Poverty Sucks

[J. Fees]

some kinda cosmic hiccup

[J. Fees]

my liberal arts school, still wants some money(alumni money), after me getting a 104 hrs and quitting(spending about 100k). i'd give 20k for a degree, just for shits and giggles.

[PETA]

yikes

Originally Posted by xian

From an article by George F Will... not so certain he came up with the rules but here they are... rules for avoiding poverty



I think adding your "don't take on financial responsibilities you aren't prepared to handle would eliminate the risks in most cases excepting tragedy

Tragedy and sickness are excused, anything else is not.

Originally Posted by TheHawk

I'd say "good work." You taking steps to improve the quality of your life, like Miles suggested, not just bitching about it like many.

And for the record, neither Miles nor I have degrees, yet we have marketable skills that pay well enough to enjoy comfortable lives. College does not guarantee success, nor does the lack of a degree guarantee failure. Learning a skill does not have to cost hundreds of thousands. Just because it's the method you chose for yourself, doesn't mean it's the only one, or even the right one for others.

Agreed, I am the same way. Plus hard work pays off in this country, if you are smart about it. I have never worked at a job that I did not move up in or earn raises at. It's all in how you apply yourself. Make yourself known, be smart about it, be professional and dependable. Work hard, as hard as you can. Be a team player. It sounds stupid but it gets you places. If you do these things you will move up. If you do these things and you don't, its time to look for another job with potential.

Plus there is always night classes, networking, etc. We are very fortunate in the US that this is possible, whether or not you take advantage of that is up to the individual. Roozbeh and I had this conversation this weekend, the difference between being complacent and being happy with where you are. Never be complacent imo.

[Nyteshade]

Originally Posted by Belle

I've gotten all the grants I can get out of the government, and I too make to much to qualify for anything else. I had to get a few loans which will end up costing me well over $100,000 in the end.

So although I am taking on that debt to earn a better income I will probably end up still living paycheck to paycheck once I get that job for the next 10 years because I will have to pay off all of that debt.

My complaint with Miles comment is that the people that are able to go to school to get that marketable skill, to get that better job, are going to still live near the poverty line once they do get that job because they will be having to pay that debt off.

So basically you're fucked if you do and you're fucked if you don't I guess.

So in that 10 year period that you are paying off your student loans, you live on a meager budget while saving up every penny you can.

Pro Tip: DON'T BUY A $250,000 DOLLAR HOME AND A SPORTS CAR THE INSTANT YOU GRADUATE COLLEGE AND GET A DECENT JOB!!

I've seen so many idiots do that and get swamped trying to keep up with mortgage payments and student loans. Until your loans are paid off, do without some luxuries.


I've been at almost every stage of "poor" there is at some point including sleeping under a bridge when I first got kicked out of my parents house. I got by on Ramen Noodles and whatever food scraps was getting tossed out of the deli and food court at the Target I worked at until I was able to afford a room at the local crack-motel that was a good 4 mile walk from work. It also helped that my girlfriend at the time would leave her house unlocked so I could take a shower (I was 19, she was a senior in HS and living with her parents).

Did I whine and moan about poor unfortunate me and how I should be getting handouts from everyone? Not once. I worked my ass off and scored a promotion at work that enabled me to get a POS car and afford insurance so I didn't have to walk to/from work everyday.

Fast forwarding a few years, I've gotten married, bought a house, and have 2 cars paid off. If I can support a family (second child coming soon) on 45k/yr combined income, there's no reason that anyone else with some ambition can't do the same.

[Alexis Gold]

after i pay my rent, i will be in poverty.

[C-fer]

What school are you guys going to that you are spending 100k on(what i'm assuming is) a four year degree??

I have 5 years of loans which covered most of my tuition/fees, which amount to about $23k in debt. And they're unsubsidized loans.

I'm sorry but if you have 100k in loans for college and you don't have a degree, you missed the boat on something. UNLESS you are going to med school or something similar, that is the only exception I'll grant.

I totally agree with all the liberal arts talk in this thread. Get a degree in something that you can use, something that is in demand, or something that can fill some sort of need for someone that can pay for it.

Also, for those that complain about not being able to find a job after graduating, I can't sympathize with you there either. Use the resources your college has, I'm sure there is some sort of career center at every college. If that doesn't work, ask your professors for advice/help. You're selling yourself in an interview, more-so than your skills.

I'd much rather be in debt now and be paying it off for 10 years, than just have a high school degree and be struggling for the rest of my life.

[CrazyBitch]

Originally Posted by DjKrispy

I have 5 years of loans which covered most of my tuition/fees, which amount to about $23k in debt. And they're unsubsidized loans.

.

Do you mean subsidized?

[Alexis Gold]

Originally Posted by DjKrispy

I totally agree with all the liberal arts talk in this thread. Get a degree in something that you can use, something that is in demand, or something that can fill some sort of need for someone that can pay for it.

that is why i went w/accounting, however, i just want to go BACK to school after i get my cpa license since i love writing & graphics design so much. i just want to take one class this next semester just for creative writing.

But definately worth taking accounting so I could be able to finance my hobbies, like buying a new software, buying a new camera.... ect.

[CrazyBitch]

Originally Posted by Kitty B.I.C.

that is why i went w/accounting, however, i just want to go BACK to school after i get my cpa license since i love writing & graphics design so much. i just want to take one class this next semester just for creative writing.

But definately worth taking accounting so I could be able to finance my hobbies, like buying a new software, buying a new camera.... ect.

I am tempted to go into accounting....as that is what I do for a living, I just cannot imagine doing it for the rest of my life.

[Alexis Gold]

well i love math but not enough to be a civil engineer...

and it really worked out well.

i really would have NOT majored in it at all, but my mother really hammered it into me that the best sugar daddy i will ever have will be myself, so i better get a good job so i can support my habits.

she was right.

Degrees are great and all, but if I could do it all over again, I would not get a Visual Arts degree from UNT. Not only do you pay for all your own supplies - even the ones they provide for you in class (just look at your tuition bill...'supplies' is listed in the breakdown), but what exactly are you going to do with it? Become a super famous artist and get out of debt 5 years after graduating? Psh yeah right. More like, apply for jobs at a corporation starting at an entry level like any other college grad. You may have had fun getting your degree, but I promise you probably spent way more money a semester than the guy who earned a business degree. There's no point. Thank God I am on my second to last semester of school at the stupid University of North I Hate You.

I'm glad I got that off my chest, thanks. Great thread.

[C-fer]

Originally Posted by CrazyBitch

Do you mean subsidized?

Subsidized = Gov't pays interest on the loans until you graduate
Unsubsidized = Interest accrues and you pay it off

Correct me if i'm wrong on that. And I mean unsubsidized.

Kitty - Nothing wrong with going back to school for any reason (for your career or for fun) as long as you can handle the payments/schedule. Hell I wouldn't mind taking a class or two for fun or going back for my MBA in a year or so.

[C-fer]

Just googled it:

• Subsidized loans are awarded on the basis of financial need. You won't be charged any interest before you begin repaying the loan because the federal government subsidizes the interest during this time.
• Unsubsidized loans charge interest from the time the money is first disbursed until it is paid in full. The interest is capitalized, meaning that you pay interest on any interest that has already accrued. One way to minimize how much interest accrues is to pay the interest as it accumulates.