they made a plan, reduced their expenses, eliminated anything unnecessary, and did the hard work to pay it off. Pay attention and you could learn something.

bluecollarmusician

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #3 on: April 24, 2013, 08:26:52 PM »
Totally agree... It is reading comments like these that make me fear for the country...

AJ

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2013, 09:20:05 PM »
Wow, those comments are pretty painful. I couldn't read more than a few - raising my blood pressure...

Dr.Vibrissae

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2013, 09:32:50 PM »
I thought the commentors were of two very different, and opposing non-supportive minds.  One group's stance was that anyone could pay off debt at that income (completely ignoring the fact that they put over 50% of their take home in one year to the debt, which most people are unwilling to do).  The other group wanted to know why there weren't stories about people paying off debt without having to live with parents and sell stuff (which presumably requires making even more income?)

limeandpepper

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #6 on: April 24, 2013, 11:06:46 PM »
Good for them. Though, call me critical but I did think that even with their achievement, they did still manage to spend $36k between the two of them while living with their parents, which seems like quite a bit, yet the article makes out like they were living quite austerely.

AJ

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2013, 10:12:11 AM »
You know, thinking about this more, I almost do somewhat agree with the commenters. Like limeandpepper said, they still spent $36k even living with their parents. I mean, no disrespect to them, they did a great job and made more sacrifices than most people are willing to make. I have no facepunches for the couple. My problem is with the journalist that wrote the piece: they couldn't have found someone with that income willing to live off $36k w/o living with their parents (and maybe even with kids)? Heck, I bet there are dozens of such folk on these very forums doing that very thing!

Not that negative-nancys wouldn't still complain, but the closer you get to "average" incomes and circumstances, the less excuses people have to say they couldn't do it themselves. That's why Amy Dacyczyn is such an inspiration - she did all that on a very mediocre income.

gdborton

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2013, 11:12:27 AM »
The math is actually a bit worse than that...

Yearly income = (6000+1500)*12 = 90000 Assuming net because they described them as paychecks.
Debt = 50,000
Assests not including savings from income = 8000 refund, 3000 car, 1000 watch = 12,000

Meaning they payed off 38,000 and spent 52,000.

That puts them at ~42% of net saved, worse for their gross.

The savings rate in and of itself isn't too bad, but two people living with parents spending 52,000?

superheropunk

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2013, 01:07:59 PM »
The math is actually a bit worse than that...

Yearly income = (6000+1500)*12 = 90000 Assuming net because they described them as paychecks.
Debt = 50,000
Assests not including savings from income = 8000 refund, 3000 car, 1000 watch = 12,000

Meaning they payed off 38,000 and spent 52,000.

That puts them at ~42% of net saved, worse for their gross.

The savings rate in and of itself isn't too bad, but two people living with parents spending 52,000?

Probably not spending a net of $52k when you consider taxes and benefits (health insurance, etc.) though... I don't find it an amazing or inspiring story because think anyone is capable of doing this. You mainly just have to have the "want to".

Well, paying of $50k in 1 year is actually pretty impressive.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2013, 01:10:03 PM by superheropunk »

dragoncar

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #10 on: April 25, 2013, 01:54:14 PM »
The math is actually a bit worse than that...

Yearly income = (6000+1500)*12 = 90000 Assuming net because they described them as paychecks.
Debt = 50,000
Assests not including savings from income = 8000 refund, 3000 car, 1000 watch = 12,000

Meaning they payed off 38,000 and spent 52,000.

That puts them at ~42% of net saved, worse for their gross.

The savings rate in and of itself isn't too bad, but two people living with parents spending 52,000?

Actually the $9k refund is income, putting them at $98k net.  They spent 36k, so that's a savings rate of 63%.  They must have paid off debt and increased savings.

bluecollarmusician

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #11 on: April 25, 2013, 03:03:54 PM »

Probably not spending a net of $52k when you consider taxes and benefits (health insurance, etc.) though... I don't find it an amazing or inspiring story because think anyone is capable of doing this. You mainly just have to have the "want to".

Well, paying of $50k in 1 year is actually pretty impressive.


Agreed, on all counts. Anybody can do this if they want to... I say good for them taking care of business... It is their money and if they choose to live with the parents and find other ways to spend money.

My concerns are
A. The tone of the writer about the level of austerity, when in fact it seems to me that they still lived on a reasonably comfortable salary and
B. the tone of the comments.  I think people here call it complainypants.... To me it smacks of people who are financially illiterate and unable to think for themselves.  Excuses instead of answers.  It is frightening to me.

Erica/NWEdible

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2013, 03:28:01 PM »
Science confirms: there are many naysaying assholes on the internet.

bluecollarmusician

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2013, 03:43:36 PM »
Science confirms: there are many naysaying assholes on the internet.

+1

YoungAndWise

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2013, 10:23:17 PM »
http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19

Greater
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bluecollarmusician

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Re: Another insight into the rest of the world...
« Reply #15 on: April 26, 2013, 04:38:18 PM »

YoungAndWise

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Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!