This could be one of the messages from last Tuesday.
Get married and STAY married. Spend less than you earn, and invest the difference.
I went through a year of poverty and setting conditions to move on, back in the late 1960s. I knew my assets....no debt, a college degree in something I'm quite good at, and an ability to put together a functioning budget and life plan. I also knew what challenges had to be met that year.
It's life style experience everyone should go through. Temporary work with eyes wide open for a suitable long term job, rooming house then cheap apartment for the year, figuring out how to eat, stay healthy, pay bills, stay out of debt.
A lot of what the gov has done to make things better have made things more difficult for those trying to make the break from true poverty to a life with more stability, but it's doable. What would make it easier? Give people back our lives, free of unfair restrictions and competition.
W-O-R-K. Stop Looking For A Handout.
Good reading. Been in similar straits before. A fair amount self inflicted but I never took a penny of public assistance. Besides, I am a white male so I wouldn’t get anything.
Later
They literally wince as if I've said something shocking and uncomfortable, and then sometimes they give this uneasy chuckle, like I must be joking. I don't understand them at all. Like this author, I grew up poor. Joined the military, put myself through school, didn't do drugs, didn't have kids, and now I am not poor. It's not rocket science.
Here’s how to earn more than minimum wage.
1) Show up on time every day.
2) Do what you’re asked to do.
3) Speak respectfully to everyone.
Notice that no specific job skills are involved. Follow the above and you’ll earn more than minimum wage.
Been homeless, hungry, unemployed gainfully without a vehicle to even sleep in many times when I was younger. I remember the constant hunger, sleeping on surfaces like floors without pillows and how stiff you were when you woke up, how it felt to be invisible to people who walked by without a care in the world, etc...I remember sometimes people would see me and recognize that I was hungry and offer to buy me something to eat though I never flt comfortable with them doing that because it made me feel sort of sub-human (hey just being honest here; it’s not who I am now). I recognized that those people who showed me kindness were Christians who had been through rough patches too. They taught me to pay it forward years later. Being homeless it taught me me self-reliance when I realized I could earn money even if it was simply knocking on a door and asking if they needed a lawn mowed or their leaves raked; that only I could truly take care of myself and that I was the person responsible for my own success or not. It taught me how to relate to people that I never could have years later when I had to interview them and believe it or not God spoke to me as I labored and I learned to be still and listen to His voice. I never applied for government assistance nor did I expect handouts. I’m still alive...: )
The picture reminds me of a couple who stand on the main road here in Nashua everyday. They are a 20 something man and woman. They typically stand at intersections about 2-3 blocks apart. They both hold signs that state: WILL WORK FOR FOOD.
The irony is that last week they were at the intersection where there is a McDonalds on one corner and a brand new ChicFilA on the opposite corner. Both businesses have NOW HIRING on their signs just like the picture in the article.
All along the street where they stand everyday there are NOW HIRING signs. Our unemployment rate here is just over 5%. Anyone that wants a job, can get one. Apparently, they do not.
Get a job. Any job. Find a cheap place to live even if you don’t like the people living there. Avoid debt like the plague including driving cars you can afford (i.e. pay cash for it). Because if you manage to save $1000, you are rich.
Don’t rely on the government for your income. She is a fickle provider. I know many people on Disability and if the government ever asks them to prove they are disabled, they are sunk.
Repeal minimum wage and start profiency pay aka “pro pay” with a profit sharing option . Work hard, get paid well. Make the employee realize they are working for themselves per se.... Win win for all IMO.
Small mom and pop cafe in my town where after operating costs are paid the pure profit is divided with 66% shared by the 4 full time employees. The owner gurrantees a 9$ a hour wage has really good people that have worked there for years. Place is small, clean, efficient and serves our small town well with breakfast and lunch in the cafe .
My opinion.....stay safe !
Thank you for posting this.
If you want to eat you have to work. Tell this to the generational entitlement crowd
I wish I had the guts to forward this article to my Pastor.
We have had several able-bodied young men live on our campus over the years and have even gone so far as to remodel modular buildings into living quarters for these guys to live in without any requirement on their part to earn their keep or any admonition for them to straighten up and fly right.
In fact, we are remodeling another modular and bringing two trailers onto the property for parolees and/or homeless guys to live in.
I would appreciate any prayers for me to be able to say the right thing the right way to open my Pastor's eyes to see that we are not helping these guys improve their lives. We are just giving them a way to continue to be a drag on society.
Of course, that is The Plan: "Vote DEMOCRAT and we will take care of your needs!"...
Liberals: Measure ‘compassion’ by how many people they can get onto welfare.
Conservatives: Measure compassion by how many don’t need welfare.
If you don’t help your self no one else will so prove your self or live a lifetime in poverty.