[Homestead] [Homestead ] MY microcosm of economic downturn
Lynn Wigglesworth
lynnw1366 at hotmail.com
Mon Dec 22 12:32:51 EST 2008
> Lynn, when we were young, and even after that, a man could have one
> regular blue collar job and support a family, including buying a house and
> having health insurance. Soemthing has changed, and it has not been an
> improvement
Except the health insurance, you still can. When I was young, we didn't have
McMansions, cable TV, computers, cell phones, SUVs, lots of eating out, and
all the other things people consider 'essential' today. My parent lived
through the Depression, and my mother is horrified at the way people live
today (that woman can really pinch a penny). She lives on a small pension,
and puts most of it into savings.
Today I live (with the exception of computer/internet) pretty much the same
way I grew up, and I live (with two teenagers) on less than $20,000/year. I
could live on farm income and a minimum wage job (if I could find one). Even
when I lived in the city, I lived very cheaply. It's expectations that have
changed...people think they are entitled to every luxury whether they can
afford it or not.
Lynn Wigglesworth
Tioga Co. PA
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