Are there really people out there who live paycheck to paycheck? how do they survive?

Question

I want to know has everyone saved money, or do they really live paycheck to paycheck. I keep hearing this. If you live paycheck to paycheck who'd want to live like that?

Answer 1

yes dear there really are people in this world that live paycheck-to-paycheck. reason being- we only make enough money to pay our bills with very little left over for savings and when we are able to put some into savings something comes along that we have to pull out that savings and use it or take out a loan.

I happen to be one of them and I have a college education

Answer 2

I would say MOST people do this, but it also depends what you mean exactly by the terminology. I could survive without a paycheck one time, but I would be in rough shape if I had to miss two consecutive paychecks. So I guess I would even consider myself in that situation. But the term "living paycheck to paycheck" usually implies barely making it and not being able to pay essential bills if you were to miss a payday.

Answer 3

We used to live paycheck to paycheck. How did we survive? Well, it was what we had to do to survive. My husband was in med school, and I was working full time and taking university classes at night. I cleared a little less than $14,000 a year, and his financial aid was just enough to pay for his tuition and 2 or 3 of the 15 - 20 books he needed (and the average price for one of his books was about $50). My meager income paid for everything else. Rent was $350 a month (we actually had found a great deal, so our rent was lower than the average) and included no utilities, not even water and sewer, so well over half of my income went for rent and utilities. Some months we'd have to skip paying the phone bill so we could pay the heat bill. We also ate a lot of hamburger cut with tofu (to stretch it) and pasta.

Who would want to live like that? No one wants to live like that - they do it because they have no other alternative. There are more people in this situation than you could ever imagine. Hopefully, for most of them it's a temporary situation.

Answer 4

Living paycheck to paycheck is a very difficult challenge, it is either Wed. or the last week of the month, these I find to be the hardest mostly due to funds not available for simple things like gas for the car, or just a little bit more food. I have a budget that we as a family will sit down and look at for the year and for a month. I schedule the utlity bills for the payment plan or budget method that way I know what each month will be. I earn enough money to pay all the bills for one month plus about 150 dollars extra. Most of that goes to food when food stamps runs out (last week of the month).

People say "they need to pull up themselves by their boot straps" but what do you do when the straps break.
Others say "seek welfare or other agencies to help out" they look at your paycheck and your family size (4) and say you make too much money (for the record 17K a year) or there are not funds available at this time to help.

Birthdays and other holidays are stressful the most trying to get just one item for your kids that you give them and not strangers from church or friends of the family.

Sometimes you think about a second job to help out but most of that would have to go to child care or your current job just wears you out to the point you are lucky to just have energy to fix something around the house or lawn work or clean the dishes.

Others will say get a better job, problem with the training you may have jobs may be hard to come by where you live, others will say then move, moving cost more than just living for a month where you are currently.

Living paycheck to paycheck is hard there always seems to be something that will stop or drain your savings like car repair, insurance payment, tax bill for property. Just when you think you are at least treading water and your head is bobbing above the water line the next wave hits.

Nobody wants to live paycheck to paycheck but todays society is either materially well off, just making basic needs, or total welfare.

The best advice I can give is while young learn very well how to budget your money, how to invest (used all of our 401(k) retirement money during long time unemployed several years ago) and make long term and short term goals on savings, our budget is actually on track and we will clear around 1 thousand by years end providing that the next wave is around 500 which is being planned for car repairs till years end.

Next year we might even get to the point that we can go shopping other than Goodwill for clothes and maybe we each can get actual new clothes not new used ones.

yes there are many who live paycheck to paycheck, just remember we are people too, not just downcast of society but real people just like you with real problems.

Answer 5

I used to live paycheck to paycheck because of my student loan and credit card debt. I got a personal loan for $25000 and paid it all off. Now, I have a good bit of free cash in every check. I recommend Prosper for anyone who needs a loan to pay down debt and free up cash. It's a great resource if you're disciplined enough to use the money for its intended purpose and not spend it frivolously.

Answer 6

I believe the people that live from one paychek to another are not doing it by choice. People do what they must to survive, and learn to adapt. You have obviousley been very blessed, Do not judge to quickly or to harshly, until you have walked that mile in their shoes. If you cannot be a part of the solution, "Don't be a part of the problem. It is so easy to stand outside of someones life and make judgements, based on our successes. I don't have any bills, I pay cash for everything my home, car, everything. I have been told, that I have more than I'll ever be able to spend in two lifetimes. I don't know, I have people to handle those things for me. Many people do not or cannot, I too have been well blessed. I will not place myself in the position of greatness to look at others and ask "who would want to live like that". Unfortunately everyone doesn't have, all access to all the money they want or need, all of the time.

Aren't you the lucky one???

Answer 7

A lot of people I know live pay check to pay check. I am 20 years old and I have lived on my own for 2 years. I have my own car, my own apartment, my own bills, and I also have my own savings account with a few thousand in it (that I saved on my own after I moved out of my parents home) and I am not irresponsible, but yes I live pay check to pay check (I do not wish to use money I have saved). I do not over spend , I rarely go shopping, I just buy the necessities, and I think I get paid pretty well for being 20...23000 isn't bad. I wouldn't say it's because people are uneducated, my parents are what you'd considered uneducated(only have HS diplomas) and they make well over 100k a year. The reason I believe people have to live this way is because living is so expensive (gas prices, house payments, car payments, etc) I would prefer not to live this way but I will not ask my parents for help...because honestly I do not need their help. I can do it on my own. So when you say are there really people out there??.....YES and I hope one day you can experience this.

Answer 8

they survive the best they can and do all that they can to make things better for the family. when I get up in the morning I know how important my work is to the succsess of the household. and off I go to do it. it is alife of real challanges and real failures. the good thing is no matter what you just keep going. it is actually a lot better than the years spent getting back to the level of living paycheck to paycheck after I lost every thing . and to the lucky ones what have you faced for hard challenges to build your charecter and faith ths week.

Answer 9

nobody WANTS to live paycheck to paycheck. It's a hand to mouth routine. Only the strong survive this, people that are smart enough to use their resources, not spend needlessly.

Answer 10

Yes there are many who do live paycheck to paycheck and it is a very difficult lifestyle, indeed! Those who have to live this way do not want to live this way...and seem to be in a catch-22 in attempting to get themselves out of it. I don't think anyone wants to live like this...but I admire their drive to attempt to get ahead and not give up.