The state of our economy...

[MANN]

Truckers:
Gas is expensive, but the cost for diesel is through the roof. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining but the fact that people that operate their own semi to make a living are getting hit hard. The truck alone costs more than most peoples house costs. They got to keep their cost's low enough so they can get the jobs, a kind of lowballing bid to stay competitive. Most truckers that I know that operate their own rig usually have to cut charging for fuel in their prices, because of the low balling bidders. Not to put the blame on just the government but the companys that manufacture trucks haven't helped at all with the fuel economy that these big rigs get. Most owners are not taking jobs cause their cost to operate is to high and its cheaper to just park the truck.

I was raised at a diesel mechanic shop (my father started the company, and we were free help), and know probably 100s of diesel drivers.

There is no reason why any of them should be screaming poor. Yes their trucks cost 125k new easily, and fixing them when they are broke is outrageous. They however make good money. Most of them easily make 14.00 an hour (If driving someone else's truck) or more if operating ones own truck. This is without any education expense.

As for the grass company....I have no professional experience there. I made bank mowing yards when I was 12-14, but havent done it since. I know I was able to purchase (on my own) a jeep and a ninja 250 when I was 15 so it cant be that bad.

[skife]

I was raised at a diesel mechanic shop (my father started the company, and we were free help), and know probably 100s of diesel drivers.

There is no reason why any of them should be screaming poor. Yes their trucks cost 125k new easily, and fixing them when they are broke is outrageous. They however make good money. Most of them easily make 14.00 an hour (If driving someone else's truck) or more if operating ones own truck. This is without any education expense.

As for the grass company....I have no professional experience there. I made bank mowing yards when I was 12-14, but havent done it since. I know I was able to purchase (on my own) a jeep and a ninja 250 when I was 15 so it cant be that bad.

hard for owner/ops to make money, you take what money is being made and you have to stash some away incase something breaks.

you've got to be on the road almost non stop to get anywhere.

[Lohman446]

$14 an hour is not good money

$14 X 40 X 52 is under $30K a year. While there may not be a ton of training involved there is a ton of responsibility, as well as regulatory issues, and an inconvenient working schedule.

[MANN]

hard for owner/ops to make money, you take what money is being made and you have to stash some away incase something breaks.

you've got to be on the road almost non stop to get anywhere.

i dunno. there were many wealthy owners that I knew/know of. If there were not any money to be made then we wouldn't have truck companies.

[MANN]

$14 an hour is not good money

$14 X 40 X 52 is under $30K a year. While there may not be a ton of training involved there is a ton of responsibility, as well as regulatory issues, and an inconvenient working schedule.

Yes you are correct. It is hard to live making less than 14 dollars an hour. I currently make less than 14 dollars an hour, and my wife makes less than 10 an hour

How do I survive? I pay for my own college(and my wifes), I pay for my own car (and my wifes), I have had a 30 yr mortgage on my house for the past 3 years, and am currently scheduled to have it payed off in 6 years (yes 1/3 of the scheduled time if we continue at the rate we are going). I get no gov assistance, and little family assistance. My wife will have her masters in less than one year, and my schooling.... its going.

I will share a secret with everyone
Monday has 24 hours
Tuesday has 24 hours
Wednesday has 24 hours
Thursday has 24 hours
Friday has 24 hours
Saturday has 24 hours
Sunday has 24 hours

In any given week there are 168 hours

Why is it that people think that they should only work less than 25% of their life, and live like a king? I am sorry, but anyone who only works less than 25% of the week should not complain about their standard of living.

[kosmo]

Mann, try adding a kid or two into your budget and then explain how youll live.

[MANN]

Mann, try adding a kid or two into your budget and then explain how youll live.

Most people with children dont have 12k+ annual tuition cost. If I had a kid I would live/survive. I currently have 2 Great Pyrenees that take up quite a bit of time and money. I know they are not kids, but none the less 2 more mouths to feed. I easily spend 150 in dog food a month for the two of them.



Again the problem with the economy is the people complaining about them. If people would work as much as they make excuses not to; they would live in prosperity.

Another unknown fact about "mann" is that when I was ~2-3 yrs old my mother only owned the car that she broke down on the side of the interstate in 600 miles away from home in. She started on the footers for the enclosure on the pool last week (20 yrs later). I hope it will be finished by fall so we can swim indoors this winter. IIRC its a 5000 sq foot addition.

Give me a problem, and I guarantee you that it can be solved with "quit whining and work"

For those of you who dont know what Great Pyrenees are


Maximus (aka man dog) and Sugar Baby
both weigh ~120 and eat a ton

[maxama10]

Mann, try adding a kid or two into your budget and then explain how youll live.

I know circumstances arise but, if someone can't afford a child then perhaps it would be best not to have one.

[maxama10]

you are wise beyond your years.

(coming from a 24yr old)

Thanks!


I guess thats why I don't get along with most of my peers! :rofl:

[kosmo]

But maxama, if poor people stopped having kids, it would only be a matter of time before we had no lower class to do all the jobs the rich folks dont want to do.

[MANN]

But maxama, if poor people stopped having kids, it would only be a matter of time before we had no lower class to do all the jobs the rich folks dont want to do.

probably not. most poor people would be poor with or without children. Children are just an easy excuse.

[teufelhunden]

whoever said the thing about going to school for something useful -- very excellent point. was going to make it myself.

that said, it's really not extremely difficult to get yourself thru school. people will scream and yell about the cost of tuition, which -can- be high. however, my 4 year accredited institution currently costs about $10,500/yr in tuition. Which, if you were to stay there for all four years would be under 45k [and that includes a tuition increase].

However, one could also choose to go to a 2 yr school for half their education. The one near me runs about $300 a class, or about $3000 a year. So, 2 years of that and two years of my school is under 30k.

$30,000 for a 4 year degree is NOT bad. I will be earning all of my tuition money back in the first year of employment. I'm an almost-accountant [graduating in May] and my job is going to be paying me $50,000 with all the benefits [and all the garbage of tax season] plus paying for my masters. So my initial $40,000 investment [that's what education is, folks] is going to go quite far for me.

Oh, did I mention I paid for everything working at Starbucks 20-25 hr/wk at about $10.50 hr [rough average I guess] and with minimal [bout 6k] loans. Also busted butt and am graduating in 7 semesters, which further drives down my costs.

It's doable. Very doable. Might take some sacrifices, will take hard work, but you can do it and improve your quality of life substantially. Hell, you can even do it online.

[teufelhunden]

Oh, one last.

I know of an employer who is ALWAYS hiring and provided one is in good health, will never turn people away.

United States armed forces.

[drg]

Yes you are correct. It is hard to live making less than 14 dollars an hour. I currently make less than 14 dollars an hour, and my wife makes less than 10 an hour

How do I survive? I pay for my own college(and my wifes), I pay for my own car (and my wifes), I have had a 30 yr mortgage on my house for the past 3 years, and am currently scheduled to have it payed off in 6 years (yes 1/3 of the scheduled time if we continue at the rate we are going). I get no gov assistance, and little family assistance. My wife will have her masters in less than one year, and my schooling.... its going.

I will share a secret with everyone
Monday has 24 hours
Tuesday has 24 hours
Wednesday has 24 hours
Thursday has 24 hours
Friday has 24 hours
Saturday has 24 hours
Sunday has 24 hours

In any given week there are 168 hours

Why is it that people think that they should only work less than 25% of their life, and live like a king? I am sorry, but anyone who only works less than 25% of the week should not complain about their standard of living.

Are those your only expenses? How about your ... insurance, retirement, savings, leisure, etc. Then throw in a freak accident, illness, natural disaster or economic freakout in your area ... suddenly it's all a house of cards. Should a kid be an impossibility for you?

It's easy to say all kinds of crap as a young, healthy person with a young, healthy family in a relatively stable situation in a low cost of living area. And I guess that's why Republicans come out of those areas and conditions.

Young people often fail to see that making ends meet is where it starts. Gainful employment means you should be getting ahead, and that doesn't mean just catching up.

[paintballfiend]

As for the unemployment: perhaps instead of going to college to major in some obscure profession not likely to find work after(liberal art majors anyone?), students should go for a degree that is in demand or promises to be in demand.

Push towards more science and math that can provide for our economy and failing national infrastructure.


Hollywood isn't real.


just the thoughts of a 17 year old...

-Max

Hell, if all I cared about was having a secure job during an economic crisis I would become a drug dealer.