Why Everyone Is Broke

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[jimmbboe]

"If you don't know where your money is going, you won't have any money!" Well said!!!

[bchristopher]

Fast food and eating out in general kills budgets and people often live in denial about it.

[simonhodgetts]

Strangely enough, I’m not broke. I’m actually doing quite well on a modest salary. But then, I don’t have car finance, a phone contract, any TV subscriptions, gym membership, never use taxis, never buy coffee on the move, take my own lunch to work, rarely buy fashion, and keep white goods, TVs, cars, bicycles and so on until they are beyond repair. I get my clothes and shoes repaired when they show wear, and I only buy good quality stuff that lasts a long time before needing replacement. I grow my own vegetables, and we buy everything else from local farms and farm shops, even sometimes at the side of the road (eggs for example). I rarely eat out - mainly because I can make a tastier meal from good ingredients, for less money, at home. If I need exercise, I ride my bikes - I bought them years ago, maintain them, and they’re free to use - just need maintenance now and again. Same with cars - I run a 13 yr old car, paid cash for it, and I maintain it when it needs fixing, with good quality parts. It’s not hard to live well for not a huge amount of money, if you are prepared to be sensible and think about your spending habits.

[istvanpraha]

Rent went up 1200-2000 depending on number of rooms here. My basic groceries up 500 a month since before covid. Netflix is not the issue lol

[shegoeslightly]

I had to push 5 different cancel membership buttons to escape Amazon prime after the free month. How scary and controlling they didn’t hear no the first time.

[chaselesser]

2024 has been a terrible year. I broke my foot, my wife had to go to the ER and have surgery, my MIL that takes care of our kids, had a stroke, my AC went out and everyone is quoting $10k. My daughter had to have surgery for her tonsils, and my other one needs it too.

[sarajaved]

After credit cards I hate the most are subscription based services. Stay far far away from them.

[survivingthetimes]

People have no money because they spend too much time being paralyzed by envy and held in bondage by greed.

[fafa]

I like to think of subscription services as a pay decrease, because that's what they are. If you have $100-200 a month of subscription services, hell even $10, that's a decrease in your pay check. There's a reason why subscription services are always set to auto renew, because they know a good chunk of people will "set and forget."

[sct]

Stop buying stuff, no matter how tempting. Just groceries! Buy groceries mindfully with an eye on sales and no junk food. Cook around what’s on sale.
You will see a big difference in no time.

[jsinister_vq]

You can’t be emotional when it comes to money. Think what makes financial sense.

[cdheidt]

Well, we are paying for every little thing. In the old days, no cable bill, barely a phone bill, and you only needed 1 decent job to support your family.

[natashatheresa]

You are right - it's about working SMARTER, not HARDER.

[barbsinclair]

I know so many who have bought way too much house and cars! They are stressed every month over the bills that come along with it. While we can blame some things on inflation and shrinkflation but at some point you have to take some personal responsibility and decide to alter your purchases or expectations or educate yourself so you can afford the things you want in life.

[amandagish]

I work in tech. If my device works, it stays. If it doesn't work, I figure out why and fix it. I order from places that offer used goods (not food) and they are always primo, and I'm not sending something to a landfill. Keeping and fixing and buying second-hand saves a boatload of money for me.

[st-qtce]

Time is money…. Understanding this I choose to pay more upfront /one time and avoid subscriptions.

[Damn-he]

Look at the deductions on your paycheck.
Look at the tax on whats left of your check when you purchase something.
Look at the tax on things you've already paid for.
Government has become way too big and expensive.

[nolongeranurse]

Make under 30k a year...no credit card debt..no car debit..and even my house is paid off....worked 2 jobs for 7 years in order to pay my house off early.
Live below your wage...know the diffrence between a want and a need.

[gracesanity]

I have a neighbour who spends 450 a month on extra tv stations. Shocks me. As l have freeview ...once installed no fee's. Utube is my other TV.

[mrmrlee]

The anti-consumerism movement has been around a very long time, the 99%/ Occupy Wall Street protests were one of many such manifestations. One of my favorite reads are the works of Thoreau, an anti-consumerist from the 1800's. Even Ecclesiastes and Proverbs go into the fact that our amassing of possessions does not produce true joy.