Can't pay your bills? It's rich peoples fault.

[ink]

Sounds more like you don't have much money.

sounds like you have no idea

i have been tattooing for twenty years,   any idea what we make an hour????

ill bet more than you!! , hell i bet more than most on these boards,i average $100 an hour BUT ive made up to and over $400 on hour,

 ooohhhhhhhhhhhh

im so impressed 

[SFRT - Frenchy]

I make $5.75 an hour flying an airplane. Dam you just showed me. I better look into the God thingy you were talking about, the downfall sounds freacky Yahaveh Cesar, is that the guy I need to start looking for?

[ink]

I make $5.75 an hour flying an airplane. Dam you just showed me. I better look into the God thingy you were talking about, the downfall sounds freacky Yahaveh Cesar, is that the guy I need to start looking for?

 

[Hornet33]

sounds like you have no idea

i have been tattooing for twenty years,   any idea what we make an hour????

ill bet more than you!! , hell i bet more than most on these boards,i average $100 an hour BUT ive made up to and over $400 on hour,

 ooohhhhhhhhhhhh

im so impressed 

Ok but how much of YOUR money are you willing to hand out to those folks that made bad choices and bail them out???

Me, I make just under $20 an hour. I have my CG retirement as well. Even with that I only clear around $50K a year. I have a mortgage on a house I don't even live in anymore. I have my apartment rent, truck payment, insurance of all types, taxes, child support, and the rest of my daily expenses. I might be able to put $100 in savings a month in a good month. I have NO credit cards and I don't buy anything I can't pay for upfront. Because I manage my money wisely, I live a comfortable life, I'm not in dept up to my ears, and what debt I have I am able to make the payments on every month like I'm supposed to.

Me, I wouldn't toss a freaking penny to someone who got themselves so far in dept they can't get out, yet the government is talking about do just that with my taxes. I've always been held accountable for my actions, I just can't wrap my head around the idea that some people think they shouldn't be held accountable for theirs. Screw em. They made their choices, now let them live with the results.

[ink]

Ok but how much of YOUR money are you willing to hand out to those folks that made bad choices and bail them out???

Me, I make just under $20 an hour. I have my CG retirement as well. Even with that I only clear around $50K a year. I have a mortgage on a house I don't even live in anymore. I have my apartment rent, truck payment, insurance of all types, taxes, child support, and the rest of my daily expenses. I might be able to put $100 in savings a month in a good month. I have NO credit cards and I don't buy anything I can't pay for upfront. Because I manage my money wisely, I live a comfortable life, I'm not in dept up to my ears, and what debt I have I am able to make the payments on every month like I'm supposed to.

Me, I wouldn't toss a freaking penny to someone who got themselves so far in dept they can't get out, yet the government is talking about do just that with my taxes. I've always been held accountable for my actions, I just can't wrap my head around the idea that some people think they shouldn't be held accountable for theirs. Screw em. They made their choices, now let them live with the results.

this is one of my points, i have 6 kids with my wife she don't work (WELL actually she does but thats not bringing in any money) every thing in this country is about money!!  a gallon of milk is almost 5 dollars,  i have to by one every day, its absurd every thing is off the wall, crazy expensive, heck when i first started to tattoo i was happy making 20 dollars an hour!!! this is not the way God intended it to be,
 as a matter of fact it says " if a man wont work, then that man dont eat!"
so obviously we need to pull our weight, but in todays society it ain't about that. 

the Bible has said what the end of days are going to be like, and no matter how many people don't believe in God don't make him any less real, or the fact that it is exactly like God has said it will be,
well i know i cant change any aspect of whats going on, but my Goal is to reach even one person(hopefully more) who doesn't believe and to make them think, to  make them question,
i know i will be ridiculed, the bible said it would happen, but that is okay, at least i am trying!!!!! 

[Mini D]

I think this sums up some of the bad decisions being made on both sides of the fence:

As many of you know, I am a longtime resident of Lakewood Mobile Home Court, a gated community on the outskirts of Coralville. When I first moved to Lakewood in 2000, I was attracted by its affordable rental rates and many amenities, such as ample streetside parking, easy access to I-80, and a quiet, low-surveillance wooded area in which to store my automobiles and train my beloved sport dogs. At the time it seemed an ideal neighborhood in which to raise the various children the Iowa courts have assigned me financial support. Here was a place they could run and play carefree, while I relaxed with a drink and conversation with friendly new neighbors like Kyle and Chuck.

After several years of living in the community, however, I began to notice a change. Trash and beer cans and dog waste mysteriously began to pile up. Formerly friendly neighbors became suspicious and wary, and I was saddened to realize they were locking their trailers while away at work. Worse yet, crime skyrocketed, in large part due to the gangs of unsupervised juveniles that roamed the streets and woods. As a concerned parent, with several children facing Iowa's draconian "three strikes" sentencing guidelines, I realized that I needed to get them out of this environment but I didn't know how. Like millions of Americans I dreamed of home ownership, but it remained elusive. Early Sunday mornings I would drive slowly through Majestic Oakewoods, the new luxury housing development on the other side of the woods, with my headlights off, wistfully thinking: "someday... someday."

Then one afternoon while parked outside QuikTrip, Kyle, Chuck and I heard an advertisement on Q-103 for no-money-down, interest-only discount home loans at First Coralville Mortgage. Best yet, the ad promised a free First Coralville Igloo mini-kooler for all applicants regardless of approval! I decided to call for an appointment on the QT pay phone, before Ramesh chased us out.

The whole home buying process can be confusing and intimidating, especially for first time buyers. Luckily, First Coralville mortgage broker Linda Mustaine was there to help guide me through all the steps. Linda explained that the first step to home ownership was getting pre-qualified for a loan. I was surprised to learn that my lack of a full-time "paying job" was no barrier, thanks to FCM's exciting RapidNow Subprime HomeCash program. Linda explained that I could count as income the Worker's Comp settlement I was receiving from the fryer accident, as well as the anticipated flood of tipjar income from a totally awesome blog post idea I've been thinking about. Using a sophisticated financial computer math program, she demonstrated how I could minimize my payments by selecting the 200-year interest-only ARM. The only formality was the credit check, and my TransUnion score was more than adequate after adding in the scores of my cosigners Kyle and Chuck.

The second step was to find a suitable home to fit my needs. I had my eye on a partial new home construction in Majestic Oakewood, and, as luck would have it, the builder was abandoning the project because a series of unexplained construction site thefts had forced him into bankruptcy. It was a handsome colonial with over 3000 square feet of liveable area (5000 if I added some plywood to finish the second story floor), which meant no more arguments between Kyle and Chuck on who had to crash in the kitchen. The older kids, Dakota and Destinee, could each have a room of their own, and there was plenty of space for both of my 50" plasma screens. The full acre lot backed up to the woods, and the backyard was large enough to accommodate my above-ground pool, a rifle range, and a private motocross track for the kids. It was perfect! I quickly worked out a price with the builder, which was well within my $1.6 million prequalifying limit, and even negotiated two Bobcat loaders in the deal. Sure, it would take a lot of "elbow grease" to finish this "fixer upper," but luckily I'm a pretty good "handyman" and had several pallets of bricks and lumber and drywall and PVC pipe I had "collected."

Moving day in April was exciting, especially when I pulled into the driveway of our new home. The kids jumped out of the back of the camper and we began setting up the inflatable gorilla to announce our neighborhood housewarming kegger. I have to admit the new neighbors were a little more "standoffish" than the folks back at Lakewood, but I then realized that Majestic Oakewoods real estate millionaires like us have to be careful. In order to pep up the party I called some of the guys at the El Forasteros clubhouse, and it turned out to be a big success.

Just as we were settling in, though, that's when the trouble began. In August, Linda from the mortgage company called and said that Visa had denied my credit card payment for the mortgage, so I told her to switch it over to my Discover. Then she called back and starts whining that it was denied too. I explained to her that I really couldn't put it on my MasterCard because I maxed that out to convert the basement into a dojo for a new-style martial arts school I'm developing, and that Sensei Dave would have her money after he signs up a few students. I also explained to her that for a older plus-size gal, she totally had it "goin' on," and that maybe we should get together at TGI Fridays for Happy Hour to discuss it, my treat, because my AmEx card was still good.

After five or six margaritas Linda seemed to calm down, and came up with another great financial plan: a home equity ARM. It turns out that in only three months the appraised value of my new house had risen by $50,000, and that First Coralville would lend me the difference! That would be enough to cover all my missed mortgage payments, with plenty left over for a sweet Yamaha dirt bike I had my eye on. We toasted to new beginnings, and my new $200,000 per year income.

That seemed to work for a while, but soon Linda and I drifted apart. She was clingy, but I need time to be with myself and my friends and my dirt bikes. She wanted children, but I had my junk fixed in 2004 after an agreement with a state paternity judge. Linda offered to finance my vasectomy reversal, but I told her my wife probably wouldn't understand and that we should move on.

When I opened the mail on November 1, everthing started to go downhill. For some reason my house payment had gone up by $700 per month! There was no way I was going to squeeze that onto my plastic. I thought that maybe it was some sort of fat-crazy-chick revenge thing from Linda, so when I called First Coralville to complain I asked to talk to her supervisor. "No, it's not a mistake," says the guy. "You have an adjustable rate mortgage, and it adjusted."

"Ex-squeeze-me?"

"Adjustable rate mortgage, A-R-M," he says. "After the first 6 months, it adjusts up to the prevailing interest rate. You should have realized that, because it's all there in your contract."

Who am I, ****ing Oliver Wendell Smallprint? I thought ARM meant "always ready money." I told the dude there's no way I could pay.

"Have you considered refinancing?" he says.

Duhhhh! I had forgotten that another three months had passed since my last home equity loan, so I hopped into the new Benz and drove to First Coralville to collect my quarterly Fifty Large. But when I got there he starts giving me a big song-and-dance.

"I'm sorry Mr. Burge, you don't qualify for home equity financing," he says. "According to the latest appraisal, the value of your home has dropped $500,000. In fact, the value of every home on your block has dropped an average of $200,000 since April."

"WTF??"

"I'm sorry Mr. Burge, home prices in your neighborhood have been hurt by the national housing bubble, and a steep increase in crime and noise."

"Well, what am I supposed to do now?"

"Have you considered moving to Lakewood Mobile Home Court? It's very affordable, and the whole neighborhood has undergone an amazing renaissance this year."

Ever since that day, its been a non-stop job dealing with the phone calls and certified letters and eviction notices. I keep throwing them in the garage behind the Benz and the dirt bikes, but I get the impression these guys are serious. I put up some official-looking "Smallpox Quarantine" signs on the front plastic sheet, but I don't think they'll keep the cops away forever. I can't pay the mortagage, and can barely scrape enough to pay for the $2 million flood insurance policy.

I've had a long time to think about it, and it's finally time to face up to the ugly truth: I'm a victim. A victim of a pernicious system that entices innocent borrowers with 5000 square foot homes and free money and Igloo coolers, only to bury their dreams under a bunch of APR-ARM-XYZ shyster roadkill gobbledygook.

But the blame doesn't rest completely with First Coralville; ultimately, the resposibility lies with our government, and society itself. Because it was you that elected the politicians that allowed this stupid crisis to happen, and continue to sit idly while victims like me lose our American Dream.

But it's not too late to make amends: contact your local elected officials and demand that they do something to alleviate our suffering. Demand an end to ARMs, and demand subprime do-overs. If we don't act now, the entire economy will collapse, and people like me -- and my children, and my dirtbikes -- will be out on the streets looking for a new place to live. Maybe in your neighborhood.

In closing, I have two questions:

Do you really want that on your conscious?

Also, do you have any good tips on starting a flood?

[Shuffler]

this is my own personal opinion and i dont want to get flammed for it either but i have to say it. I think that people should only be going out and buying things they can afford. If you cant afford it save your pennies and money and then when you can go out and buy it.

Wow 5-0 got a smart one there! 

[LePaul]

But MsBehavn...if most local and state governments can't live within their budgets, why should they?   

As others have said here...it boils down to personal responsibility as well as living within one's means.  Period.

[lazs2]

Ink.. assuming that you "only" average $200 an hour.. that you work 8 hours a day and take a couple of weeks off a year...  You make 400 thousand dollars a year.   

According to the democrats..  you are not only the evil rich but you are making twice what a rich man who they say should pay at least... 35%.

Are you paying 140 thousand dollars in income tax every year and if not.. why not?

It seems a tad hard to be upset about you having to pay five bucks for a gallon of milk or not making the house payment.

lazs

[ink]

Ink.. assuming that you "only" average $200 an hour.. that you work 8 hours a day and take a couple of weeks off a year...  You make 400 thousand dollars a year.   

According to the democrats..  you are not only the evil rich but you are making twice what a rich man who they say should pay at least... 35%.

Are you paying 140 thousand dollars in income tax every year and if not.. why not?

It seems a tad hard to be upset about you having to pay five bucks for a gallon of milk or not making the house payment.

lazs

haha l wish i worked 8 hours a day!!!

the tattoo business is not like that especially since its become so popular now there are shops every where,when i was growing up in Manchester NH you had to be a MD to do tattoos, so there where none! now in the same town there are 6 tat shops,  it still is very seasonal mostly real busy in the summer.
  i have worked at 14 tattoo shops, 4 of those i had a part in building!  but as it turns out most people have no morals and do things that i do not agree with, for instance  say a 18 year old comes in and wants his neck tattood, i will NOT do it, i dont care how much money he is willing to pay,   or say a young person wants there hands tattood i will not do it, there are so many things that should not be done in the tattoo business, but people today dont give a crap so they do whatever as "long as we get paid"  tattoos are different then any thing out there, we can effect someones life for the negative, or the positive, it should be taken very serious but no it is all about the money!! 

so now i do house parties and i am very exclusive in what i do, i have over 12 hours in prevention of blood born pathogens, i am cleaner then most shops at parties!! 
   the best i ever did was 45k in three months, that was 14 years ago, 

my family has suffered because of my beliefs and because i refuse to become the way the world is!

now if you are thinking well i must not be any good check out this

http://www.myspace.com/fieldsofink

 i know im not the best but i also know people love my work and i have a bunch of people who are very dedicated to me,
 i have been painting for about 5 years, but drawing my whole life, tattooing sense 1988.
    but besides all of this, it isn't about me, or the world, or cost of things, or how people are, its about God and how i hope that my testimony will plant a seed.

[indy007]

http://www.myspace.com/fieldsofink

Ever come to Houston? My guy moved, and thinking about getting another piece.

[ROX]

Without a doubt one of the biggest evils out there is credit card debt.

It is SO easy to rack up credit card debt that it's not even funny.  I'll be up front, there were times I was out of work or under employeed and the kids still needed groceries, food, clothes, etc.  We racked up an ungodly amount of credit card debt.  It took 4 years, but we've just about got it paid off.

I do not blame anyone but us for our credit card debt.

Now...all the bills are covered.  I feel sorry for folks who have racked up $50,000-$60,000-$70,000 in credit card debt and are only paying the minimums each month.  They are more screwed than they know.

ROX

[ink]

Ever come to Houston? My guy moved, and thinking about getting another piece.

i would love to come out that way, funny last time i was in TX was 13 years ago, got pulled over by TX state trooper on bike, he clocked me at 101 MPH in my 73 Dodge Challenger
believe it or not the guy let me go no ticket!! plus i had no drivers license, just my SS card for ID!

[SIK1]

My personal belief is that the government shouldn't be bailing anyone out for anything with my money.

I also feel that both sides of this issue are to blame. Lending institutions, as well as buyers. A good percentage of which are speculators that got caught with their pants down when the bottom fell out of the housing market.

It all comes down to personal responsibility. When you purchase something it is up to you to make sure that it is what you want and that you can afford it.

I know plenty of people that are home owners, and most of them used common sense when they purchased their homes, so they are not in danger of losing their homes.

When I purchased my home it was just before the boom hit. After three years the rates were down significantly, property values were up, and I looked into refinancing. I could have taken out a huge junk of cash against my equity kept a thirty year mortgage and the payments would have stayed about the same. What I did though was take out no money against the equity went to a fifteen year loan and my payments stay the same as they were on the thirty, except I will have my house payed off in half the time.

I don't carry balances on credit cards I don't buy things I can't afford. Actually making monthly payments on something drives me crazy. Yes, even my house, but I figured I would never be able to save up enough money to buy a house out right, and it beats paying rent.

People need to take responsibility for what they do. They need to learn that there are consequences for their actions. They need to use more common sense and less emotion when making decisions that effect their lives. This attitude of all for today, tomorrow will take care of itself has got to stop if we don't want to become some giant welfare state.


 

[DieAz]

I make $5.75 an hour flying an airplane. Dam you just showed me. I better look into the God thingy you were talking about, the downfall sounds freacky Yahaveh Cesar, is that the guy I need to start looking for?

no his name is YHVH and and you can find him here!