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« Hard Economic Times Come to ‘Doonesbury’ | Main | Obama and McCain: Playing the Job-Offer Waiting Game »

October 15, 2008

The Working Poor

Several years ago, I read a book called Nickel and Dimed. The author, Barbara Ehrenreich, went undercover to take low-skill, low-wage jobs such as hotel maid and waitress to see what life was like for these workers. What she found disturbed me: A culture of people living right under the public radar, struggling while trying to earn a living. I have never forgotten that book or the stories within it.

Unfortunately, while the book was first published in 2001, the working poor still hold a large -- and growing -- place in society. According to this article, Census data reveals the number of jobs paying poverty-level wages increased by 4.7 million between 2002 and 2006. We all know the economy is in the tank now; what’s surprising is the study period was one of relative prosperity, which means the tough times of today bode even worse for those below the poverty line.

It’s easy to think of the poor as jobless and living in a cardboard box. But the reality is that many work just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else, but struggle paycheck to paycheck and often go to bed hungry. One alarming statistic: 40 percent of adults asking for emergency food assistance were employed.

So why talk about this now? Well, today is Blog Action Day, and this year’s theme is poverty. And in a financial crisis, with the holidays coming up and a pivotal presidential election less than a month away, we at the Monster Blog wanted to devote space to the issue.

Want to help? Then educate yourself about the working poor. While there are many agencies that advocate for low-wage workers on a state level, The Working Poor Families Project is a national initiative that deserves a mention. And here is a list from Blog Action Day’s Web site of resources dedicated to fighting poverty. Check it out, and whatever you decide to do, as they say, think globally, but act locally.

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Posted by Christine on October 15, 2008 at 09:54 AM in Current Events , Salary | Permalink | Comments (40) | TrackBack (0)

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I read Barbara Ehrenreich's book a few years ago as well. It's an informative read for anyone interested in learning about the realities of economic disparity in the United States. But it focuses on a few smaller/specific case studies and limited/selective solutions, so it should be treated only as a starting point for the interested American.

What is much more fascinating and horrifying than the numbers of working Americans falling bellow the 'poverty line' is where the demographic writers choose to draw that arbitrary line. You have to add in a large number of working Americans falling above that line who are still intensely poor.

Here's the 2007 US Census' table indicating poverty measures for Americans http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/threshld/thresh07.html

Numbers like these understate the condition of poverty in the United States. Regardless of what conclusions we come to about handling poverty, poorly representative data discourages critical and accurate thinking by policy makers and the people they represent.

Posted by: Anne | Oct 22, 2008 10:14:50 AM

I remember seeing a similar documentary that Morgan Spurlock did in his "30 days" series. Luckily in Australia our 'minimum' wage (which is age based) is much higher than it seems to be in the U.S. - obviously the cost of living is consequently somewhat higher here and it's still tough for those working in low paying jobs.

I hope you guys did well in the Blog Action Day '08! Great idea for a good cause.

Posted by: Kirsty | Oct 22, 2008 11:46:16 PM

Yes, things are tough. I am 50 years old,went to college and got a BA Degree at age 48 and still ended up back in the same low paying field I was in before college. I looked for other careers and found nothing available with my skills for decent pay. There is no way I could survive on my wage if I weren't married. My husband and I struggle to make ends meet and he has a masters degree and works at a major university. State universities in my state don't pay well unless a person is faculty with tenure, a sports coach, or in the upper levels of administration.

Posted by: Donna | Oct 28, 2008 6:19:20 PM

I too have read Nickel and Dimed. I highly recommend it! Another job she takes is at none other than Walmart! Good read, and it holds up especially in these rough economic times!

Posted by: Kim | Oct 28, 2008 6:35:11 PM

This is all too real.
I have been living there almost since I started working 30 years ago.

In the past 8 to 10 years the salaries being offered are even lower for today than they were for 1978 when I started.

I actually went back and earned two degrees in the nineties thinking these would help me help myself better later on. Guess what? Since 1996 things have continually gone further down as far as actual income being earned.

I'm not going to throw the word "fault" or even "blame" out here, but there are far too many people in the U.S. who are born and raised in the U.S. who are NOT making poverty level wages.

Poverty level wages I believe are what; between $18 and $21 thousand a year right?

Too many people are not even earning that much for jobs that used to demand the education and experience so many of thee workers bring. Too many people today are forced by economics to take whatever can be found simply for the sake of whatever money they can gain by doing the work.

Far too many emplyers know this and take advantage of all of these people on a regular basis.

Noboyd questions them.

I am probably going homeless in the next few days again. This will be the 4th timew in the last 9 years. I can not do anything to prevent it. I do not have the money it takes to prevent it.

But-who cares???

Posted by: Francis | Oct 28, 2008 7:55:26 PM

The problem of the "working poor" in America is solvable. It is solvable primarily through higher educational attainment. It is foolish to believe that you can survive in America with just a high school education. That is the primary problem of the working poor--a lack of education. The other problem is that too many of the working poor are poor because they are having children they cannot afford to feed.

This doesn't mean we don't need to provide social services for the working poor but it has to come with the necessity to increase one's education and skills. In an increasingly competitive, globalized world, we cannot allow ourselves to be less educated than those in Brazil, Russia, China, India and elsewhere.

Posted by: Bob Weir | Oct 28, 2008 8:03:50 PM

One of my sons owns a small business with about 20 employees, of which six are paid minimum wage. Those jobs are considered entry-level.

There were seven such jobs, but when minimum wage was raised recently, he had to cut back to six positions.

If minimum wage gets increased again in the short-term, he'll have to lay off another one or even two people.

And, all the next tier workers will be affected, because raising the pay of the people below them means their pay has to be raised as well. So, he'll probably have to cut back on the higher paying positions too.

He treats the entry-level workers decently. Any of them who want to train for the higher paying jobs can do so, with his full support.

For someone raving about how great it is in Australia, it isn't. I have relatives who moved there from the USA - he was born there, and his wife agreed to move. Neither of them has been able to find jobs paying anywhere near what they were making here in the USA. Who cares if you get a slightly higher-paying minimum wage job if the higher-paying jobs for which you are qualified don't exist?

Raising the minimum wage would just be a big incentive for MORE illegal immigrants to come to the USA and to stay here.

Posted by: Spanky | Oct 28, 2008 8:28:02 PM

I am one of the working poor, we have 2 kids and while I work full time I can only heat my home because we use a woodstove. Allthough gas prices have come down the financial break down is somthing like this

I earn exactly $800 bi weekly, so I bring home around $1640 a month

200 gallons of propane for our furnace
$628 = about three weeks of heat at 68*F setting

so one month of heat is about $942

$1640 - $942 = $698

$698 left for gas, groceries, house payment, insurance, household supplies, kids clothing, winter wear like snow suits and boots (we do live in Wisconsin), utilities (and our electric bill is about $200 a month) wait, I'm already in the red! ok, so we use wood to heat the house that helps, but still I have about $200 a month for groceries, and since I have a pre-adolecent boy who eats more than my husband and myself combined most meals our actul grocery needs are more like $150 a week. I do get county help in the form of foodshares, 187 which does almost make up the difference in the grocery budget. Still people think that just because you need help or get it you must be lazy or irresponsible but really a staggering number of families need assistance just to get by. I know there are other families who fall between the cracks who despratly need help but are over the income guidlines. I read an article on yahoo.com the other day that a person could save thousands a year by buying generics, skipping Starbucks, and shopping at discount stores. I shop sales, buy on clearence, never eat out or buy fancy coffee shop drinks, and buy most of our groceries at Aldi's. So the tips were great, only I already do the things they suggest. In case you are wondering, I am married but we are not a two income family. My husband has been to ill to work for 3 years now, he had a 3rd liver transplant last spring. He has applied for SSI Disability, we have been turned down twice, and now have been waiting for a hearing since Feburary 2007. The adovacate we hired to represent our case told us that after a 3rd transplant a person is automatically eligable for SSI but they are holding off on giving to him while they dispute weather or not he really needed it in the 2 1/2 years leading up to his operation. We make the best of what we have and remember that we are lucky to still have my husband with us to be Dad to both our kids, 9 and 5 and that means more than money ever could.

Posted by: Ang | Oct 28, 2008 8:47:24 PM

I am an undergrad social work student and it pleases me greatly that others outside of my profession are addressing the issue that so many of my future clients face. It's time that action should be taken. The community in which my college is located offers very little in the realm of high paying jobs since the major factories moved out. As a result of that most of those who are employed work at places like wal mart and fast food chains making minimum wage with no benifits. These people lack insurance, and can barely make ends meet. Because their parents are working two or more jobs children recieve less supervision and discipline, becoming behavior problems at school, are sometimes suspended or expelled and thus become uneducated. The problem of the working poor is serious indeed and affects more than just the one member of the family who is working, but all members of a community. Thank you again for addressing this issue.

Posted by: alyse | Oct 28, 2008 9:56:11 PM

some of our military service members qualify for public assistance. that is something that appauls me.

Posted by: jean | Oct 28, 2008 10:29:19 PM

My husband has one of those jobs which pays only $8 an hour. He is a college graduate with excellent skills, computer programming skills and the lot. The only job he could get in our area was that of a janitor. Even the kids at McDonalds earn more than he does. This is another case of the working poor with skills not being appreciated for what they can contribute. How well I know not being able to enjoy a night out for dinner, medical care, a birthday gift once in a while....all those things people take for granted. Still, I am thankful I have a roof over my head and a warm place to be this winter. When you are older, you get passed over very quickly in favor of a younger, less experienced person. It's supposed to be against the law, however, it happens all too often. And there are too many of us out there.

Posted by: Maggie | Oct 28, 2008 11:54:07 PM

The poor are perpetually hosed in America. There is no way a single mother of 3 with a high school education is going to "pull herself up by her boot straps."

Never happened. Not in the real America. Only in the Randian fantasy world of the far, and wealthy, right.

One consequence of living with next to nothing is that it lowers your desire for..."stuff", substantially.

Having grown up in abject poverty, without health insurance, surviving only because of food stamps and welfare, I learned to do without. Now, even though I make under the median income for my area, I feel quite wealthy.

Of course my true wealth is my health and ability to eek some enjoyment out of this existence.

Posted by: bob | Oct 29, 2008 12:16:50 AM

i have not read the book. i dont need to i live it every day. i am 3ed generation poor. my grandma had 6 kids and divorced. my ma had 8 and divorced. me, i had 3 and divorced. i have a high school education and c.n.a. training. i coulden't make it as a c.n.a. because of depression. i became a stay at home mom after my last son was born. he was born with many health problems. i did not work again until he was 13. in the mean time i divorced because i would nolonger put up with theabuse. we lived on welfare, then child support, food stamps and part time jobs i could find. christmas came from charity. they learned about santa early cause i didnt want them to think they werebad. i have been working for 3 years nowat my last raise i went to8.35 an hour. i dont get foodstamps or medicaid.i buy insurance through work at nearly $100 every 2 weeks. during the school year they get free lunch and in the summer my older one went to a 6 week collage prep program. this cut down on the food budget and it was free. i do budget my money but with gas and electric so high it was hard this last summer. i could probably write a book myself about being apart of the working poor, only if i had the time.

Posted by: sarah | Oct 29, 2008 12:54:06 AM

Regarding Emergency Food Assistance, or food stamps, I am unemployed and was denied eligibility for food stamps due to having money in a 401K. Why should one have to report money in a 401K if one can't withdraw without penalty until one is 59.5 years old?

Posted by: SMoriah | Oct 29, 2008 1:09:39 AM

Respectfully, I would like to say that I don't need to read a book about this subject, as I live it daily.
I am among the working poor. Fighting daily to make ends meet and raise my kids with values and to respect others and most of all themselves.

Grocery shopping makes me sick, literally... Pulling that money out of my pocket that I really don't have, and deciding on IF I can even spare it this week is a pure chore for me.

Paying the heating bill or putting gas in the car to get to work is always a stressful decision.
I know one engine fuels the other and I have to do what I need to to keep making the little money to contribute but every single day is a battle.

I find myself living day to day with a good attitude but always feel the heavy load of discouragement of what's coming around the corner.

Doors open, and doors close and apparently I can't seem to fit into either.

Posted by: shan | Oct 29, 2008 8:14:08 AM

As A college degreed middle aged sales person, I saw my income and that of my colleagues reduced by about 70% about 5 years ago. When I started with the company, we were a small start up with about 3 million dollars in sales, and over ten years grew to 160 million. The owner had always used the analogy that the employees were viewed as "partners". When I started, my commission was 42% of the gross profit. Five years ago everyone's commission was reduced to 5%. One of the owners left the company over the issue. No one ever told me that having a business degree from a prestigious college and a respectable employment history would be worthless. The company now employs order takers at minimal salaries and 5% commissions to fill internet orders. These people receive the minimal amount of training. Several years ago, the company management announced to the office staff (salaried only), that profits were down for the year, and they would not be receiving annual bonuses. Within two weeks, the two owners each showed up with a new Porsche and a Jaguar. Now I am on the verge of losing my house.
By the way, a thirty year fixed mortgage, about two-thirds paid off, and I will lose the 170,000 equity built up because I cannot refinance with no job. I live in one of the cities that Fortune named the ten most dying cities in the U.S., and we have upcoming layoffs of about 15,000 still to come. I sure am glad that Congress and this administration saw fit to bail out Wall Street so their 71B in bonuses would not be in jeopardy.

Posted by: Bob | Oct 29, 2008 8:26:25 AM

I'll only seem bitter but here goes:

I am currently living in the state of Oregon which tacitly sanctions age discrimination by allowing employment agencies that practice it to recruit through its employment offices.

For the last two years of my generally workaholic lifestyle, I have struggled to even have part-time work. My usual and last full-time administrative job ended in June of 2006 as a first time circulation manager at a now defunct paper. It was on the verge of being profitable again and they closed it down!

Generally speaking administrative work is not available to anyone over 40 in Oregon unless you work for the city, county or state, unless of course you know someone or keep applying endlessly at the same place until hired. This has been not only my experience but the experience of many other 40+ people whom I've met while looking for work through the state employment office. It seems we keep meeting each other back here.

Along with the above indicator, I've been in the trenches here for the past two years working at jobs I didn't even know existed or never thought I'd need to experience just to have part-time work. These part-time jobs have without exception been physical type jobs - from slightly to waaayyyy physical. I turned 60 a month ago.

Although I'm grateful to have my health and be able to work at physical labor, I'm not looking to push my luck by continuing at it. Due to my mother's deteriorating mental health and some other family complications, I'm not able to leave and go elsewhere at the moment. But I totally recognize things will not get better here and that I'll have to leave the state to find a decent job for someone my age. I sat next to a 57-year old Oregon native yesterday who says he's ready to leave the state because the age discrimination is so blatant, especially in light of his extensive work experience.

I have had more unemployment in these last two years than I have experienced in my entire working life prior to moving to Oregon. I've had some interesting jobs here - radio producer, circulation manager, windshield repair tech - but nothing that paid more than $10 an hour. Unless it's for city, county or state, most everyone over 40 has to work multiple part-time jobs to keep working. And count on at least one of them to be physical in nature. Now add to that the absence of available health care and . . . not a pretty picture! Those who have free health care signed up for a statewide lottery to receive it.

On this note, I can gladly say I just got a part-time pizza delivery job yesterday. I start on Saturday. At least it's a start and I'll be able to pay my way again.

Poverty is what we've done to ourselves by allowing those in Washington to honor corporate politics and policies over the citizens who work and make this country run; by exalting degreed professionals over those who had to learn their professions and new technology as it entered and became mainstream in the workplace.

I could say more but I have other loose ends to tie. Thanks for reading my rant.

Oregon's pretty but if you're over 40, don't move here unless you're self-employed or have a really tight job connection!

Posted by: Kristi | Oct 29, 2008 12:11:10 PM

I read that book to my first year in college and I still think about it very frequently. I think everyone needs to read it to get an idea of what is going on in our society. The book really changed my perspective on a lot of things, and has influenced me a lot.

Posted by: Liz | Oct 29, 2008 1:36:16 PM

During political campaigns, we constantly hear how we can better the life of the "middle class"...Never do we hear about the lower or those earning poverty wages. Where is the champion of these people. Who speakes for them?

Posted by: Bill Krasovic | Oct 29, 2008 8:19:26 PM

These statistics are very dicouragung and combined with lack of healthcare this is a major problem we face today.This is why we need to have someone in the whitehouse who is genuinely willing to try to alleviate the crisis. I voted barack Obama because he is willing to acknowledge these issues and work toward dignified living for all our citizens. Most people who need help in this country don't need a job- they may even have two.

Posted by: Erica | Oct 29, 2008 11:13:04 PM

I have always been considered one of the "working poor" until 2003. That is when I survived a catastrophic illness but I had to have both legs, as well as all but one finger and the thumb from my dominant hand amputated. I also endured kidney dialysis for almost 2 1/2 years. I had worked for over 25 years and prior to surviving this illness, I had been able to pay all of my bills.(But, that was almost 6 years ago) Today, no one is willing to hire me even though I walk without difficulty because of prosthetic legs. I cross country ski, snow board and ride a bicycle. I sometimes wonder who really has the disability! I am beginning to think that it is actually employers who have the disability, mainly in their brain function. I only lost my legs, not my ability to think and learn new skills but I have been looking for employment for almost 2 1/2 years without success. As for retirement? There will be none for me because if I am finally able to find employment, I will be paying off debts until the day I die. The American dream that so many people want and continue coming to America to pursue? It seems that far too many immigrants coming to the United States are getting their American dreams fulfilled and it is not because they are taking jobs that no American would work. I have gone into many places where I cannot even understand what the employee is saying but, THEY have a job that I know I am very capable of doing! They are buying homes, new cars and going on nice vacations while every day, I am still out there trying to find just one employer willing to give me a chance at a better quality of life. I would like whoever decides to immigrate to the United States, to try survivng on what I get in social security disability. Maybe then, they would not be so eager to come to my country. BUT, the myth of the American dream is still being perpetuated by almost every so-called leader we have elected into office. Whoever becomes our next president, I would like to exchange my SSDI check for theirs. I would like to see McCain give up at least 5 of his 7 homes. I would also like to see every millionaire or billionaire, try and survive on what I am suppose to make do with. The United States has become a nation of greed and deceit by those who could afford to give their employees a decent living wage and still, nothing has ever changed. The richest people in the United States still want another million or two, to make their lives "that much better!" I would really like to know just how many millions one person needs to have, in order to have a comfortable life? I know I could do it on less that one million.

Posted by: Mary | Oct 29, 2008 11:21:06 PM

I have worked for the last couple of years for a church-supported charity that attempts to help the poor, both working and non-working. I myself fall into the category of "working poor", and qualify for some types of assistance, but even these are not enough. Yes, I can get help with my heating bills through the energy assistance program, but am still left each spring with whopping amounts above what the state pays and what I am able to pay. Consequently, during the summer and fall I have on occasion had one or another of my utilities shut off, which adds large required deposits and re-connection fees to the unacceptable amounts already owed. And by that time of year the social service agencies and charities have usually run out of funds to assist, due to the large numbers of those seeking aid. Jobs are scarce to non-existant here in the "rust belt". especially for those of us over 40. And if you are older but not yet 65 and don't have dependent children living at home, you cannot get Medicaid or some other forms of assistance. If you do have dependent children living at home, your minimum wage job doesn't pay enough to cover the child care you must have in order to be able to work. Though the fact that you are working disqualifies you for some types of aid.

And by the way, where I live there is no form of public transportation whatsoever, but if you own a car to be able to get to work, the value of that vehicle is counted as an "asset" which could be sold to pay bills with, and thus limits or disqualifies you for some forms of aid. And of course there are no programs to pay for car repairs, so if your vehicle breaks down, you are probably going to lose your job due to inability to get to work.

The food banks in our area give out about 3 days worth of food based on the size of the family, and many have had to limit how often and for how long a period of time a family may receive help.

Some places offering various kinds of aid require the family take budgeting classes and various other types of classes in order to receive aid. While these classes are very good and very helpful, they do not make up for an income which may simply be inadequate for the family to live on.

These situations are only going to increase as the economy worsens.

And no, I am afraid I do not have any solutions to offer. I wish I did. One of my co-workers once commented that with 90 churches in our county, no family should go hungry. Unfortunately, many of these are small "country" churches with elderly or dwindling membership, and are unable to afford to provide a lot in the way of support for aid programs, and try to concentrate their efforts on assisting those of their own membership who are in need. While this is laudable, there are many families who for varous reasons are "unchurched". These folks can often get some help from one or another of the churches from time to time, but often not on a regular basis.

And yes, we do have subsidized housing programs in our area, but I am told the waiting list for such is about 3 years.

In our office we were talking one day to a gentleman from one of the churches who had come in to inquire what his church might do to help out. This church about twice a year offers a free oil change to single mothers. We were going over some of the many needs in our community with him, and he commented about how strongly most of the churches supported foreign missions and aid for the poor in other countries, but were simply unaware of the extent of need in our own country, thinking the Social Service programs took care of everything.

In our county, there is no facility at all for homeless men for example, and an increasing number of men who have lost their jobs as a number of factories in the area have downsized or downright closed, and their unemployment benefits have run out. One of the churches was able to acquire some land and was going to build a shelter for homeless men. (there is one for women and children) It was necessary, however, to petition for a variance in the zoning laws to do so, and the NIMBYS got all up in arms and defeated the proposal for the required zoning change in the City Council. I'm not sure how they think it would be better to have these homeless men living under bridges or in cardboard boxes (and yes, some of our clients have done and are doing just that) than to have a place for them to stay. And by the way, having no residence address disqualifies these folks from many of the aid programs that do exist. They can't get much in the way of food if they have no refrigeration for it, and nothing to cook it on, for example. Or they can't get certain types of aid if they have no address to mail required paperwork to, or for a Social Worker to visit and check on for living conditions.

I can only hope that something happens to turn the economy around quickly, before we have half the populaton in this type of situation.

I no this comment is full of gloom and doom, but I am hoping it will also be a wake-up call to many who simply are unware of the conditionsd that currently exist among the poor in our country.

Posted by: Lynn | Oct 30, 2008 2:53:49 AM

I'm participating in a volunteer program down in San Antonio, TX and I witness this heartbreaking reality daily at my job as a crisis intervention caseworker. It's absolutely incredible. The following is an accurate observation and assesment:

"It’s easy to think of the poor as jobless and living in a cardboard box. But the reality is that many work just as hard, if not harder, than anyone else, but struggle paycheck to paycheck and often go to bed hungry. One alarming statistic: 40 percent of adults asking for emergency food assistance were employed."

Anne is absolutely correct in her comment as well:
"What is much more fascinating and horrifying than the numbers of working Americans falling bellow the 'poverty line' is where the demographic writers choose to draw that arbitrary line. You have to add in a large number of working Americans falling above that line who are still intensely poor."

It's amazing that people are living this way right here in America, probably the most materialistic and wasteful place imaginable. Just think how we could make lives just a little easier by curbing and channeling our wasteful habits towards helping those who can barely make ends meet no matter how hard they try. It's frustrating, yet it's a real eye-opener for me.

Posted by: Kelli | Oct 30, 2008 10:41:09 AM

There will always be poverty in life. The only equalizer is death. That said I want you to know I am an exception to the stories I am reading her. Born the eldest son in a family of five shildren I lived till the age of 8 in a four room garden apartment built for the vets of WWII. My folks borrowed money from my grandmother ( a widow ,judged poor by the standards then) and bought a small house. I had my own room !. I went on to finish HSafter dropping out at age 17 for a year. . Got two college degrees after serving in the Navy. I worked full time my last two semesters carrying 22 science credits.I had a wife and child ( one of two I'd father) and my wife worked.I have had 6 jobs in the past 35 years and now own a small business that is suffering. I sent two kids to college ,one finished with a masters degree...I am happy..not rich but I am not living like my parents did....not even close. I worked since I was 10 years old. I am still working and I am 61 now. I will continue to work. It's possible, even probable to make it out of what is socialogically termed"working poverty".

Posted by: Skip | Oct 30, 2008 11:40:11 AM

We ALL have a hardship story when it comes to money and work. But at the end of the day, nothing changes unless you make it happen for yourself. I have worked as a waitress, burger flipper, tiolet cleaner, bank adjuster, repo-woman, bill collector, manager, upper level manager, telemarketer, you name it! One thing I have learned is, what I have, what I do, where I go and how I feel are all things that I control. I am fortunate to have a decent job right now. But who knows? That could all end today. I am approaching 50 next year, so I'm one of those older workers that people say often get over-looked. This may be true, but I won't let anyone overlook me for long. Whenever I feel that this has happened, I make it a practice to call back the potential employer and ask why I was not considered more closely for the job and ask if my age had anything to do with it.
Still don't get the job, but you can bet, even though they give some lame excuse like "over experienced" or "not a good match", just being asked the age question puts them on red alert status.
I know what it's like to be a single parent, dig for spare change to buy gas, or groceries. I worry about health care and all the things every other working class American does.
I've read a few of these blogs and wonder, how you can afford internet when you say you don't even have enough money to buy groceries? It is hard, it isn't fair, and it really sucks sometimes. But as long as you can get out and work, you can find a job and get it with the right attitude. May not be what you want or the money you are used to making, and you may have to work a job and a half to get by. But this is the attitude that that has to be taken, You do what you do, do it the very best you can, pray to whatever God you you serve, and manage your time and assets well. My husband and I often joke about being one of those wonderful older people who are the Greeters at Walmart one day, but truth is, we both know, we'd do it in a heartbeat if that's what it took to survive. And thank God for companies like Walmart that do appreciate the benefits, experience, and knowledge the older generation has to offer!
In fact, most of the retail industries do, and I say WAY TO GO!

Posted by: Teresa | Oct 30, 2008 11:51:37 AM

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