by Sara :-)
Member since:
June 29, 2006

"Can't Afford To Work"

July 17, 2007 04:57 PM EDT
views: 130 | rating: 9.9/10 (22 votes) | comments: 30

I called a friend today, she was frustrated and I could tell that. I asked her what was wrong and the flood gates opened. She said "I can't afford to work". I stopped for a moment and thought about that before saying anything, she began telling me that she was making payment plans for everything she owes, so she has money to go to work!

How much does it really cost you to go to work?

Even if you work from home, how much does it really cost you for that "luxury"?

An interesting question but anyone living paycheck to paycheck would know the answer without thinking about it. Start thinking how much your car payment is, maintence on the car, gas, car insurance, uniforms or clothes for just work, laundry of clothes and uniform, lunches and / or vending machines, daycare if you have children and other work related expenses that come up. Expenses just to go to work take a good portion of the average paycheck to paycheck person. To the point, that other bills, rent or other things suffer just so there is money to go to work. Then, imagine the reality of no credit cards and no one to help. Another words, your check is all you have to get you to the next check.

It's a reality for many people. It's also sad in this day and age that people still have to struggle for the basics. Many people live one check from homeless. Many children and adults still go to bed without the evening meal, if any meal that day. Poverty is a serious problem in America. It's real sad when someone can say "I can't afford to go to work".

Help isn't coming from the government. Even if they started today, it would be years before any help would come. Look at your expenses and get a spending plan together. Pay down your debt and start a little savings. Any little savings is better then none. Money is tight for almost everyone. People carrying debt have just as many issues, as those living check to check. I don't have the answers but I find it sad that people can't afford to go to work. That is truly sad!

Start cutting costs with the basics:

Use carpools, if possible

Have a friend watch your child verses daycare

Take lunch from home, leftovers work great.

Know your needs verses wants

Ask for a raise! Pick the right time and ask! You never know.

Check your tax exemptions.

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Comments: 30

Carol P. Jul 17, 2007, 4:58pm EDT
Interesting article.
Jill~Sexy Back~ V. Jul 17, 2007, 5:01pm EDT
Great article.
☆ ƒåitĥ ☆ Jul 17, 2007, 5:02pm EDT
This is exactly how WE live and we already do all the things necessary to cut costs. Ick, not fun. But... even if I started working again (which I can't), there's no way we could afford daycare for 3 kids. I'd be working just to pay daycare.

Great article. :o)
J F. Jul 17, 2007, 5:06pm EDT
Yes, it's very sad. And think of people that are not capable of working. It is even worse. Many people just fall through the cracks.
Susan B. Jul 17, 2007, 5:08pm EDT
I hear you! I made more than my husband so he was the one to stay home and home schooled our son.
wiaka's just ... curious Jul 17, 2007, 5:11pm EDT
May daughter is in the same boat; the only way she able to continue working is because she does have other people to help her, she works all overtime she can get.
Her children suffer because of it; they rarely get to see mommie. She isn't living this way because she blows her pay check, its not because of her lunches or maintance on her car we do that for her. It's because of the high prices for housing, electric ( and she isn't even home that much) gas. Food in her house is a luxury. Oh did I mention the dead beat husband that she is trying to divorce that doesn't pay any child support.

She a single mom trying to make it in a two income world. Budgeting wouldn't help; as she uses her money wisely.

Blessings
Founding Editor Jul 17, 2007, 5:14pm EDT
it's sad but true. Well written.

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J. P. Jul 17, 2007, 5:14pm EDT
The other thing I don't like with this situation is the goverments (local, or not) try to make the tax higher for this n that and at the same time try to cut taxes for the big companies and the riches.
Petula W. Jul 17, 2007, 5:24pm EDT
You have a valid point. It is sad that we live in the home of the free and the brave, and the most hard working people are often the ones who go without. As others have gently pointed out, it isn't always a matter of a better budget. There are women, and probably some men, who didn't know they would be divorced and end of in poverty because of it. I read an article recently that quoted a high percentage of divorced women will live in poverty. It isn't easy when their "American" dream comes to an end and they have to go from being a stay-at-home mom or part-time working mom to full-time breadwinner and caregiver to children.

It's so unfortunate that most of us live paycheck to paycheck. I think we should start teaching our children better financial management, etc., and help them to plan for the future. Or this nasty, vicious cycle will never stop!
Miz Lynn aka/BooBoo Jul 17, 2007, 5:27pm EDT
Lots of truth in your article...it was GREAT!
Jodi V. Jul 17, 2007, 5:30pm EDT
I know how she feels... Thanks for sharing, Sara, and tell your friend my thoughts are with her.
wiaka's just ... curious Jul 17, 2007, 5:35pm EDT
With the help of some friends and us; our daughter will be starting college in the nursing program. We have no doubt she will be successful in this. Her long term goals is to get her lic. and raise her children and become a traveling nurse.

Blessings
michelle K. Jul 17, 2007, 5:37pm EDT
All I know is that I can't afford not to work! It's paycheck to paycheck for me.
Michelle P. Jul 17, 2007, 5:59pm EDT
All so true. I have to be very careful about my employment choices. So many options just aren't viable with the cost of childcare. I love staying home w/ my kids, especially when they are very young. Preschool programs are very expensive & by the time they are 3 you have to really evaluate if you want your children enriched or babysat... The employment you take has to pay for either of them & also allow you to feel fulfilled & bring home some money too. Ugh - it all gives me a headache!
donna h. Jul 17, 2007, 6:09pm EDT
years ago we had this problem- all the money we made went to childcare ..my husband was only working part time and his whole check went to the babysitter
Heather C. Jul 17, 2007, 6:32pm EDT
Years ago my husband got laid off. I had to sell my car for money to live on. He took a job for a lot less. I had to go to work to put food on the table. My third child was starting kindergarten. I found another mother of a fellow student and she watched my son while I went to work. Most of the Unites States are two paychecks to the curb, I say. I don't know how people do it. Fortunately, my husband has gone to different jobs and lately things are a lot better. My husband works for the fun of it and he says they pay me to let him out of the house. Smile. I never had the heart to push him out a job he loved for one he didn't for more money.
Dan (Cowboy Up) V. Jul 17, 2007, 6:53pm EDT
Check out www.daveramsey.com web site for tips on how to save! He has a program called "Total Money Makeover" which sounds like it could really help those who need it. C):-)
CyberGwen ! Jul 17, 2007, 7:36pm EDT
Interesting and somewhat true in my case. Just getting to interviews is hard on the pocketbook and then if I do get it, there are the new clothes and the dry cleaning bill for all of my suits that have been in boxes. (and oh yeah, they don't fit anymore...so there is either a tailor or my time for alterations)
Lisa Frost Jul 17, 2007, 7:40pm EDT
I thought I was so close to finally making ends meet. I have been a single working mother for almost 18 years with little or no child support. My children were due to graduate, but were not going to get their diploma because I had not been able to come up with all the required fees. I finally managed that fee. I paid the schools, the books the tuitions. My son is special needs, and he graduated. He passed half his GQE on his own, and he had to waiver half. He was lined up to go to Tech school my daughter to college, and all the financial aid rules changed. My son had to stop 3 mons short, and even though he completed the autobody course, and not the custom course, he still gets no degree. My daughter is back in school, but working 2 jobs and living at home too., my son is looking, but people are afraid to hire him in autobody. no degree, but a disability, tell him to go work for a car wash and not waste their time. He has worked construction, janitorial, and others, but only through temp jobs. I don't know, this whole system is backwards, and nobody knows how to fix it yet either. He wants a chance. He wants to get a job at the bottom and work up just like anybody else. Alot of people do. People that are not told they could do anything, or ever given a chance, or, if they try, are taken out of the system, and left hanging by employers, and the system.
Sara :-) Jul 17, 2007, 7:43pm EDT
Thank you all for commenting on this article. This is something that has, is or might affect all of us at one point in our lives. Keep sharing your thoughts and stories because they may help someone else.
it's all over the country. Even us farmers are feeling it. If we don't do something soon more of us are going to be where they are now.
sharon SugarMomma is a wise woman, Jul 17, 2007, 9:22pm EDT
You can cut to the bare bones and it still isn't enough. It's not that most people spend foolishly it's the system is set up to feed the rich and starve the poor. Hope all of you are registered to vote and when that time comes, remember which candidates are for the working people.
Angie m. Jul 18, 2007, 12:15am EDT
daycare alone can kill your paycheck!!
Sara :-) Jul 18, 2007, 7:22am EDT
Angela, that's a very common "complaint".

Sharon, you bring a good point. Register to vote. It's free and who knows, it might help later down the road.
Laura C. Jul 18, 2007, 9:39am EDT
I know a woman who had a high paying job - one year her accountant looked at her books and informed her that between the commute and child care, she was actually PAYING to go to work. It was shocking!
Karolyn Q. Jul 18, 2007, 12:31pm EDT
Good article.

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Skirnir H. Jul 21, 2007, 8:08pm EDT
Paying to go to work.. That is what I do in the summer. I work as a part-time church secretary and during the school year, it works great, as I only work mornings, when my son is at school. But during the summer, I pay for the luxury of getting out of the house and working. The child care is about $5 an hour, I make $8 hour before taxes. You have to have some time to drive from work to the daycare, so at least an extra half hour, if the commute is close and well... let's just say there is nothing left.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Mar 24, 2008, 10:18pm EDT
Excellent article! This is one of the reasons why I am a SAHM. It just isn't worth it to work for as little as I would have left over after all expenses. My husband and I calculated the expenses, and we would actually have to pay to have me work.

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