Mom forced to live in car with dogs

[AngelinaCatHub]

No argument with your opinion Cali. That is what makes people interesting. Different opinions. No misrep about the fat ole', in that it was obvious that person ripping off our taxes was not in need of fancy and sugar foods. The skinny ones could be just as bad if they abuse the system. My point is, the system is not fair to all. We were hurting for hamburger and could not get help and it was obvious that my observation was in no need.

I have seen people buy lottery tickets with food stamp change as well. Does not make sense to me.

Disclaimer: I have no malice towards age, creed, religion, weight, color, preference, any observance named only represents points of interest. No offense to anyone meant.

[arkienurse]

I have seen people buy lottery tickets with food stamp change as well. Does not make sense to me.

And I don't mean offense to anyone either but a particular time comes to mind. I was pregnant due to a birth control failure , no insurance, on medicaid, living with the in-laws, working a minimum wage job at a grocery/deli to supplement DH's income. We didn't qualify for food stamps, but I saw them used every day. One particular person came in several times a week. They would buy a 25 cent pack of gum with their food stamps. With the silver change they would save up and buy cigarettes. It was obvious what they were doing, and I am glad that Arkansas now has their food stamps on a debit card to where you don't get change.
One positive thing I can say about my step-kids next door. When things got really tight, they both gave up smoking.

[Cali]

I don't think anyone should abuse the system, but we know they do. In the end, I am sure they will all get their karma.

[AngelinaCatHub]

Whooops I double posted my message. Ms./Mr. Cali, I totally agree. I hate the word Karma, but I know what you mean. What goes around comes around.

When you were used to be able to write a thousand dollar check to a political candidate, and a hundred to a person of need (should have been the other way round), and now find yourself on the "short end.......Karma". LOLOL

However, it is a learning tool. We are terrified as our credit score was 820 at one time. Now in the low 5'vs. We cannot even afford to feed our three dollar three cats. YES we had to list them. I sure wish the Trustee would take at least one of them. We need the food ourselves. (I hate dried cat food. It sticks to the top of my mouth).

Anyway, I'm pleased you got my true meaning as there was no reason to state a person of any class other than abuse of the system and the System's inadequacy to help when needed. Peace.

[Cali]

I am a girl.

We used to be able to do so much more(thanks to my prior job) than we do now, but I feel everything in life happens for a reason. I might not like it, but I am sure there is a lesson somewhere to be learn.

I hope things become brighter for you.

[AngelinaCatHub]

[jwbbx]

I have to agree with AngelinaCatHub, I too believe we are headed for much worse times. For those of you old enough, doesn't it feel something like it did in the middle/late 70s when everything seemed out of whack? I remember prices moving up FAST, wages and employment down, and people debating over stuff a peanut farmer's drunken brother said as if it mattered. Just as there seemed little discussion of true circumstances then, it seems there's even less now, and it's quite frightening. It wasn't quite as bad when I was in my 20s, but here in my 50s things are looking kinda sad. I'm sure part of it has to do with being in Michigan and literally watching it implode, but I don't think it's far off in other places.

The real estate mess in California and elsewhere was a bubble waiting to burst, and I don't feel it's over yet. We have only seen the tip as the most vulnerable people were the first wave. Now rising food, energy, and just everyday living costs will start driving the middle class down that same road and it won't be pretty. What happens when it costs 20% more to feed your family next year than it does now? When getting to work costs 2 hours wage? How many budgets can take that kind of abuse? Many have been living with no net for quite some time, and it will not take that much for them to lose their grip. Consumer debt is still rising, but banks are tightening up - won't be long before there's not limit left for a lot of people.

Again for those old enough, remember the term 'StagFlation'? Remember WIP buttons? Remember Wage and Price Controls?? 10-15% Inflation? (Measured the OLD non-bogus way). The fun has just started. BTW - if inflation were measured today as it was in the 70s, inflation would be slightly over 7%, not 4% as it's being reported. (shadowstats.com)

As for today though, I'm pretty grateful to be where I am and have what I do. In my case that's a job with a good company that makes a nice profit (and shares some of it) that allows me to have nice roof over my head and a full belly. All the rest is fluff.

[AngelinaCatHub]

JWBXX thanks for those good words. YES I remember those days. I have had seven diesel cars from the Rabbit on up. I love diesel as they are 100% fuel burners with little pollution. What you see is lampblack and falls to the ground. Gasoline burns rich so there is enough to fire up the catalytic converter to burn the impurities. NO REASON for spark plugs. HOWEVER, why is diesel fuel more expensive? It costs less to make. WHY? Because, all trains, semi’s, tractors, and planes (JP) burns diesel. I burn old peanut oil in my tractor and have burned same in my Jetta. When I changed the hydraulic fluid in my tractor, I had five gallons to get rid of. What did I do with it? I put it into my fuel tank and mowed grass. The diesel was invented long before the spark plug engine and was designed to burn soybean oil. We have no reason to use gasoline.

About self sufficiency, I agree with some that we all need help from others. That being said, when others also need help, you best be self sufficient. I do remember the Carter years. I do remember gasoline being dumped into closed gas stations. It was phony. It is phony right now if we could be allowed to get our own oil. We will never run out in a thousand years the oil we have under our own ground. That’s a fact, Jack. Stock pile for that rainy day, and the flood clouds are gathering.

[jerzey]

I disagree America isnt headed for worse times
Thats the Fear the media puts out, the mortgage mess is all fixable
Gas prices will decrease soon but not back to $2 a gallon we will never see that again
Food prices will regain after all these farmers go back to seeing corn for food not fuel


War issues are a whole different.....problem, there too much to debate with that mess

America has seen better and worse we as a nation will bounce back like we always do and will have learned how not to lend money and that corn is for food not cars

[Cali]

Jerzey - I haven't seen gas for 2$ gallon in over 4 years.

AngelinaCatHub - thanks for the kind words. I have learn a lot from this board and thankful for it.

[WhatMoney]

That's a bold statement, which would surprise just about anyone familiar with Peak Oil. Can you site a source?
Check out this chart:



It's not how much oil is still in the earth, but the COST and energy required to extract and refine the oil. When the energy required to extract this oil exceeds the energy derived from the oil itself, you are beyond peak oil. There will always be oil, but the price will continue to rise.

And see this report:

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/4041#more

.

[Bandit]

It's not how much oil is still in the earth, but the COST and energy required to extract and refine the oil. When the energy required to extract this oil exceeds the energy derived from the oil itself, you are beyond peak oil. There will always be oil, but the price will continue to rise.

And see this report:

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/4041#more

.

That is more how it works. The experts who said we would hit 5 bucks a gallon this year are predicting it will rise to 8 or 10 bucks a gallon by this time next year with a barrel at 200. Then it is supposed to decline a little for 2010.
I can easily see it close to 10 a gallon next year as that is what people elsewhere already pay.

what really gets me is how the price varies from 65 cents a gallon to 18 dollars a gallon, depending on demand & where you live while in some places more than half of the price is a tax.

[Bandit]

"It went to hell in a handbasket," she said. "I didn't think this would happen to me. It's just something that I don't think that people think is going to happen to them, is what it amounts to. It happens very quickly, too."

there are no guarantees in life & it does not matter how secure people are. & when it happens, it happens very quickly.

[Bandit]

[COLOR="Blue"]After reading this thread, I feel fortunate with what I have. We are all here for the same reason. Each of us thinking we have it so bad. Those who overcame and start new but stay here to help us are truly Angels.

I feel we are heading for much worse times.

That is why people stay, to help someone else. If that part of this forum ever changes, I wont be here. I realized right away that it does not matter how everyone got here, everyone deserves a second chance.

As for much worse of times, I dont know. I think we just see changes in our lives & wonder if it will get worse & wonder when is it going to get better. So life is just that way, sometimes worse & sometimes better. I think we look back at our lives & remember how wonderful things were & how easy things went for us, then we get hit with a massive speed bump & life just changes & it will forever be different...hopefully a little wiser.

Keep that good spirit of wanting to help someone else & quick understanding, that everyone has problems & not just our own.

[AngelinaCatHub]