You have to be rich to be poor.

[Syd]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051702053.html


You have to be rich to be poor.

That's what some people who have never lived below the poverty line don't understand.

Put it another way: The poorer you are, the more things cost. More in money, time, hassle, exhaustion, menace. This is a fact of life that reality television and magazines don't often explain.

[topless_mike]

i just read the entire article.
i think its quite biased, actually.

[Misteriosa]

i just finished reading this article (totally independent from this.. saw the thread pop up on ispy). i think its quite accurate.

this is something i see, live, and breathe every day. i work in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the Bronx, and quite possibly one of the poorest in the city. i look out my office window and what do i see: a WIC office, a laundromat (s?), 3 corner stores, a check cashing/payday lender place, a big chain pharmacy, a mcdonalds, and the rest are shuttered businesses. this is working poor life. this is the world i grew up in.

for everyone who is gonna rag on the poor for being poor, saying that they are lazy and that it will be their own fault, just remember that with the way the ecomony is going, it can be anyone of us in that situation (god forbid) at any time.

[RoseBlood]

The article makes a ton of sense to me and it's something I've always thought about.

It helps to be aware of the hardships, but it's worse to obsess over them to the point of pity. That's when you become a self full filling prophecy and never get out and never move up.

[~Katja~]

I am sure there is a lot of reality to this article, but what I always wonder is for example why people cannot get a bank account for example... as long as you have an ID and a social security card there are many accounts free of any charges and even with monthly charges they surely are cheaper than a $15 fee on a single paycheck being cashed...

On another note I also have to say that the line between poverty and middle class living and standards in the US are much lower than other countries... I think we often are spoiled and act entitled here...just expect the highest living standards and if we cannot achieve them we feel our lives are much less fulfilled.

[angrymissy]

I am sure there is a lot of reality to this article, but what I always wonder is for example why people cannot get a bank account for example... as long as you have an ID and a social security card there are many accounts free of any charges and even with monthly charges they surely are cheaper than a $15 fee on a single paycheck being cashed...

On another note I also have to say that the line between poverty and middle class living and standards in the US are much lower than other countries... I think we often are spoiled and act entitled here...just expect the highest living standards and if we cannot achieve them we feel our lives are much less fulfilled.

You cannot get a bank account at almost any bank if you are in Chexsystems, which you can be added to for bouncing a check accidentally (even if you pay it), owing a bank money on a closed account (Even if it's $5).

My Dad went through it for almost 5 years till he was out of Chex.

[~Katja~]

You cannot get a bank account at almost any bank if you are in Chexsystems, which you can be added to for bouncing a check accidentally (even if you pay it), owing a bank money on a closed account (Even if it's $5).

My Dad went through it for almost 5 years till he was out of Chex.

I did not know that, I have never had problems getting an account and even my kid has one... and I have bounced checks in my past... even if not by fault but def happened... I never heard of that system, is it something that applies to every state or just certain areas?
That's pretty sad that they would do that.

[Misteriosa]

as far as the bank acct issue goes, i dont if the rules are still the same, but the public assistance in nyc would throw you out of the programs if you had a bank account. i guess the reasoning was "if you have money to open an account, you dont need help".

when my dad lost his job when i was little , we tried to get food stamp asst. because we had a house (inherited, but still paid a shit load of taxes on) and mom had a checking account, we were disqualified even tho my mom's pay was under the income level and we were a fam of 4.

but like i said, i dont know if the rules have changed.

[angrymissy]

I did not know that, I have never had problems getting an account and even my kid has one... and I have bounced checks in my past... even if not by fault but def happened... I never heard of that system, is it something that applies to every state or just certain areas?
That's pretty sad that they would do that.

It's the entire country and its hit or miss on how they'll report you and almost impossible to get off of for 5 years if you were reported, in my Dad's case, the IRS froze his bank account, he resolved it, but the bank flagged his account after a few things bounced. It was a gigantic pain in the ass for him for years.

[angrymissy]

as far as the bank acct issue goes, i dont if the rules are still the same, but the public assistance in nyc would throw you out of the programs if you had a bank account. i guess the reasoning was "if you have money to open an account, you dont need help".

when my dad lost his job when i was little , we tried to get food stamp asst. because we had a house (inherited, but still paid a shit load of taxes on) and mom had a checking account, we were disqualified even tho my mom's pay was under the income level and we were a fam of 4.

but like i said, i dont know if the rules have changed.

When my Dad got laid off when I was in HS, he couldn't get food stamps because my siblings and I received Social Security payments after my Mother's death... a grand total of approx $1200/mo for family of 4.

[~Katja~]

as far as the bank acct issue goes, i dont if the rules are still the same, but the public assistance in nyc would throw you out of the programs if you had a bank account. i guess the reasoning was "if you have money to open an account, you dont need help".

when my dad lost his job when i was little , we tried to get food stamp asst. because we had a house (inherited, but still paid a shit load of taxes on) and mom had a checking account, we were disqualified even tho my mom's pay was under the income level and we were a fam of 4.

but like i said, i dont know if the rules have changed.

that makes little sense these days though, given that banks let you open accounts with little to no money...I hate how all these systems are ass backwards


It's the entire country and its hit or miss on how they'll report you and almost impossible to get off of for 5 years if you were reported, in my Dad's case, the IRS froze his bank account, he resolved it, but the bank flagged his account after a few things bounced. It was a gigantic pain in the ass for him for years.
That sounds really aggravating, I am glad I have not had such trouble yet.

I think the problem with the banks is that they take advantage of people by allowing accounts to overdraw and then hit them with hefty fees... I had that issue once when my balance was low and a large bill pay hit the account before the charges from the debit card were applied even though they happened before the bill pay scheduled date... so three under $5 debit/ credit charges were all coming in against 0 balance and of course cost me $30 in fees each...
I did straightened it out with the bank and they waved the fees but it was a lesson learned...
I am surprised they don't offer some form of federal account then... which would be locked down as far as checks and overdrawn balances... money could be deposited and only been withdrawn at a bank... so it still is a lot more of a cash account but at least the bank would have the money that is floating around... and they would not have such hefty fees to deal with...

[RoseBlood]

as far as the bank acct issue goes, i dont if the rules are still the same, but the public assistance in nyc would throw you out of the programs if you had a bank account. i guess the reasoning was "if you have money to open an account, you dont need help".
Ugh.. it's so ridiculous for reasons Katja already stated.

It kills me that we wind up having to do spend downs for many of our clients in order for them to continue to quality for medicaid/medicare/SSI. Some of them have large inheritences and money in the bank, so they shouldn't be getting assistance while others who I feel truly need it continue to suffer. The only good thing is we set up burial accounts for them.

when my dad lost his job when i was little , we tried to get food stamp asst. because we had a house (inherited, but still paid a shit load of taxes on) and mom had a checking account, we were disqualified even tho my mom's pay was under the income level and we were a fam of 4.

but like i said, i dont know if the rules have changed.
I don't know either, we were on food stamps for a little while when my dad lost his job. This was around 1989, I think.

[JohnGacysCrawlSpace]

It's also hip to be square.

Not to mention that you gotta be cool to be cold.

[RoseBlood]

It's also hip to be square.

Not to mention that you gotta be cool to be cold.

and cruel to be kind...

[JerseyRich]

But do you have to be hot to trot?

[~Katja~]

But do you have to be hot to trot?

*insert chuck & fez pic here*

[RoseBlood]

*insert chuck & fez pic here*

hahahahah.. ohh noooo :wacko:

[Zorro]

You cannot get a bank account at almost any bank if you are in Chexsystems, which you can be added to for bouncing a check accidentally (even if you pay it), owing a bank money on a closed account (Even if it's $5).

My Dad went through it for almost 5 years till he was out of Chex.

A reason, but probably not a big one.

I would guess it has more to do with bank fees and more importantly the time it takes the bank to clear the check. If you're living check to check $15 bucks would seem a small price to pay because that 24 - 48 hours is an eternity when you need money. ...and let's face it Banks suck...

[johnnyangel]

The article is on the money, I have been on both sides of the table, lucky to say Ive been on the other side now for some years.

Living check to check sucked, until I had a job that offered direct deposit I had no choice but to use the service and yes the money they charged hurt me but I had no choice.

I think in NYC now you have to have a checking account for PA and SS, and there really talking about working people.

And remember poor are usually uneducated and do not know how to do things most of us know how to do and had no one show them how.

Making min wage in NY you would gross 14,872, paying a cheap rent for a hole in the wall in NYC would be about 10,000 a year.

The poverty line for a family of 4 in the US is 21,834

There is no chance for the poor here, we as a nation are always so concerned with the working conditions and people in other countries and our people go unnoticed

[Gvac]

Yesterday a guy behind the counter at the 7-11 said "If you're poor in wealth you're rich in spirit."

I liked that.

[west milly Tom]

There's an interesting analogy in the bible that says: it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a sewing needle then for a rich man to pass through the pearly gates.

[Contra]

Yesterday a guy behind the counter at the 7-11 said "If you're poor in wealth you're rich in spirit."

I liked that.

That's what poor people say to other poor people to make themselves feel better.

[BlackSpider]

There's an interesting analogy in the bible that says: it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a sewing needle then for a rich man to pass through the pearly gates.

No it doesn't.
It says eye of a needle.
A "needle" means a masonry arch.
When the camels were loaded, it was hard for them to pass under them...

[Zorro]

The article is on the money, I have been on both sides of the table, lucky to say Ive been on the other side now for some years.

Living check to check sucked, until I had a job that offered direct deposit I had no choice but to use the service and yes the money they charged hurt me but I had no choice.

I think in NYC now you have to have a checking account for PA and SS, and there really talking about working people.

And remember poor are usually uneducated and do not know how to do things most of us know how to do and had no one show them how.

Making min wage in NY you would gross 14,872, paying a cheap rent for a hole in the wall in NYC would be about 10,000 a year.

The poverty line for a family of 4 in the US is 21,834

There is no chance for the poor here, we as a nation are always so concerned with the working conditions and people in other countries and our people go unnoticed


Only problem with the "figure" is that entitlements are not included.

I was in line at the local Food Dynasty the other morning buying my Honey Bunches of Oats and milk when a guy walked up to me and asked if he could put it on his EBT card & I give him the cash. Pretty cool I thought...then i told the story to the owner of the restaurant 2 doors down and he says... people come in all the time and ask can they buy vegetables for him and he give them the cash. Necessity meet mother

[Zorro]

No it doesn't.
It says eye of a needle.
A "needle" means a masonry arch.
When the camels were loaded, it was hard for them to pass under them...

Sounds like one of those Prosperity Preacher's "Bible Interpretations for the Wealthy"

[RoseBlood]

most of us know how to do and had no one show them how.

good point.

[SP1!]

The beginning of the article was bullshit, and it boils down to this, yeah shit costs more in a convenience store than a wal mart or target, who the fuck doesnt know that?

The problem is that two things happen when you try to build a mega store in an economically depressed area, one, some people come out and protest it being built because it will fuck up the neighborhood's atmosphere or two, the store doesnt make a lot of money because of theft and more money the store has to pay for security.

So you are relegated to small stores who always charge more because they are charged more by suppliers for not buying in large quantities. Hell the laundromat we had to use in miami cost more than the service we used in palm beach because the laundromat had to employ security guards to stop damage to their machines.

Yeah its harder on the poor, mainly because their environment made it that way.

I hate it for the poor but you just have to work that much harder to get out of being poor, my grand parents did it and for that Im thankful they gave us a better life, its why I never minded hearing them complain or why I never minded fixing their roof or parts of their house when I was down there.

[SP1!]

Sounds like one of those Prosperity Preacher's "Bible Interpretations for the Wealthy"

It was telling you to give back and that making money on earth does not buy you peace in the after life

[Kublakhan61]

I hate it for the poor but you just have to work that much harder to get out of being poor.

In a perfect and very simple world, yeah, this would be ideal. Not everyone is afforded the opportunities your grandparents were fortunate enough to get.

[SP1!]

In a perfect and very simple world, yeah, this would be ideal. Not everyone is afforded the opportunities your grandparents were fortunate enough to get.

No if the world was perfect people could have worked one job to get out of being so poor, the worlds not perfect so you have to bust your ass to get out of a hole, not everyone is lucky enough to be born into middle class.

That bullshit about paying to get a bill on time is just fucking crazy, if you dont have the money then you get a shit job doing security somewhere or cut costs other places in your life.

There was woman down here in georgia who was taking a couple kids to daycare before work well she had bald tires and bad breaks so her car ended up getting out of control and crashing killing one of the kids. The lady had a cell phone, designer clothes, and fancy rims on her car, they ended up charging her for endangerment because she had all the money for that but didnt spend it for the basics.

Sometimes the poor are in that situation because of bad breaks, most of the time the poor are there because they made horrible decisions. Spending money on bullshit that could be better spent elsewhere is a decision.

Then there was this statement:
He says he lost his driver's license and now his regular bank "won't recognize me as a human.
That is just bullshit, the same place he got his license will give him an ID, there are plenty of people who dont have a DL but get checking accounts open with a simple ID, again, its bad choices.

I do think that there should be caps set on interest charged by payday loan places though, 400%-800% is just fucking insane.