worried about future

[dukebound85]

well yea im worried about the future. with higher gas->higher food->higher goods in general and no wage increases has me VERY pessimistic about the future

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHING

[Iscariot]

well yea im worried about the future. with higher gas->higher food->higher goods in general and no wage increases has me VERY pessimistic about the future

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHING

It's not that difficult to live comfortably, even on a modest salary, if you make sane financial planning decisions. I make significantly less than I could given my skills and experience, because I choose to work for a national leader in environmental and sustainable standards. It's the little choices, like taking public transit instead of owning a car, amalgamating as many services as possible, and eating out less frequently, that add up in the end.

(To be fair, I make a fair bit more than average for my age group -- even if not for my education level -- and I'm living quite comfortably in accomodations above par for most people my age)

[OnlyMarcusCannn]

I think about this a lot, too, especially since I'm getting ready to graduate from school, and it gets sort of scary when I think about how the future's gonna turn out. Let's see, we have kids shooting kids at school everyday, the USD is declining in value, gas prices are SOARING, heightened security for everything due to the fright of terrorism, and the mortgage crisis. This list goes on and on. Times are hard, and it's a bit mind-boggling to see how things have changed pretty quick right in front of our eyes. Even things like what seems to be the sudden increase in global warming scares me! I just hope that hopefully, with elections coming up, we can get someone in the office that make a better effort to get things better than what they are now. :rolleyes:

[dops7107]

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHING

There's definitely something to be said for developing a useful skill - be it mechanics, woodwork, plumbing, horticulture, making/repairing clothes. At the minute our society is SO diversified that everyone is specialist and cannot survive without others. Hell, some people can't even cook. The Guardian (UK newspaper) has a weekly environmentally-related column once a week, in which a celebrity is interviewed about their green habits. One question is "what skill do you have for the post-oil age?" Something we should all think about it. (I can grow plants and fix bikes)

[kresh]

The times are getting bad, it seems like it's accellerated in the past 5 years. I am thankful that I am reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ. Not everyone is scared. Ever wondered why? If you are really that scared, I would ask those that are not, and have hope in Jesus Christ, why they are not.

[fadetoblack86]

i think america needs to stop worrying so much about the world and start working on ourselves.

[OnlyMarcusCannn]

i think america needs to stop worrying so much about the world and start working on ourselves.

Care to elaborate?

[Thomas Veil]

well yea im worried about the future. with higher gas->higher food->higher goods in general and no wage increases has me VERY pessimistic about the future

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHINGIt ain't just you.

It's hard for someone like me, who's 51, to say that things were much better when I was a young man, because everybody gives you that look. You know, the same one you get when you try to tell someone about how you went through 6' of snow, uphill both ways, to get to school.

Yet it's true. In my entire life, I have never seen anything this bad -- politically, economically, everything.

[chaosbunny]

Care to elaborate?

Maybe it would be wiser to spend the money on a better social system & education than on the 30. or whatever aircraftcarrier and the 10000. or whatever nuclear weapon.

Oh yes, and I agree with the roflchopter! :D

[Abstract]

I just hope that hopefully, with elections coming up, we can get someone in the office that make a better effort to get things better than what they are now. :rolleyes:

Only Tom Cruise can help us. When I take a look at the environment around me, I see trees and grass. I don't have the ability to see what he sees. Only Tom Cruise can.

....because everybody gives you that look. You know, the same one you get when you try to tell someone about how you went through 6' of snow, uphill both ways, to get to school.


No wonder they do. You went uphill going and coming home from school. :eek:

[Thomas Veil]

No wonder they do. You went uphill going and coming home from school. :eek:I know that's an old gag, but it fits.

[Rodimus Prime]

well yea im worried about the future. with higher gas->higher food->higher goods in general and no wage increases has me VERY pessimistic about the future

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHING


Well with a college degree you should be fine. The lack of a wage increase mostly effects minimum wage, which for a very long time no one been able to really live on.
You will have a college degree and will be able to live confortablely. Even with todays higher prices.

I think about this a lot, too, especially since I'm getting ready to graduate from school, and it gets sort of scary when I think about how the future's gonna turn out. Let's see, we have kids shooting kids at school everyday, the USD is declining in value, gas prices are SOARING, heightened security for everything due to the fright of terrorism, and the mortgage crisis. This list goes on and on. Times are hard, and it's a bit mind-boggling to see how things have changed pretty quick right in front of our eyes. Even things like what seems to be the sudden increase in global warming scares me! I just hope that hopefully, with elections coming up, we can get someone in the office that make a better effort to get things better than what they are now. :rolleyes:


LOL you think the elections are going to change any thing. Then you pretty diliosional.

Look back over past 20 years. Really who ever is in office has really little effect over you daily lives. Hell most of the time they will just maintain the status que. The congress will normally sit around 50/50 give or take. Almost ways you need both parties to agree to work with you.

Lets not forget almost all politions care about one thing. It is power and staying in power.

[Prof.]

i think america needs to stop worrying so much about the world and start working on ourselves.
Amen to that!

Lets fix our own problems before we fix the worlds problems.

[Full of Win]

Ebb and flow... ebb and flow. If it was great all the time, then what would be the point? Life is a sine wave where there are ups and downs, enjoy the ups and work to get back to the ups when you are on the downs.

[atad6]

I think it's just important to try to keep things in perspective. Being worried about the future means you also have to consider the past.

Yes, I believe the US is in a pretty low state compared to where it's been in the last few decades but that's the way it's always worked, up and down. If you look at where we are now compared to the rest of our history it's easy to make the argument that things have been much worse.

With all the negative media saturation it's hard to ever notice when something good is being done. Perhaps I'm just being naive, but I like to hope that generally people care about improving the state of others.

I'm usually the same way, worrying about everything but in the end worrying doesn't usually get you anywhere. My philosophy is to just try to help others, enjoy what this life provides me (good and bad) and not worry too much about the future.

Maybe I'm being too much of an idealist, I just don't think it's such a bad thing to have a little hope in humanity.

[SMM]

The times are getting bad, it seems like it's accellerated in the past 5 years. I am thankful that I am reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ. Not everyone is scared. Ever wondered why? If you are really that scared, I would ask those that are not, and have hope in Jesus Christ, why they are not.

Yes, you are anticipating the rapture. But most people have a more intelligent belief that they should prepare themselves for a much more realistic view of the future. Your beliefs do not have any merit, other than the extremist, closed-circuit views you have fallen pray to. I am not telling you what to believe in, but keep it to yourself.

[leekohler]

It's not that difficult to live comfortably, even on a modest salary, if you make sane financial planning decisions. I make significantly less than I could given my skills and experience, because I choose to work for a national leader in environmental and sustainable standards. It's the little choices, like taking public transit instead of owning a car, amalgamating as many services as possible, and eating out less frequently, that add up in the end.

(To be fair, I make a fair bit more than average for my age group -- even if not for my education level -- and I'm living quite comfortably in accomodations above par for most people my age)

I agree completely. Moving to a big city is one of the best things you can do to save money where gas prices are concerned. I haven't owned a car for almost a decade and I don't miss cars one bit. They are money suckers that will drain you of cash faster than you can count to three.

[ham_man]

**** it, Dude, let's go bowling.

[Iscariot]

I agree completely. Moving to a big city is one of the best things you can do to save money where gas prices are concerned. I haven't owned a car for almost a decade and I don't miss cars one bit. They are money suckers that will drain you of cash faster than you can count to three.

I dropped the car when I moved to the city three years ago. If I need a car for some reason, there's always Zipcar. And they have Mini Coopers.

**** it, Dude, let's go bowling.

We are nihilists. We believe in nothing.

[solvs]

I struggled at first, but after a lot of work, a lot of heartache, and some luck, I was able to make a pretty decent life for myself. I'm not going to say it's always easy. It isn't. But put more focus into bettering yourself and taking care of what you need to than worrying over things you may have little control over. It's a struggle sometimes, but as is life.

[skunk]

We are nihilists. We believe in nothing.Except bowling.

[ham_man]

The times are getting bad, it seems like it's accellerated in the past 5 years. I am thankful that I am reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ. Not everyone is scared. Ever wondered why? If you are really that scared, I would ask those that are not, and have hope in Jesus Christ, why they are not.
Nobody ****s with the Jesus.

[biturbomunkie]

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

same here, i really don't think i could live comfortably when i receive my undergrad degree. i think the only two options for me are grad school or navy medical corps and become a marine medical officer.

the future seems bleak, but i'm just telling myself "no fate but what we make."

[Queso]

The times are getting bad, it seems like it's accellerated in the past 5 years. I am thankful that I am reconciled to God, through Jesus Christ. Not everyone is scared. Ever wondered why? If you are really that scared, I would ask those that are not, and have hope in Jesus Christ, why they are not.
Personally I believe secure financial planning during the boom times is a far more reliable strategy than depending on supernatural entities to see you through.

Remember that it doesn't matter how good the Summer is, Winter always follows.

But also remember that Summer does come again. This coming recession will end eventually, just like they all do.

Even for diehard End Timers...

[solvs]

Nobody ****s with the Jesus.

Tell that to the ancient Romans. :(

[ham_man]

Tell that to the ancient Romans. :(
Yeah, well, you know that's just, like, uhhh, your opinion, man.

[stevegmu]

Yes, you are anticipating the rapture. But most people have a more intelligent belief that they should prepare themselves for a much more realistic view of the future. Your beliefs do not have any merit, other than the extremist, closed-circuit views you have fallen pray to. I am not telling you what to believe in, but keep it to yourself.

What tolerance! No wonder atheism has a certain stigma associated with it.

[NAG]

The apocalypse has come how many times? Society has ups and downs but it never really ends. Yeah, we're on a down swing. So what. We just need to work to fix the problems and work to swing it backup.

[solvs]

Yeah, well, you know that's just, like, uhhh, your opinion, man.

The Romans didn't kill Jesus?

What tolerance! No wonder atheism has a certain stigma associated with it.

So does Christianity. Still missing the point. What else is new.

[kainjow]

I wouldn't worry too much, as long as you have a job.

I just filled up 1/2 of my scooter's gas tank the other day for $5 :cool: ;)

[shecky]

it always pleases me to see the Unified Theory of Lebowski™ showing up in threads.

and to the OP's... well... OP, the people who get in real trouble are those who live above their means. live within your means (http://www.free-financial-advice.net/live-within-means.html) and you will be all set. and if you work hard and act responsibly, your means should be quite comfortable indeed.

[Queso]

What tolerance! No wonder atheism has a certain stigma associated with it.
Atheism only has a stigma amongst those who believe everything atheists reject.

People just don't like it when others tell them they're wrong. Surely you know that better than anyone.

[skunk]

What tolerance! No wonder atheism has a certain stigma associated with it.Those who believe that anyone who does not subscribe to their own model of whacked out fundamentalism is going to die or spend eternity in the fiery pit do not really deserve much tolerance in return. Terribly unChristian of me, I suppose, but there we are.

[ham_man]

The Romans didn't kill Jesus?
Does the Pope **** in the woods?

[FrankBlack]

It ain't just you.

It's hard for someone like me, who's 51, to say that things were much better when I was a young man, because everybody gives you that look. You know, the same one you get when you try to tell someone about how you went through 6' of snow, uphill both ways, to get to school.

Yet it's true. In my entire life, I have never seen anything this bad -- politically, economically, everything.

Tom, you're supposed to say that you walked sixteen miles to school in a blinding snowstorm. Toss in something about having to wear your big brothers hand-me-down clothes, and you're there.

On a serious note, I agree. Even if you don't own a car, groceries are going up, up and up. And I like to eat. A lot of people are very worried about their investments, retirement plans, and a lot of other things.

Better to just go bowling (http://www.bostonbowl.com/bowling.asp)

[Daveman Deluxe]

Right now our society has a serious problem with trying to keep up with the Jonses. I'm the only guy at my company who doesn't have a high defintion television. Frankly, I don't have any use for one. I don't watch any television other than sporting events (which I can go to the pub for) and I don't have any video game systems, and if I want to watch a DVD, I have a 20" screen for my MacBook Pro. Yet I very seriously want a high definition television, a Wii, and an XBox 360.

That's insane, and fortunately I've recognized that it's insane, and I haven't bought any of those things. Keeping up with the Joneses is foolish. Live within your means and avoid spending money on a credit card for all it's worth. If you want spending money for things such as the coffee shop or going out to lunch, withdraw cash from the bank and say "this is my spending money for the month". I give myself about $150 but it does take a little bit of restraint on my part. When golfing weather hits, I might give myself a little more.

Don't take out debt for anything but a home. Period. Even a car is foolish to take out debt for, IMO. Make a monthly budget and stick to it. Living within your means is really easy if you're willing to forgo some of the things that advertisers tell you that you deserve.

[Desertrat]

I was born in 1934, so my knowledge of the Depression is from what my parents and grandparents told me. Then came WW II and the rationing of tires, meat, butter, gasoline, shoes and other things I don't recall.

I remember my mother telling of making partial payments to the drugstore for medicines, paying maybe $0.75 a week toward an $11.00 balance--and hoping I didn't get sick again.

My parents broke up in 1940. My mother was teaching in the UT Psych Dept while working on her PhD, finally becoming a Petticoat Hanging Down in 1942.

I saw a good bit of the Philippines in 1949/1950, and did occupation duty in South Korea in 1954/1955. I've at least seen true poverty, if not lived it.

My view of the modern U.S. is that as a society we've had it just really, really soft since 1945. We're spoiled. We've pretty much blurred the line between what is wanted and what is actually needed. We'e taken to believing all the BS of the TV ads about deserving satisfaction because we're upright and breathing.

I guess that if I have any advice to offer, it would be to avoid spending money on anything you don't absolutely need. Avoid debt like the plague, until you get yourself to where you can use debt as a working tool. Buy good-used "how to" books on various manual trades and skills, to become as much of a do-it-yourselfer as possible--at garage sale prices, if possible. That knowlege, those skills, saved me tons of money and in many cases let me make extra money at night, over and above my salary.

Still in college? Check into foreign languages. The financial power of the world is moving to the Middle East, India and China. While English is pretty much a lingua franca, it's nice to have a clue about what "those people" are saying among themselves. Americans, generally, are sadly handicapped as to foreign languages and understanding of other cultures.

Learn some tax law and IRS regulations. If you do extra work from home, study Schedule C. It's a license to steal, really, stipulating that you're good at "creative interpretation" of the laws and regs.

By and large, what a college degree tells a personnel officer is that you can stick your nose in a grindstone for four years and stick with the program. Like an engineering prof told me and the class, years ago: "That degree doesn't mean squat, except that you know what book to look in. It'll take you a half-dozen years of work to become an engineer."

'Rat

[Macky-Mac]

Atheism only has a stigma amongst those who believe everything atheists reject......

no no no....that's not true

even other non-believers cringe when they read the bigoted spouting of those whose lives are defined by the hatred of beliefs they despise and reject

[miloblithe]

Great post 'Rat.

[TravisReynolds]

You can always invest in a bike, be healthy and don't spend gas money

[Desertrat]

Yeah, well, thanx, but remember that sometimes it's difficult to tell the difference between mature wisdom and tired blood...

'Rat

[solvs]

Does the Pope **** in the woods?
This Pope maybe.

Why, who do you think killed Jesus?

[hulugu]

...and to the OP's... well... OP, the people who get in real trouble are those who live above their means. live within your means (http://www.free-financial-advice.net/live-within-means.html) and you will be all set. and if you work hard and act responsibly, your means should be quite comfortable indeed.

But, if I do that, won't the economy collapse? ;)

[Queso]

no no no....that's not true

even other non-believers cringe when they read the bigoted spouting of those whose lives are defined by the hatred of beliefs they despise and reject
That isn't atheism they're cringing at, it's fundamentalism.

[stevegmu]

That isn't atheism they're cringing at, it's fundamentalism.

I guess you missed this post.

Yes, you are anticipating the rapture. But most people have a more intelligent belief that they should prepare themselves for a much more realistic view of the future. Your beliefs do not have any merit, other than the extremist, closed-circuit views you have fallen pray to. I am not telling you what to believe in, but keep it to yourself.

[skunk]

I guess you missed this post.I guess you missed the bit where those not scheduled for rapture must spend eternity in a fiery lake after enduring armageddon. That is fundamentalism. If you really think the Rapture/End Times scenario is middle-of-the-road, you really should check your compass.

[dukebound85]

Don't take out debt for anything but a home. Period.

i hope school is acceptable lol but good advice for sure!

[chrmjenkins]

Right now our society has a serious problem with trying to keep up with the Jonses. I'm the only guy at my company who doesn't have a high defintion television. Frankly, I don't have any use for one. I don't watch any television other than sporting events (which I can go to the pub for) and I don't have any video game systems, and if I want to watch a DVD, I have a 20" screen for my MacBook Pro. Yet I very seriously want a high definition television, a Wii, and an XBox 360.

That's insane, and fortunately I've recognized that it's insane, and I haven't bought any of those things. Keeping up with the Joneses is foolish. Live within your means and avoid spending money on a credit card for all it's worth. If you want spending money for things such as the coffee shop or going out to lunch, withdraw cash from the bank and say "this is my spending money for the month". I give myself about $150 but it does take a little bit of restraint on my part. When golfing weather hits, I might give myself a little more.

Don't take out debt for anything but a home. Period. Even a car is foolish to take out debt for, IMO. Make a monthly budget and stick to it. Living within your means is really easy if you're willing to forgo some of the things that advertisers tell you that you deserve.

That's actually it on the head. Maybe not necessarily keeping up with the Jones', but the standard of living has increased so much. Families now have two cars and all kinds of electronics that they never had a few decades ago. If you cut all of that out and go down to one car, you'll be saving a lot of money. That is not to say we should be satisfied with the state of our country, because we shouldn't. Here's hoping we can elect a President who gets us back on the right track.

[Desertrat]

chrmnjenkins, none of the three front-runners have said one thing that leads me to believe they have a clue about "right track" on economics. Ron Paul was the only one of the whole crowd who came anywhere near close.

Hillary's ideas, since she first appeared in any of her or Slick's national show, would definitely make things worse at all levels. Obama's notions haven't been expressed all that much, but they don't look like part of any rational package. McCain is just more of the same-old, same-old of Congressional policies since he first took office.

IOW, "Don't get your hopes up, Lil Bubba, 'cause it ain't gonna get no better."

'Rat

[Daveman Deluxe]

i hope school is acceptable lol but good advice for sure!

Heh. I took out debt for university myself. I was offering advice to the OP who is about to graduate. University studies is tricky. I would suggest that a person work during university before taking out debt.

That's actually it on the head. Maybe not necessarily keeping up with the Jones', but the standard of living has increased so much. Families now have two cars and all kinds of electronics that they never had a few decades ago. If you cut all of that out and go down to one car, you'll be saving a lot of money. That is not to say we should be satisfied with the state of our country, because we shouldn't. Here's hoping we can elect a President who gets us back on the right track.

There's a lot to be said for your position. During the era of greatest prosperity of the past century, a lot of the products available today were not available. There was no Nintendo Wii or MacBook Pro when my parents were my age, so nobody felt a need to buy them. One car was basically a necessity but two was a luxury (actually I just bought a car from a family that wanted to cut from two cars to one).

It intrigues me that a couple of my friends had one wage-earner in the family (both had stay at home moms) and yet both of their families are more comfortable financially than most of my friends who had both parents working. One of those families is even able to put both of their daughters through university. I know a number of young married couples with children in which only the husband works. This is not a point about whether women should work outside the home (they should be able to if they want to), but about the fact that sound financial planning coupled with contentment with what you need rather than focusing on the luxuries will lead to being able to get by on much less than our society would have you believe is possible.

[Ugg]

That's actually it on the head. Maybe not necessarily keeping up with the Jones', but the standard of living has increased so much. Families now have two cars and all kinds of electronics that they never had a few decades ago. If you cut all of that out and go down to one car, you'll be saving a lot of money. That is not to say we should be satisfied with the state of our country, because we shouldn't. Here's hoping we can elect a President who gets us back on the right track.

A year or so ago I read a very interesting study on personal finances in the 1950s and late 1990s.

Essentially, the percentage of household income spent on food, clothing, toys, etc, more or less remained the same. The biggest increase in household expenditure was on housing. If I remember correctly, housing costs in the 1950s were about 20-25% of income, now it's about 30-35%.

The study didn't delve into why housing costs increased, but from the interviews, much of the cost increase was due to personal choice, not government regulation.

If you look at the size of homes in the 1950s compared to today, it's not hard to understand why housing costs increased so much.

Whether its housing or "toys" is irrelevant in the end. Spending beyond one's means is a one way street to financial hell.

[solvs]

I guess you missed this post.

I think you missed what that post was in reference to.

[skunk]

I think you missed what that post was in reference to.Not surprising, really. The poor, persecuted thing has so many people on ignore you can't really expect him to be up to speed on anything. He seems to miss almost every point these days.

[solvs]

Not surprising, really. The poor, persecuted thing has so many people on ignore you can't really expect him to be up to speed on anything. He seems to miss almost every point these days.
I'm trying very hard to quell my frustration so it doesn't come out the way it had, lowering myself to that level, but I can't help feeling that way. I truly would like to have honest and rational debate, with a little sarcasm and some bad puns thrown in to lighten the mood. But when some of us go out of our way to make thoughtful, evidence based posts, and are met with nothing but what we've gotten, even if it does seem to have slowed recently, I worry about the future myself. Bad enough I have to worry this forum falls down the same road so many others before it seem to, but talk about worrying about the future. That's what you should be worried about OP. A society lacking in civil discourse. One where such discussion is just as accepted, if not more so because it's louder and more exciting, than legitimate, rational, fact based, debate. Where legitimate anger over injustice is ignored, but faux outrage over nothing is the norm.

Maybe I'm making more out of this that I should. I know my history, I know this has been happening as long as there have been politics. Still, it's disconcerting. And yes, worried about the economy too. No matter how many people keep saying everything is fine. More so when those who should be preparing for the downturn keep saying, and acting like, everything is fine, and we're the crazy ones for worrying!

[Flowero4ka]

well yea im worried about the future. with higher gas->higher food->higher goods in general and no wage increases has me VERY pessimistic about the future

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHING

I'm glad that I live in 21st century! I like that we have less wars and more possibilities!

[Agathon]

well yea im worried about the future. with higher gas->higher food->higher goods in general and no wage increases has me VERY pessimistic about the future

i hope i will be able to afford things once i graduate and yea not stress out like i am now. are any others in this situation

i swear, i should just turn into a mountain man or something.....completely cut off from socialization and not be so god damned dependent on society for EVERYTHING

It depends what you mean by "afford things". I have one piece of advice for you: as much as you can cut out buying "positional" goods. Positional goods are what people buy when they engage in competitive consumption. Included in this are things like fashionable clothes, trend items and other goods that serve as markers of social distinction. It also includes housing, which you can't really afford other than finding somewhere cheap to live. If you cut out buying things "to stand out from the crowd" or "to keep up with the Joneses", you'll be surprised at how much money you can save. You really can't do anything about the food, but spare a thought for the thousands in the third world who will starve to death because of shortages.

But to be honest, stagnant wages are the least troubling thing right now. How about the fact that the political elites of many Western countries are rotting out from the inside. When I read the news today, it seems to me to be very much like 1912. We are sleepwalking into rough times and our leaders seem to have no idea what they are doing. What else can explain the surrealism of contemporary politics?