Hers a thought

[sluggish]

if you gave each American $50k and the majority would go out and spend $80k

Case in point-

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Extreme-Makeover-Foreclosure-and-Failing-in-America&id=1372797

If you took all the cash and divided it equally among all Americans, within two years it would all be back where it started from.

[john9001]

Case in point-

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Extreme-Makeover-Foreclosure-and-Failing-in-America&id=1372797

If you took all the cash and divided it equally among all Americans, within two years it would all be back where it started from.

then why not do it? I love theories that can't be proved.

[Anaxogoras]

I beg to differ.  If you gave me $50k I would put it in the bank, and then consider some wise investments.

[Eagler]

I beg to differ.  If you gave me $50k I would put it in the bank, and then consider some wise investments.

then you are not part of the majority

reckless spending has gotten us into this sinking ship, more spending will not get us out of it

we need to crash and burn

[Anaxogoras]

My friends have given me crap for not buying more stuff.  I'm serious.   They say I'm a bad American because I wear the same shoes until they wear out, I drive an economical car, haven't bought new clothes in over a year, and have a small TV.

[Chalenge]

Kind of gross but you just got me thinking about new underwear.  Just cant bring myself to wear it until it has holes in it sorry.

Unlike you I try to play it smart in some areas like the car and food and clothes but then I indulge myself in things like golf and computers and spending money on family but being smart in the areas that are important assures that there is money coming in so those indulgences are small potatos by comparison.

You have to understand too that finances are a matter of habit. You absolutely must form good habits if you want to hold onto money and security. I have known people that if given a million dollars would spend themselves right back down to the level they were at before the 'luck' came to them. I dont believe in 'luck' and the 'fortunate' ones that are always so hated by the left are simply people that have their ducks in proper rows. In fact I feel so strongly about this that I feel the whining against the 'rich' and 'lucky' ones is just affirmation of all my habits and beliefs and I would never classify myself as 'rich' except in the area of family.

Now I also see why 'artists' have to live off of welfare. They dont even love their own mothers. 

[john9001]

i bought my car new, it is now 17 years old, i maintain it, it runs fine, it was built in Ohio by americans.

[Chalenge]

The only thing 'buying American' cars does anymore is give 64% of the wholesale price to Congress to spend on handouts.

[avionix]

$50,000

I would pay off my student loans and then maybe think about buying one of these houses that has dropped in price.

Serenity.  Seriously give you mom the benefit.  You can't second guess your parents decisions.  You were not living in her shoes at the time.  I personally left a good paying job to get into the area I love.  The pay is less, more hours and more responsiblity.  I gripe like hell, but not a day goes by that I do not regret my decision.  Cut her some slack and ask how you could help out a little bit.  Maybe getting off of the computer for a couple of hours a week would help her beyond what you can imagine.

[Ripsnort]

I am 44, raised in the Augusta, GA area... My dad took care of business when he needed to, but by the time I was 5 I learned the futility of challenging him, so he didn't have to put me back in line very often LOL.  As a teen, he planted a 2 acre "garden" to keep my brother and I from getting into trouble as preteens and teens while he and my mother worked during the summer.  It wasn't enough to be full-time slave labor BUT it was enough to keep us close to home and perhaps a bit too tired to get into too much trouble!

I had a very smart dad.

Similar story, but we have a 160 acre "hobby farm"....meaning Dad went on the road (as a salesman working for a corporation) Mon-Fri, and we (the kids) tended to the farm! Fortunately we only bred and raised horses (sold a couple each year), a couple cows for slaughtering, chickens, and a 2 acre garden that we weeded by hoe and by hand. When you finished, you started over again because new weeds were sprouting up! I was always envious of other kids that got a "summer vacation" in the summer months.

[Mr No Name]

exactly, all hand tools, even the plow and here in the south you can almost watch the weeds grow lol