I have some college loans to pay down.

BEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEERBEER

I see people are saying putting towards savings, previous loans or investing. Doesn't that go against the idea of providing these checks to everyone?

Edited February 10, 200818 yr by santo=dorf

Iam going to buy gas.

I see people are saying putting towards savings, previous loans or investing. Doesn't that go against the idea of providing these checks to everyone?

That's the problem and why some think this wont work. People are so far into debt that this money wont go to by products, it'll pay off bills. I understand why i SHOULD by products with this, but I also have to look out for my long term financial well-being and pay off parts of my college loans. $1500 would take a nice chunk out of the $11,000 i still have in my college loan.

The quicker I pay off these loans, the sooner I can by that church in Iowa to turn it into a house (LONG story for another time )

Edited February 10, 200818 yr by Athomeboy_2000

Two letters and a number, P-S-3

yeah, I dont qualify, bumped up a tax bracket.

That's the problem and why some think this wont work. People are so far into debt that this money wont go to by products, it'll pay off bills. I understand why i SHOULD by products with this, but I also have to look out for my long term financial well-being and pay off parts of my college loans. $1500 would take a nice chunk out of the $11,000 i still have in my college loan.

The quicker I pay off these loans, the sooner I can by that church in Iowa to turn it into a house (LONG story for another time )

At some level, there will be a percentage of people who will spend these, while another percentage will do as you say, pay down debt, or put the money in to savings, etc.

 

For this reason, most of the economics types I read think that this stimulus package will have some effect, but will not be as effective as it could have been. There are other methods, like extension of unemployment benefits, expansion of energy/food benefits for the people truly in poverty, etc., which produce even stronger stimulus levels than what this package will provide. Most of those ideas were filibustered by 1 vote, 59-40, in the Senate, in the vote McCain skipped. So, the thinking basically seems to be...this is better than nothing.

yeah, I dont qualify, bumped up a tax bracket.

 

I don't get it either.

 

 

 

it must suck making a lot of money.

it must suck making a lot of money.

It usually means you're in higher demand, work a ton of hours, s***ty shifts (I volunteered for this current one however,) and pay a LOT in taxes. We'll see what happens after this tax return.

 

It's still better than making minimum wage however.

I never make enough money, never. My salary has almost quadrupiled my salary since I graduated college, but it seems like I have less money now than then.

I never make enough money, never. My salary has almost quadrupiled my salary since I graduated college, but it seems like I have less money now than then.

 

I recently read a pretty interesting article on this. They interviewed people with incomes from average (~45k) to 1M+ No matter how much money someone is making, they A) always feel like they're middle class B) if they only made twice as much money as they do now, they'd be set.

 

 

I never make enough money, never. My salary has almost quadrupiled my salary since I graduated college, but it seems like I have less money now than then.

 

Who's fault is that? lol

I recently read a pretty interesting article on this. They interviewed people with incomes from average (~45k) to 1M+ No matter how much money someone is making, they A) always feel like they're middle class B) if they only made twice as much money as they do now, they'd be set.

 

imagine that. Wealth doesn't satisfy. It's a mindset that most people aren't willing to accept hence the debt crisis in America.

 

 

For me, I'd rather be happy in my job and make what I do now than make twice as much and know that I'll feel unhappy in my work the rest of my life.

 

 

I've personally set a cap on the money I'll make in my life. Once I get to that mark, I will put the rest away for charity, retirement, and college funds. That way, I won't be tempted for that bigger house or that nicer car, etc.

I never make enough money, never. My salary has almost quadrupiled my salary since I graduated college, but it seems like I have less money now than then.

 

I'm pretty sure that when I factor in inflation, I'm not making a whole hell of a lot more than when I started. My gross salary has only went up 30% in 10 years.

Here's an e-mail my mom sent me:

 

10 Jobs That Pay More Than $30 an Hour

By Anthony Balderrama, CareerBuilder.com writer

 

Remember when you got your first job and realized one movie ticket was equal to one hour of work or that a pair of shoes was an entire workday? Somewhere along the way, many of us stopped looking at our paychecks as units of time and started focusing on how much we deposit in the bank.

 

 

If you haven’t calculated your hourly pay in awhile, now might be a good time crunch some numbers and see what you’re bringing home each day. The median household salary is $48,201, according to the 2006 U.S. Census Bureau report. This makes the average hourly rate $23.17 based on a 40-hour workweek.

 

 

We’ve made a list of the top 10 jobs that earn between $30 and $40 per hour, along with their median annual salary, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

 

 

1. Electronics engineers, except computers - $38.97/hour*

Electronics engineers create a variety of electronics and monitor their manufacturing. They are involved in electronics of all sizes and functions, from personal and home audio equipment to broadcast systems.

Median annual salary: $81,050

 

 

2. Computer applications software engineers - $38.36/hour

Computer applications software engineers create or improve programs and software in response to user needs. Their applications might be bundled with other software or they might be created specifically for a client’s private use.

Median annual salary: $79,780

 

 

3. Chemical engineers - $37.91/hour

Chemical engineers solve problems related to using or manufacturing chemicals, whether in the machinery used in the production or in materials created with the chemicals.

Median annual salary: $78,860

 

 

4. Electrical engineers - $36.50/hour

Electrical engineers develop electrical equipment, such as the lighting and wiring in buildings, cars and airplanes.

Median annual salary: $75,930

 

 

5. Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers - $34.90/hour

Administrative law judges, adjudicators and hearing officers preside over court proceedings that relate to a specific government agency. Their cases can involve everything from health code violations to workplace discrimination.

Median annual salary: $72,600

 

 

6. Mechanical engineers - $33.58/hour

Mechanical engineers are involved in the creation of new tools, machines and components, from the concept’s inception to the production and testing stages.

Median annual salary: $69,850

 

 

7. Civil engineers - $32.98/hour

Civil engineers draw up plans for roads, airports and other public goods and oversee their construction.

Median annual salary: $68,600

 

 

8. Management analysts - $32.72/hour

Management analysts look at a company’s structure and business plans for ways to improve revenue and productivity.

Median annual salary: $68,050

 

 

9. Personal financial advisers - $31.79/hour

Personal financial advisers work with individuals to assess their financial situation and help them reach certain goals, which can be anywhere from establishing a retirement fund to deciding the best investment options.

Median annual salary: $66,120

 

 

10. Operations research analysts - $31.08/hour

Operations research analysts are brought into businesses and organizations to identify, investigate and solve logistics problems through the use of statistical analysis and computer programs. The type of problems can vary depending on the nature of the business, whether it’s a production factory or the military.

Median annual salary: $64,650

 

 

*All salary information based on BLS data.

 

Who's fault is that? lol

Honestly, who knows. My cost of living in downtown Chicago has increased rapidly over the past 5 years. Im sure I could be better about spending on eating out and whatnot, but when tombstone pizzas are upwards of 6 bucks per, you wonder how we got to this point.

2. Computer applications software engineers - $38.36/hour

Computer applications software engineers create or improve programs and software in response to user needs. Their applications might be bundled with other software or they might be created specifically for a client’s private use.

Median annual salary: $79,780

 

I don't even make 50% of that...

i'm probably going to use mine as a down payment on an engagement ring, because one bad marriage just wasn't good enough for me.

I don't even make 50% of that...

You really need to shop around. Just about all my engineering/programming buddies make bank. Don't you also make a long commute to work as well?

I don't even make 50% of that...

Pm me dude, i work in software if you are ever looking for some gig hook ups.

You really need to shop around. Just about all my engineering/programming buddies make bank. Don't you also make a long commute to work as well?

 

40 miles one-way.

 

Plus we've lost 6 programmers in the last year (only 1 left voluntarily) which means my work load has sky-rocketed.

 

Where ever these high-paying programming jobs are, they're not around me...

40 miles one-way.

 

Plus we've lost 6 programmers in the last year (only 1 left voluntarily) which means my work load has sky-rocketed.

 

Where ever these high-paying programming jobs are, they're not around me...

The other 6 programmers took them.

Honestly, who knows. My cost of living in downtown Chicago has increased rapidly over the past 5 years. Im sure I could be better about spending on eating out and whatnot, but when tombstone pizzas are upwards of 6 bucks per, you wonder how we got to this point.

 

You also drive a Infiniti and buy $80+ pants. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, but if your spending habits go up with your salary, you'll always feel like you don't make enough.

Edited February 11, 200818 yr by StrangeSox