Why is living the american dream so hard?? BILLS! BILLS! BILLS!?

Answer 1

uh, huh! Sounds like Post Christmas Sticker Shock! You can live relatively debt free. Cut up your credit cards. ANYTHING you can do with a credit card, you can do with a bank issued Visa or MasterCard Debit card.
I did this YEARS ago. I've booked hotel rooms, rented cars, purchased airline tickets, paid bills. The only catch was I had to have the cash in my account. That catch is to my advantage. I have only basic bills: rent, utilities, food, fuel, car note, (which ends next July, yippie!) insurance policies on my car, apartment and my life, of course (which, if I'd had enough cash I could have paid all at once and saved money, but I didn't, this year.)

I spent a total of $200.00 for Christmas. I bought gifts for 5 adults and 3 children. In fact, the majority was spent on my son. He needed a winter coat and boots. We actually did get Timberlands and a pretty nice parka that converts to a hoodless vest. Total spent: $126.00. We went to Burlington Coat Factory and found them both there. The others got something thoughful and simple. They all knew I loved and thought about them. They were grateful.
Downsize your debt by cutting up those credit cards! You CAN live without them. You'd be surprised how few real "EMERGENCIES" there are when you don't have one. I love rejecting the credit card companies when they send me an application! You'll never get out of debt by making more debt.

Learn to say, "NO!" to your family and yourself. Learn to delay purchases. Sometimes shopping, trying on things and going to several stores to compare prices is enough to settle the urge to spend. Especially if you leave your debit card and check book at home in the first place! I just went shopping for black athletic shoes. I really want a pair. Right now I can't afford them. So, I'll wait. They are on my list along with a television for the guest bedroom. A little delayed gratification doesn't hurt. It actually helps.
AFTER BANKRUPTCY MY NEW VERSION OF THE AMERICAN DREAM IS TO LIVE DEBT FREE! Believe me I've had plenty of fly by night credit companies romancing me before the ink was dry on my bankruptcy. Now, after slowly reestablishing credit with just the auto purchase (and yes, I got reamed on the financing,) paying my bills on time (especially the utilities) the bigger, more legitimate companies are constantly courting me; especially my own bank! My answer is, NO! I like my paycheck to belong to me. I no longer owe my soul to the company store, as it were, and I feel good about it.
It may take a few years, but you will be able to crawl out from under if you stop the cycle. Snip, snip. You'll be glad you did in the long run.

Answer 2

this isn't a question... it really is a rant. It presupposes many stuff. of route, i bypass through Selby Jr's theory from Requiem for a Dream that the yankee Dream should be done AWAY WITH... i ought to say that first to get some style of credibility with you. Bachelor's stages are a waste for a lot of human beings. a lot of human beings can earn more desirable funds being welders and plumbers interior 4 years than someone with a bachelor's degree can make 4 years when you've it... that's truth. yet, is it mandatory to be in that right percentile? I propose, is your statement that funds buys happiness? would you be at liberty if $one hundred,000 dropped on your step? nicely, particular, genuinely each and every man or woman would. yet you act like that's mandatory. you artwork a 9-5 pastime. a minimum of you do not artwork a 14-hr/day 7/day/week pastime! Social protection will be bancrupt lengthy previously you retire. you do not might want to artwork until eventually you're ninety... you may have little ones who can assist you. Do you recognize that's the way many cultures artwork... I artwork at the same time as I advance you, and then you've little ones so as that my grandchildren can help me after I get too previous to artwork? Your rant is so shallow. and that i'm no freakin hippie. I artwork a 9-5 pastime that's very much pleasurable yet would not pay a lot. i'm not the happiest man or woman interior the international. And enable me allow you to recognize one problem more desirable. i'm 28 now, and that i awakened 10 years in the past with $one hundred and eighty,000 interior the business corporation and a passive income of $25,000. meaning for sitting on my butt all day doing not something. Sounds marvelous, correct? nicely, it became for decades. I spent each and every little bit of it, pissing it away interior the right, because I felt incorrect... like i did not deserve what I had. So now I make 10.60/hr with my bachelor's degree and also you recognize what, that's basically fantastic. I plan on engaged on my retirement and being satisfied. Is that the yankee Dream? No, that's basically my dream. i have already had the yankee Dream, and that's pretend. give up chasing after the yankee Dream and hit upon a dream of your own.

Answer 3

I don't believe in the American dream because I am living the American nightmare. Every month I have to juggle our bills because due to a medical condition I have no income of my own. I rely on my husband to bring home the money and we are raising five kids. Xmas means hubby giving up his two weeks of vacation time to finance the gifts for the kids. I usually go without on holidays. My bills are all late and I am constantly avoiding calls from bill collectors and late notices in the mail.

We get to the point at times where we leave the bills on the counter unopened because there's no money for them anyway. We see my hubby's rich parents affording new cars and lots of home improvements while we have to claw our way and struggle. It's hard because you want to get the things everyone else has and you want to give your kids a better life than you had growing up. Unfortunately the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

I empathize with your situation completely...

Answer 4

Something we all have to go through. First of all, cut up your credit cards if you have any. Paying interest is money you could be saving and earning interest on. Watch out for what you waste. Save left overs, ask for doggie bags when you eat out, that could be tomorrows lunch. My Mother used to say a penny saved is a penny earned. Cut corners where you can. Turn out lights that aren't needed, save electricity. Keep the doors closed. Don't hold the Fridge open, or the oven, any longer then needed. There are so many ways you can save money by watching the way you use it. In the bank it grows for you and sooner or later those dreams may begin to happen. It takes time and you will appreciate your accomplishments. Good Luck to you and a Happy New Year.

Answer 5

Honestly; the American dreams no longer exist. Look at the world we live in now. The American dreams were for days when things were good and prices were low and there were jobs. People were nice, neighbors were friendly and the children respected their elders. Now...Bush is the president, there are no jobs and kids just about rule the world with negativity and their smart comments.

Answer 6

The Bills season is nearly over, now we cheer for the Sabres!

Answer 7

the American dream is a advertisement of the month.

the real American dream is happiness and fulfillment outside of material items.

Katrina taught me that lesson. Stuff doesn't matter.

Answer 8

I feel the same way...you work your whole life and spend most of your money paying bills!

Answer 9

be careful not to buy wants without taking care of your needs. No one forced the bills on you.

Answer 10

nothing that comes easy is appreciated as much as the things that are accomplished the hard old fashion way. be proud that you are alive and well, that you are able to reach for the American dream. think about those who are not able to even try .