This report was originally published by Daisy Luther at The Organic Prepper
You know all those reports about how lots of Americans can’t afford a $1000 surprise expense like a medical bill or a car repair? Well, forget additional expenses. It turns out that nearly half of the families in America are struggling to pay for food and rent. And that means that the economic collapse isn’t just “coming.” It’s HERE.
United Way has done a study on a group of Americans they call ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. The study found that this group does not make the money needed “to survive in the modern economy.”
ALICE is your child care worker, your parent on Social Security, the cashier at your supermarket, the gas attendant, the salesperson at your big box store, your waitress, a home health aide, an office clerk. ALICE cannot always pay the bills, has little or nothing in savings, and is forced to make tough choices such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent. One unexpected car repair or medical bill can push these financially strapped families over the edge.
ALICE is a hardworking member of the community who is employed yet does not earn enough to afford the basic necessities of life.
ALICE earns above the federal poverty level but does not earn enough to afford a bare-bones household budget of housing, child care, food, transportation, and healthcare. (source)
Between families living below the poverty line due to unemployment or disability and ALICEs, the study discovered that 43% of Americans were struggling to cover basic necessities like rent and food.
Where are families struggling the most?
Some states have more families living in ALICE levels than others. The 3 states with the most families barely surviving paycheck to paycheck are California, New Mexico, and Hawaii. Each of these states saw 49% of families struggling. North Dakota had the lowest ALICE percentage with 32%. You can check how your state fares right here. Despite the lowest unemployment rate since 2000, families all over the country are barely getting by.
The media page of the ALICE website is jammed with headlines that are all too familiar for many Americans:
- Report: Michigan makes little progress in lifting working poor to financial stability
- After a decade of tax cuts — Ohioans in financial hardship
- Louisiana families work hard, but still can’t cover necessities
- 44 percent of Florida households, mostly working poor, struggling to meet basic needs
- Third of New Jersey households can’t afford basic necessities
- 42 percent of Wisconsin households struggle to pay bills
And on and on and on…
The economic collapse of America is here.
While many families are still doing okay, the specter of poverty looms over many of us. Many of us know that we’re one personal financial catastrophe away from disaster. I wrote recently about my own family’s struggle with a large medical bill.
Obviously, I’m not telling you about our financial saga to make myself look bad. I’m telling you because I want you to know that no matter how much you try to do everything right, financial problems can happen to anyone, at any time. Whether you have $100 in the bank or $100,000 in the bank, something can happen that wipes out your emergency fund just like it did mine.
This doesn’t mean that you failed financially – it means that circumstances can affect you, just like they do everyone else, no matter how careful you are.
Before my daughter’s illness, I was doing everything “right.”
- I had enough money in my emergency fund to carry me through 3 lean months
- I had numerous credit cards with zero balances
- My only debt was my car
- My kids are going to school without student loans
- I opted out of health insurance because it was more financially practical to pay cash (and I still agree with that decision)
Everything was great.
Until it wasn’t. (source)
This is a story that probably rings true to more and more familiar to a growing number of families every week.
While my income hasn’t dropped – it’s grown – I am still struggling to pay off those bills and recover. I’ve taken on a significant amount of extra work to get things back under control, and still, I worry it won’t be enough.
Sound familiar?
If it does, it’s because – and of this, I am quite certain – the long-heralded economic collapse of America is upon us. When hard-working families who should be “middle class” can barely afford to eat and keep a roof over their heads, things are only going to devolve further.
Look at other examples of economic collapse
This is just the beginning of a looming collapse in America.
Remember back when Greece began to collapse? It was the same thing – no one could afford the basics and things went downhill pretty quickly from there. It really hit the papers when a strict austerity program was instituted and culminated when a “bank holiday” shut down the financial system for an entire week.
There are similar stories in the UK (where the taxpayers can still fund a 45 million dollar wedding but poor families can’t afford to eat every day), Argentina, and Cyprus.
Jose wrote for us about the warning signs that the collapse of Venezuela was approaching and they’re eerily familiar. Food rationing began, the cost of medical care became prohibitive, the health insurance system began to fail, and people began to make difficult choices about rent versus food.
I don’t know how it could be any more clear than the fact that nearly half of the American population is also making that decision each month.
What’s the answer?
While the United Way hopes to boost the minimum wage, I don’t feel that is the answer because it will drive businesses to let employees go when they can’t afford to pay them. We have seen this happen in fast food establishments in which humans are on their way to being replaced by self-service kiosks and burger-flipping robots.
I believe the only answer is to begin to produce more than we consume. Currently, Americans are like a horde of locusts, working at jobs that produce nothing, but consuming rabidly the imports that feed us, clothe us, and entertain us. We’re looking at economic tariffs on imports that may increase their price up to 40% and our own exports will be subject to tariffs in return.
If you find yourself in a tough spot, these tips from The Cheapskate’s Guide to the Galaxy may help.
- Audit your situation. See where all your money is going, see how much debt you’re in, and see what the most immediate ramifications will be.
- Take care of the most important things first. In most situations, keeping your home paid for (rent or mortgage), paying utilities, and making your auto and insurance payments should come first. Take care of the things that will have the most immediate ramifications first.
- You may have to make some late payments on less vital things. If so, communicate with those to whom you owe money and try to make arrangements. This may affect your credit, but by communicating with them, you can keep damage to a minimum.
- Cut your expenses. When you audit your situation, you may find some places that you can slash your regular expenses. Don’t hesitate to reduce services that are unnecessary or to whittle down your monthly obligations. (More ideas here)
- Put a little money back into your emergency fund as soon as possible. This may sound counterintuitive but having a bit of money for minor emergencies means that you won’t need to rely on credit cards for these things, putting you even further in the hole.
- Pay off your debts. Use the snowball method to attack your debts. Start paying these off AFTER you pay for the things I recommended in step 2.
- Use the things you have on hand. Delay a trip to the store for as long as possible by planning a menu using the food in your pantry and freezer. (Think about the stockpile challenge we did and use those strategies. Get some ideas for meals from your stockpile in this article) Use the shampoo, soap, and personal hygiene products that you have already instead of buying new products.
- Raise extra money. This may come from selling things you don’t need, taking on some extra work, or by creating a product or service to sell. However you do this, use the extra revenue wisely to get out of debt and to rebuild your emergency fund. There are more ideas for making money quickly in this issue.
And to harden yourself against the collapse that will only get worse, make these changes to help your family survive.
What can you store?” is not the right question to ask.
“What can you make?” – that’s the right question.
Your focus has to be on long-term sustainability, frugality, and self-reliance. Don’t get me wrong – a stockpile is sensible and an essential course of action. It should definitely be part of your preparedness plan.
However, you need to also be ready for the time when the supplies in your well-stocked pantry are no longer available. You need to be able to meet as many of your own needs as possible or you’ll end up being one of those people wearing dirty clothes because you can’t find laundry soap or going hungry because you can’t find any food at the stores – or can’t afford it if you can find it. You need to be ready for the end of a consumer-driven lifestyle, because quite frankly, there may soon come a day when there are no consumer goods to be had. Here are some ways to work on your
Here are some ways to work on your self-reliance:
- Looking for the thrifty answer using things you have on hand
, instead of purchasing a solution to every problem
- Fixing things that are broken
instead of replacing them
- Eating simple food you prepare from scratch
- Producing as much of your own food as possible
- Learning to forage
- Using “old-fashioned” alternatives for disposable things like diapers, wipes, feminine hygiene supplies, paper towels, and the like
- Learning to make cleaning supplies and soaps, especially from accessible supplies (like vinegar, ash, and foraged natural ingredients)
- Learning to make pantry basics like vinegar, sourdough, and cultured dairy products
- Learning to preserve your harvests to see you through the lean days of winter
- Providing your own services like heat, garbage disposal, and water
- Learning about natural remedies from accessible sources
- Learning to protect your family and property
It’s only by reducing your need for the things sold in stores that you can exempt yourself from the chaos and desperation that will erupt when everyone realizes that an economic collapse has occurred.
Please feel free to share any information from this article in part or in full, giving credit to the author and including a link to The Organic Prepper and the following bio.
Daisy Luther is the author of The Pantry Primer: A Prepper’s Guide To Whole Food on a Half Price Budget. Her website, The Organic Prepper, offers information on healthy prepping, including premium nutritional choices, general wellness and non-tech solutions. You can follow Daisy on Facebook and Twitter, and you can email her at [email protected]</e
So basically use common sense
Common sense is not common amongst the moron society who flushes away their money for tatoos, body piercings, cigarettes, lattes, cappuccinos, iPhones, etc. then whines when the bills come due.
Infidel, you do have valid points but also remember that the cost of living is increasing more than the salary increases. The richest 1% are getting richer and my issue is with the 1%’s even though many think they are the saviors and like to be slaves to them.
I just finished reading this article then I see the picture of that cow as an advertisement for a weight loss method. That cow apparently had no problem affording food. Probably an EBT freeloader. She definitely needs to lose weight, LOL.
The cow was a democrat sucking off the welfare tit
I know of morons who live hand to mouth (retirees) that head to casinos several times a year (not same as spending 20. dollars occasionally for lottery tickets). The casino atmosphere (food, music, etc) intices more gambling and some of the idiots still work into their 70’s. They are in debt on 6-7 yr car loans and still have house pmts! Other idea on Daisy not having med. insurance: Gotto have it when you are older or you are risking bankruptcy big time, I have known others who had a spouse and not the best insurance that wiped them out even on medicare, then had to go on medicaid, etc. Retirees have to work pt time to pay ins. premiums doing odd jobs like Lowes, this is why some older people do lawn service, working at big box stores.
YOU DONT NEED HEAT OR ELECTRICITY OR PLUMBING OR WATER. I GET BY WITHOUT IT JUST FINE AT MY BOL. IT JUST TAKES SOME STUDYING AND AN ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENT.
Infidel one of the big ones you didn’t mention was Cable, every poor person will have at least a $100 cable bill, in the winter they will have their thermostat set at 85 and when it gets to hot they will open the windows and turn on the fan. Also ever notice most people that can’t hardly get buy, will always have every light on in the house. In America most people that are down and out, have one of three traits and (usually a combination of the three). Not very Intelligent,Lazy or Wasteful. I have known people that were not that smart but are good workers and they usually get by with out Big Brother taking care of them. Trekker Out
“What’s the answer?”
Google the “45 Goals of Communism”. It explains everything that is happening in America. The NWO has appropriated these goals, made them their own, and use the same strategies & tactics for their own Agenda: which is the concentration of all wealth into the hands of the few Uber Rich using government to protect, multiply, and thus entrench their wealth (Fascism).
This is accomplished by ownership of the means of production , the elimination of competition (small business), and government subsidies for businesses with legislation institutionalizing corporate (tax) welfare.
To survive, to thrive, you must become a CAPITALIST with a corporation to receive those tax benefits to increase and multiply your personal wealth.
You cannot beat them. You must join them. 🙂
@durangokidd
Check out the book titled The Naked communist by Cleon Skousen
Hi Daisy;
Now that’s the way to cheerfully start your Memorial Day! I don’t doubt that what you say is true but you sure couldn’t tell it around here with the 70,000 dollar pickups flying off the shelves.
I think we have a ways to go before the rubber meets the road but it will come. My wife and I are doing pretty well, mostly due to being older, but, we still prep and prepare and work our butts off at home if for no other reason than it feels good to have stockpiles of good stuff to eat if the store forgot to open. Sorry to hear that you hit a bump in the road but I’m sure you will recover.
The title says, “43% can’t”
the body of the article says “struggle”
there is a difference.
I bet they sure as heck still stumble around mindlessly flipping through screens on their STUPID phone. No way they’re going to give that up.
When I see 43% of the people, even including older ones, without smart phones and expensive data plans for them because they can’t afford them, that’s when I’ll believe the economy is on the verge of collapse.
+1 Wilson. (BIG DIFFERENCE!!!) 🙂
Really enjoyed when Mac had the thumb button.
Y’all enjoy the evening.
Tomorrow we start the gerbil wheel all over again. 😉
Funny you should mention $70k pickups selling like mad.
…especially when I can buy a 1-year-old pickup truck with all the goodies and less than 20k miles for less than $25k. It’s a dirty little secret most folks aren’t aware of.
Even better, find a decent cheap truck for around $2k (that you saved up), and rake in the difference (use it to put up a decent emergency fund, buy gear, etc.)
Odd Questioner, LONG time no hear from! Ditto about finding a cheap truck. I’ve been saving up for quite awhile for just that very thing. I don’t need to get anything financed, especially in this crappy economy. But it hasn’t slowed down my prepping one bit.
OQ;
I had to chuckle at your response. I am the 2000 dollar pickup guy as well. If you can fix them they are great. I must admit I will spend more for classic stuff and do at times. If you actually have cash there are deals. I think the reason that there are so many new cars sold is that 500 down will buy you a new car but from a private you need payment in full. Not a lot of Americans on the lower end of things today have 2-5 K in cash to deal with a private.
Half of all Americans cannot come up with $400 cash for a financial emergency according to a recent article I read.
That probably includes the 43% mentioned here. 🙁
This is nothing new for the past 40 years most of working class Americans have been living paycheck to paycheck. The problem has gotten worst in the past 4 to 5 years and do not blame it on Berry or Tramp. It was Bush 2.
Honestly i see the blame sitting squarely on the shoulders of those in that predicament,
Im one of em
Ive had my chance to save but bought tools and equipment and materials rather than saving, not much different than spending it on crap like tats and booze as its gone and the bills still got to be paid, the biggest problem, people like instant gratification
Hi Nailbanger
I do believe that your investing in tools and equipment was smarter than holding all in paper currency or pm’s. As long as you are capable of putting them to good use, you have long term value stored. It is just your bad luck to be located in one of the most expensive States to live in. Take care.
Hopefully!
I know the shop tools definitely will and are more than paying for themselves
Nail, at least you can make and repair stuff with tools and equipment and pay or barter your way in hard times.
Better than tats and booze!
Instant gratification exactly.
Reminds me of the Mark Dice video of a bar of silver vs. a bar of chocolate.
I hope this posts- unlike my last one which went into moderation for 8 hours then vanished. Makes me really question this place sometimes.
“This web site thrives because of its community.”
Not when posts are stricken.
Just goes to show how great a job our government, schools, and media have done in indoctrinating us to the “American Dream”. We stopped caring about what cost and started worrying about what stuff cost a month. We became such a consumer driven society that MOM who used to stay at home now works a 40 to 60 hr a week job, while childcare and social media raise our kids. Kids today have been brainwashed to believe they deserve all the same things their parents have worked 30 years to get. And you know what, they are getting it at an unbelievable expense. We are headed down a road to destruction. I have no idea how kids will have the same lifestyle we grew up with, other than being up to the eyeballs in debt. We could turn this country around in a hurry if we lived like our forefathers before us……. Within our Means!!!! How many banks would we need if we didn’t borrow money, How much government would there be if there was half the tax base, How better off would our kids be if parents actually raised their own kids with actual values and morals, and how better off would we be if we protected our borders and actually enforced laws in this country, and last but not least, how would life be if we actually held ALL of our elected officials to higher moral standards and fired them if they didn’t. Now that’s a country worth saving!!!
Tkid, well said, & nice dream. I doubt if it’ll happen tho.
“The thing our great men lack is greatness.” Philip Wylie
I rewatched all of Mike Tyson’s fights. His out of ring antics left him greatly unappreciated as a technician. He was never a wild brawler in the ring. He was actually very patient and thoughtful and waited for the right moment to go all out.
If you arent familiar with the peek a boo style, learn now.
If you havent read the Bare Knuckle Boxer’s Companion, learn now.
The real truth is people are spending their money’s on non-priority items. I happen to agree with the “Infidel” in the first post. I see it among my young working associates. They don’t have the money to spend like the “Jones” next door, but spend, spend, spend, on junk items that are Chinese expendables.
Depends on the ‘expendable’.
I’ll explain: I do stuff on computers for a living, so a laptop is, to me, a tool. Now, I could’ve bought a cheapie-but-sufficiently-powered $500 laptop, but those wear out under the abuse I give ’em, which means I’d be replacing it twice a year. Instead, in 2013 I sprung for a MacBook Pro, and paid $2000 for it. I’m typing this sentence on that same laptop. So instead of paying $5k (or more) for new laptops (not to mention lost productivity), I actually saved $3k in costs over that period of time (as a bonus, I didn’t have to put up with Microsoft’s virus-ridden spyware.) I might buy a new one this year, or probably next year (it’s still holding up perfectly, so, meh…)
My sister and oldest grandson live the paycheck to paycheck life style.
Grandson lives at home still at 26. Sister begging for charity medical help–all do to poor choices in living.
terminal cases of instant gratification syndrome (IGS).
None of the other family members do any preparing at all.
What to do? What to do?
prep your souls.
The best article I’ve read in a long time. It has given me more incentive to work harder and smarter to be better prepared.
Producing more as a nation certainly is important but is more complicated in our complex world. Consuming less is critical and most can make cuts in their budgets but many can’t and end up living with friends or family if they are lucky or on the streets or out of their cars. I see many more used RVs, sometimes in pretty bad shape, parked wherever they can because they probably couldn’t afford the rent.
Don’t forget, there’s a big deal of difference between a debt for a car because you need transportation to get to work and a big tricked out pickup truck that merely feeds your vanity.
It’s tough out there for many Americans and instead of judging it’s better to remember we could be in the same situation except for the hand of fate.
Great reminder Daisy. Thanks for saying it so beautifully.
“Don’t forget, there’s a big deal of difference between a debt for a car because you need transportation to get to work and a big tricked out pickup truck that merely feeds your vanity.”
Depends on how you use that “tricked out pickup truck” or new car. In either case your vehicle, unless it is a “$2,000” car or truck, should be owned by YOUR CORPORATION where the purchase price and maintenance are tax deductible.
The secret is working smarter, not harder. Read the fine print. 🙂
Instant gratification, just like grandee says, has led us to this point. My family lives in NW Florida, and although we are 15 minutes from the beach and a tourist destination, income inequality around here is very high. Most families attempt to live on some sort of subsidy from Uncle Sugar or other facet of the welfare state. Used to in the 90’s and even very early 2000’s, a husband could support his family on just one income with real-world bills…..No More. It now takes either two full time jobs from both spouses, or a mix of full time employment and contract work to make the damn bills. That also comes with managing work schedules to avoid daycare expenses and your children being at the mercy of potential pedophiles.
Still, people will buy those stupid $50,000+ trucks and even more expensive SUV’s to live that “good” life for the benefit of a second mortgage equivalent. This kind of ignorance cannot self-sustain. I don’t know about many of you, but I am just waiting on the ball to drop with the imploding economy and see the panic that follows. I’ll keep prepping along the way.
What is happening is that the author is correct. A collapse does not have to happen any particular way. Since TPTB are mightily struggling to keep the ship afloat, and protect it’s interests, the collapse is happening right now, softly and slowly. They are well aware of the history, or lack of history, for nations that allow a sudden collapse. Violence and violent change are what happens, and they don’t care to end their careers swinging from the nearest lamppost. However, it should be noted, that TPTB cannot stop or predict what the future will bring re other nations and other outside or domestic sudden changes. It’s a condition a lot like Hemingway wrote about a guy going bankrupt, slowly at first, then suddenly, all at once. America is an exceptional nation, but it is not immune from what happens in other parts of the world. We’re on our way to Mad Max, it’s just the slow phase of getting there right now. My humble recommendation is to get the children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, up to speed doing things for themselves, they’re going need those skills. I have grandchildren, right now, who are blind to the reality of conditions.
Folks do not know how or even want to do without. Buy on credit and pay the finance charges. but more house and vehicle than they need, never save for a rainy day. I don’t care about them. Let them suffer.
Old Guy: gotto agree, people buy houses too big for their needs as a status symbol in HOA’s to be cool. I could care less if people don’t choose me for friends if I’m not in their clique financially/socially because we save and live low key enjoying outdoor stuff and biking. I don’t get involved w/anyone I see as shallow or addicted to social media/phones.
Old Guy, you hit that one right out of the park. These people can’t get their priorities straight for shit.
It may be welfare and EBT cards but I don’t see 40+ % in this kind of predicament. We live in a predominately blue collar area as we always have that have a sprinkling of professionals. I say this “hard times” stuff to my 96 year old father, a depression baby WWII vet a he scoffs, “I seen hard times, this ain’t it”.
I know the economy is all smoke and mirrors but this theatrical stage show their presenting, at least for the present, is quite convincing. Its like leaving “Star Wars” in 1977 marveled by the special effects. I realize one day, due to the inherent un sustainability of continuous leveraging, it will end but it hasn’t ended yet. This is, “the calm before the storm”.
Way back just before WWII a British politician named Oswald Mosely toured the US and stated that the secret to the US was that it made all its own products that the people needed to live. We made it here and had industries paying high wages Britain on the other hand farmed out its industries to empire countries were people worked for two cans of cat food a day. The people of Britain as a result lived in slums on the dole. As a result the average British soldier of WWII was inferior to the Average American soldier physically. Farming our our industries like steel, ship building, mining and a whole list of other things makes us weak aa a nation and makes people poor trying to live on waitress jobs. We have square miles of rare earth deposites used in making computers but dont use them buying such minerals from China at high prices cowering fear least they stop selling them to us. Absurd. We need industries and factories here to provide jobs to the people
Moses Strongbear
No question. “Free Trade” is a race to compete with the lowest labor cost in the world bringing with it its associated lower standard of living masked only by the US ability to dilute “funny money” into the world economy with reserve currency status. Like the saying goes: “You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time”. The “Unique Privilege” of reserve currency cannot be maintained indefinitely regardless how much military force is applied to maintain it.
One thing overlooked is the fact that many people are
sharing a home, so they can pool resources. Most of the
“suggested savings” I was doing already… for years.
Living a simple lifestyle saving what money I could…while
not depriving myself of things I needed.
Then Carter was elected. Nearly bankrupted the country.
Then Bush sold our assets and invited the swarms of new
invaders in, (after Reagan had given law breakers
amnesty, before that time.)
Jobs were scarce during the Bush reign…but he was NWO
communist …. and did nothing to stop the border flow.
Things weren’t falling apart fast enough for Obumhole
so he flew in mussies by the thousands per month as well
as tied border patrols hands on arresting invaders.
Obumhole union buddies ran business out of the country
till there was an employment crisis.
He and his Constitution shredding Demoncrap party “put the
screws” to every citizen by every means possible. Bankrupting
them with health care, no jobs, drug dealers, and poisoning their
food, water, air and bringing diseases to our shores. He managed
to kill people with stress, illness, hopelessness and suicide.
And he isn’t done yet.
Now he wants to ORGANIZE AND TRAIN THE MASSES
with Netflix movies, docudramas, and lies…. to finish the
job Hitlery and he was trying to do, “destroy this country.”
They need to hang for treason!!!!
The day they started to give credit for perishable goods, personal services, and vacations (spring break comes to mind), is the day we signed our death sentences.
GMC and Toyota are selling less cars so they are cutting back on longtime employees for people willing to work for the maximum of $15 an hour or less. The UAW union leaders are now working with the company executives to slash costs. The Toyota plant that made Camry models in Kentucky has shut down and Toyota will share more of the same auto parts across their models. Why can’t they build inexpensive automobiles without all the added on garbage anymore, something that is solid with good gas mileage for a fraction of the present cost to revive sales? Looks like the only strong unions today are the weapons of war manufacturers and government do nothing hacks.
aljam,
“Why can’t they build inexpensive automobiles without all the added on garbage anymore, something that is solid with good gas mileage for a fraction of the present cost to revive sales?”.
I’ve been a backyard mechanic for the last 50 plus years. Todays cars are far superior to the crap they used to make, but pricewise they just about the same as they paid for the 1950’s crap relative to wages.
I have a 2002 VW Golf Diesel TDI, with manual transmission that gets 50 mpg on road trips.
You cannot make and sell a car like it today due
to the EPA.
Toytota makes a Diesel powered version of it’s trucks, cheap, simple, and reliable, that is seen all over the world except here due to the EPA.
To get what you want, eliminate the EPA
Killing a Toyota – part 1
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xnWKz7Cthkk
Funny but that is about the percentage of Americans that are Democrats.
I live in the poorest county in Hawaii and don’t doubt the number of people living in poverty. you would not believe what people live and call houses here. It is funny how most of them drive newer vehicles than I do. My newest vehicle is 14 years old. But I have tools, skills, Laptops, and factory manuals.
I do disagree with Daisy about insurance. It takes a significant portion of my income but just one major illness will wipe you out and bankrupt you.
Yep, 26 philipinos in one house and each have cars worth more than the average yearly income
All the cars are parked in the front yard also,
so they look like a car dealer lot in Hilo.
“The Ant and the Grasshopper.” A lesson well learned.
Rellik, I’ll take any of the vehicles made at least 15 years ago or so over what’s produced today. I’m looking for an old Chevy or GMC truck from the 90s. There’s still plenty of those on the road and parts are still easy to get for them. There’s still more of those from the 90s on the road than anything else made during that time so I think that speaks for itself. The older ones don’t have even half of the electronics today’s models have and are cheaper to keep running. To me a truck is more useful and practical. I can’t stand cars.
DB,
I prefer 4WD trucks with manual transmissions.
I bought the VW Golf Diesel because we get company
and need to haul them around.
As for Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and Subaru trucks( never owned a Toyota truck). They all have their pluses and minuses.
Chevy probably has the cheapest parts.
Ford has the most expensive parts.
Dodge interiors self destruct. Good engines.
Subaru expensive, very reliable, but you have to be
a kid to fit in where you need to work.
Nissan pretty bullet proof as long as you don’t tow anything.
Mitsubishi was fast but a piece of junk, I’m afraid I can’t say
anything good about it, by the time I traded it in it was full of illegal off road stuff to keep it going, just about everything broke on that thing.
My newest truck is a 2004 Mazda.
My farm truck is a 1993 Nissan.
All my other trucks were 70’s and 80’s vintage.
I’d have to say the Subaru Brat was my favorite, it
wasn’t really a truck, but I hauled trailers,
lots of stuff and put over 300,00 miles on the
two I owned. Never got stuck or crashed on the
ice or snow, and fuel mileage was 23-26 mpg,
with carburetors.
Tell Daisey that “43% that can’t pay for…” number has been the same as its been since the beginning of the USA. You always had those willing to work and those that refuse to work.
But today, the welfare entitlement people live a life better than the King of England did 200 years ago. Welfare entitlement people, your 43% shitholers, prefer to remain unemployable, but they still complain that their free shit isn’t enough and that the working class owe them even more free shit.
Don’t fall for Luther’s BS
Bert, good points about the article. Daisy used to have some decent articles way back in the day but her articles are all BS now. The welfare people are just freeloaders. They prefer their drinking and drug issues. They do always complain their ‘free shit’ isn’t enough and the working class owes them even more? The working class doesn’t owe them a damn thing. As I recall somewhere in the Bible it says that if people refuse to work they should starve. Someday their gravy train will get cut off and that’s when the fun begins.
Sewing, knitting, spinning yarn, darning socks, repairing broken zippers, putting on a button, making a button hole, replacing a broken zipper or putting one on a a jacket or a pair of pants made entirely on your own, creating a rug from scraps of cloth, or making a quilt from old clothes, hemming a pair of pants, taking in an oversized garment or adding a strip of material to some outfit which one has outgrown.
Crochet a lace tablecloth or a beautiful scarf, maybe some lace for a woman’s wedding dress. Repair a tent, a sleeping bag, a backpack, and alter a man’s suit for that all important job interview.
_
Ivanka Trump is doing extremely well financially between her (wink, wink) unpaid White House position and now China has just approved 13 new trademarks for her products. I fact checked this since I don’t trust WaPo as a news source, and turns out it’s true.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/china-approves-13-new-ivanka-trump-trademarks-in-3-months/2018/05/28/b654a64a-62df-11e8-81ca-bb14593acaa6_story.html?utm_term=.ffebffc72804
I am a old Vietnam vet, I worked all my life and paid into the system. I have problems with the vast numbers of able to work grasshoppers that live off of our money without working. They play the system to live pretty well. They vote for the socialist politicians that promise them the most free money and laugh at people that work for a living.
The cost of living index that companies base employee raises on is not accurate. I got a 25 cents an hour raise last year because my company based it on that statistic. Meanwhile the price of everything is skyrocketing especially health insurance. They need to stop lying and manipulating statistics.
Could it be by design? HUD is taking over more and more of the housing. Not just apartments but also homes. Even in the boon docks.