Yahoo!

So, what do you all think about this?

The story is after the 15 second commercial.

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I've had a Foreman Grill for about six years. I've done about 85% of my cooking on it, but I've never burnt myself. Probably because I don't use it as a pillow.

They haven't paid their mortgage in 2 years? What does the wife do for employment and why don't they sell everything in the house? There are a million things that I can think of that would bring in money to that family. Why didn't they move to a more reasonable home and rent that home out? They could have taken in boarders. House shared. At $7.29 a hour how can they even afford the utilities on that home?
They created and have lived with their own problems and I don't see them doing a thing to help theirselves.

Exactly. And $500/month in food stamps? When they are living in that house? There are just so many things that bother me about this story, yet from this clip it seems like they are getting patted on the back for "stooping" so low as to get a pizza delivery job! I would be selling everything, getting into a cheaper house or renting an apartment, etc. I didn't see the whole story, but I get the drift that the mom doesn't have a job--correct me if you've seen the whole story and she does.

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I've had a Foreman Grill for about six years. I've done about 85% of my cooking on it, but I've never burnt myself. Probably because I don't use it as a pillow.

I guess I don't understand what makes this guy special. I'm guessing for many families $7.29/hour is reality. I read this article first ABC News: Down But Not Out: From Hedge Funds to Pizza Delivery

"Finally, he drove his Mercedes to Mike's Pizza & Deli Station in Clearwater and applied for a job" ~ah, what about selling that car?

"The family's jet skis now collect dust in the garage near the Mercedes, with its broken transmission they cannot fix" ~I personally have a fear of water so I have no need for jet skis but how many of you have jets skis just laying around in the garage?

I can't tell whether this article was written for our sympathy or a job interview.

I don't think it adds up.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/03/12...omy/index.html Is this going to be a trend? Not to sound like a heartless bit-er, uh meanie. But there are so many that already live on a whole lot less.

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All we are and all we see is but a dream in a dream, All that you see or seem, is but a dream within a dream--Edgar Allan Poe

This was part of 20/20 on Friday night, which by the way was an excellent show! They also had the kids from the California classroom that were all living with their parents who were behind in their rent/mortgage payments or already homeless that did the Utube video that Obama recently mentioned in one of his speeches. I think it is entitled " Is Anybody Listening?"
or something to that effect if anyone wants to watch it. also did a part on the rise of homeless shelters.

As far as the food stamps, get ready to be really outraged. My oldest DD is a food stamp worker and in this last stimulus package that Obama put out, there are a bunch of the food stamp rules changing. They all have been called in going over the new rules. In the stimulus package, as of June 1 2009, ALL ASSETS DO NOT HAVE TO BE COUNTED, meaning you could have any amount of rental property, vehicles, a million dollars in the bank and if you are NOT WORKING and have NO/LOW INCOME you can get food stamps. The current rules allow you to have no more than $2000 in the bank, you can own your primary residence, but if you have rental property is has to be for sale. As of June 1, there will be no restrictions. Also, the benefits are INCREASING temporarily for people, so people will be getting MORE food stamps until October. So this is going to even cost the tax payers more money. DD said all the workers are just absolutely so angry over this no restriction thing, as people already get around the system, it will just be easier now. So things they currently turn in to be investigated and prosecuted as fraud will no longer be considered fraud, it's going to be perfectly legal.

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I wonder if they are holding on to everything hoping someone sees this interview and rescues them.

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Support bacteria -- it's the only culture some people have!

If Vegetarians eat Vegetables. Do Humanitarians eat Humans?

'Vegetarian' is an old Native American word for bad hunter.

I saw this story clip online. I guess I have a hard time having sympathy for this family. His highest salary was $750,000 a year, and it seems obvious that his income was grossly mismanaged for them not to have anything? They have no savings?
And who cannot pay their mortgage in two years, and still be able to stay in their home? It was mentioned that their kids go to private schools, and they are trying to keep things the same (or what they're used to) for as long as possible.

They seriously need to talk to Dave Ramsey, and he will set them straight. They can begin by selling their expensive vehicles and toys sitting in the garage.

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I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy every minute of it!

That's the part I was wondering about. Serioulsy, a family can live very nicely on a fraction of that $750,000 yr. Why wouldn't there be some kind of savings?

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"No one believes more firmly than Comrade Napoleon that all animals are equal. He would be only too happy to let you make your decisions for yourselves. But sometimes you might make the wrong decisions, comrades, and then where should we be?"
- George Orwell Animal Farm

Apparently there was savings of at least $500,000 that the husband burned through in 2 years trying to get his business started.

I cannot fathom staying in a house for 2 years while it is in foreclosure. My conscience wouldn't let me do that.

The instant these people saw the storm clouds rolling in, they should've put their house on the market (short sale if possible), sold most if not all of their toys, and cut back their lavish lifestyle.

Even with their children's tuition being paid by an anonymous donor, I'm sure they are spending big bucks so their kids don't stand out in this expensive school ($$$ clothes, activities, etc.). The kids will have to adjust to public school eventually, or life in general, so why not pull them out of private school while they are still young enough not to notice the difference? What are they teaching their kids?

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I've had a Foreman Grill for about six years. I've done about 85% of my cooking on it, but I've never burnt myself. Probably because I don't use it as a pillow.

He didn't actually lose his job. He quit is job to start his own business, then the economy got bad and he tried to go back to a regular job, but couldn't get a job because of the economy, that's how he ended up at the pizza place, he decided he would take any job to make the utility payments. They did have savings, but they lived off the savings when he started his business and then it was all gone. Their kids are in private school, but they are not paying for it, according to 20/20 there is an anonymous donor paying the kids $30,000 tuition so they can stay in school there. I am not sure how someone can stay in the house without paying the mortgage for 2 years, said this on 20/20 also. I also wondered why they didn't sell some of the stuff they owned, for all we know maybe they have or maybe they have tried and it hasn't sold depending on the economy where they live, maybe no one else can afford it either.

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I've always heard from people in the financial industry that it doesn't matter how much people make...most people will live paycheck to paycheck(obviously there are exceptions to that rule). One time I made the comment that people making $70,000 a year will live paycheck to paycheck...everyone just argued with me but I know it's true. Everyone I know basically lives paycheck to paycheck, no matter if they make $10 an hour or $100! Sure they have a couple thousand in savings but that doesn't last long. People were just living so high on the hog and like there was no tomorrow...well, tomorrow is here! I just hope some people have learned good lessons and when money starts to flow again they will save for that "tomorrow".

Greed and irresponsibilty.

I believe this too. It's kind of like the saying, "Work expands to fill the time allotted to it"

There are people who are wise with their finances (like most of us, I think) How many of us could live for years on savings of $500,000? I think I could live indefinitely...

And we should feel sorry for them -- why???

Didn't you love the way the news put the 'poor' spin on this story. The guy decided on his own to leave his job that supported his family to start his own business. With all the debt he had, that was stupid, stupid, stupid!!!

Why don't they sell a lot of the 'stuff' in their house? I also noticed the pool was still clean. That's a HUGE expense by itself. Does an 'annonymous donor' pay for the pool upkeep?

I think there's more to this story that the news media left out.

We have been on both ends of the spectrum in income. Years ago We went from $40K to $120K in less than 12 months. THis was "contract work" that hubby did. Starry eyed!!!! wow, what we could do with that money!! You pay more in taxes.. you move to the new job. The house we were living in was great.. but we paid $50 K for it and $50 K for a home in the new town... SCARY!!!!! So we went from $400 in house payment to $800 in rental payments. When we moved to the next area... it was horrible. we jumped to $1600 in rent and that was an 800 sq ft apt in LA. We also had to pay for medical insurance. Disability.. it just kept adding and soon I wasn't too excited about making 100K a year. We were able to do more when we were living on 40K. We have fluctuated in pay according to jobs and areas that we have lived. I truly was envious of anyone making 100K thinking WOW!!! but you can't change any of your life to "enjoy" the new money. We have friends that while their business was great.. they had a 10,000 sq ft home and was enjoying life ... savings.. kids private school etc. Her DH lost a contract at work, the business is barely still there. They are trying to sell the house. Dropped 1.5 mil off the price. Nobody is buying. She is back to work.. he is doing everything that they can not to loose ALL of the equity in the house, the kids are in public school now. THey are scared to death.

It took us 17 months to sell our house in FL. SOmetimes you just can't get rid of a house. . It was completely scary.

For the pizza guy... you bet I would sell all of the toys and try to have sold the house. It is hard to go from top dog to bottom. I do think the story is kinda off too.