Too poor to retire; too young to die

[hnzw_rui]

They've opted for a lifestyle of travel that they can't afford, so they're working odd jobs to pay for it. It's not a lifestyle that appeals to me, but I'm not sure that I would like mouldering away in low income senior housing, looking at the same four walls every day, either.

My grandmother was in low income senior housing in San Francisco and her studio was nicer than our apartment. Heck, it'd probably cost $2-3K to rent per month on the open market. They've got weekly activities and my grandma enjoyed socializing with the other tenants.

 

[LARS]

First, when I read stories like this my knee jerk reaction is "but for the Grace of God" and I am not a particularly religious person!

Second, while I have never had to access public assistance I would imagine that unless you've got experience with the "system" it can be a daunting experience where you don't even know where to begin. Add old age, and the process, unless someone else takes pity on you and guides you through, would be very challenging I would think.

Third, I had a friend, Yale undergrad and law degree from Univ of Chicago, who fell on hard times mainly a function of mental health issues, and he remarked to me once, "that being poor is a tremendous amount of work" as nothing comes easy (i.e. you don't just hop in your car for an appointment you have to go take three different buses, etc.).


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[Souschef]

I can have some sympathy for this woman's plight, but I feel no responsibility towards her. A lifetime of living that philosophy has its consequences, and they are hers, not mine. I've had family members try to lay a guilt trip on me because I have some money squirreled away. I've told them, "hey, I didn't get up at 5AM to work instead of ski because I preferred to work. I would have preferred to go skiing. I did it because I didn't want to be poor.. And no, I won't lend you $5,000"...

+1

 

[Texas Proud]

Yes, one of those articles to try and make it seem that all old people need help....


But I just see poor decision after poor decision.... first, her $21 meal... even if it is good for 3 meals that is $7 per meal... you can do cheaper than that...

She also seems to be driving from place to place for almost minimum wage jobs.... the cost of moving is probably more than the money she will make... or at least the differential if she just stayed put and worked...

And I will say that it IS possible to live on what she makes... she is getting assistance from the gvmt for food and possibly more.... my mom lives on that amount of money without assistance... sure, she has savings if she needs it, but she does not use it...

BTW, my mom is on a medicare supplemental plan that cost her zero monthly payments and they pay for all her treatments.... that would get rid of the big medical bills that this woman has...

Yes, better decisions on her part would go a long way in fixing the problem...

 

[athena53]

BTW, my mom is on a medicare supplemental plan that cost her zero monthly payments and they pay for all her treatments.... that would get rid of the big medical bills that this woman has...

One of her big bills was $8,000 for RV repairs and a dental emergency- not sure how that broke out between the two, but AFAIK, no government plan covers dental care for seniors. That can be a huge gap. Maybe if we could get people to live healthier and realize savings from that we could afford to expand some programs for the low-income to include dental care. I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Sarah in SC]

First, when I read stories like this my knee jerk reaction is "but for the Grace of God" and I am not a particularly religious person!

Second, while I have never had to access public assistance I would imagine that unless you've got experience with the "system" it can be a daunting experience where you don't even know where to begin. Add old age, and the process, unless someone else takes pity on you and guides you through, would be very challenging I would think.

Third, I had a friend, Yale undergrad and law degree from Univ of Chicago, who fell on hard times mainly a function of mental health issues, and he remarked to me once, "that being poor is a tremendous amount of work" as nothing comes easy (i.e. you don't just hop in your car for an appointment you have to go take three different buses, etc.).


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This is more or less how I feel, and the experiences I've had helping folks. As your friend said, the sheer number of decisions made each day by the poor begin to degrade the quality of those decisions.

I highly recommend the recent book by Linda Tirado if this sort of thing interests you. It is called Hand to Mouth, and went a long way in helping me understand more about the mindset of those living in poverty.

 

[Music Lover]

"prime rib special and an iced tea — expensive at $21.36,"

I guess most people think this is normal and eveyy one is entitled to this.

$21.36 is about 10% of what I spend in a month on food...and I don't skimp. She spent it on one meal.

 

[fh2000]

The lady from the 3rd couple has 3 grown children:

"Before she met Mark, she had raised three kids on a single income. "

This is not the US culture, I know. Many children in other cultures, including mine would provide for their aging parents. My own mother lived to 87. She had a small pension, but for 25 years the 3 of us kids provided extra for her travels and everything else extra.

I wonder where her children are.

 

[hnzw_rui]

Third, I had a friend, Yale undergrad and law degree from Univ of Chicago, who fell on hard times mainly a function of mental health issues, and he remarked to me once, "that being poor is a tremendous amount of work" as nothing comes easy (i.e. you don't just hop in your car for an appointment you have to go take three different buses, etc.).

It's actually easier to be poor than being just right above the poverty level. When income is at or below poverty level, you get quite a bit of assistance from government. If you live in senior housing, you get a lot of resources to know what programs you may qualify for. Grandma wanted to stay independent and didn't want to live with any of her kids. Her pension was something like $8K a year so she received quite a bit of government assistance. She had subsidized home health aide, utilities, housing, taxi scrip, etc.

This is one of the reasons I don't resent paying taxes. At least in the US, I can actually see the programs that my taxes are supporting. In the Philippines, it'll just go to the pockets of corrupt politicians. Sure I grumble and try to reduce the tax burden by contributing to retirement plans but when I see the $15K tax bill on my 1040 and CA-540, I just think of grandma.

 

[Bestwifeever]

The lady from the 3rd couple has 3 grown children:

"Before she met Mark, she had raised three kids on a single income. "

This is not the US culture, I know. Many children in other cultures, including mine would provide for their aging parents. My own mother lived to 87. She had a small pension, but for 25 years the 3 of us kids provided extra for her travels and everything else extra.

I wonder where her children are.

I think helping out their parents is also true for many people in the US.

I felt bad for the people in the story but don't think they are necessarily representative of a trend--the author zeroed in on older people working unskilled jobs who lived in RVs and were willing to talk with him about their lifestyles and how they got there. He could have zeroed in on older people living in tiny apartments in a big city who have the same income and manage to even save some of it.

 

[haha]

They've opted for a lifestyle of travel that they can't afford, so they're working odd jobs to pay for it. It's not a lifestyle that appeals to me, but I'm not sure that I would like mouldering away in low income senior housing, looking at the same four walls every day, either.

As far as I know, they do not break your legs when you move in.

Ha

 

[W2R]

$21.36 is about 10% of what I spend in a month on food...and I don't skimp. She spent it on one meal.

That's a lot to spend on one meal.

I have not eaten a restaurant meal that has exceeded $21.36 ever during the past 4+ years for which I have records.

 

[LARS]

That's a lot to spend on one meal.

I have not eaten a restaurant meal that has exceeded $21.36 ever during the past 4+ years for which I have records.

Guess you are not going to any of a number of New Orleans' finest. Would've thought one of the things worth splurging on in NO is the eating establishments. ?


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[aaronc879]

That's a lot to spend on one meal.

I have not eaten a restaurant meal that has exceeded $21.36 ever during the past 4+ years for which I have records.

I agree. I can't think of a single time in my life that I spent $21.36 or more on one meal. Even if there are leftovers, that's a ridiculous amount to spend on a meal for anyone who has $50K in CC debt.

 

[Music Lover]

That's a lot to spend on one meal.

I have not eaten a restaurant meal that has exceeded $21.36 ever during the past 4+ years for which I have records.

I have spent more than that on a meal on occasion...but, I don't have debt and can easily afford to do so without it affecting the bottom line.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Worse than her spending $21 on a meal is that she is quoted as doing it to take the edge off her hunger before going to the grocery store. There are far far cheaper ways to accomplish that. And that the cost of thd meal had an impact on her ability to make an insurance payment. I wonder if some of the quotes are out of context, but still. Again, I do feel bad for her situation and not being able to make better choices, but how can her decisions have been prevented by anyone else?

 

[Alan]

"prime rib special and an iced tea — expensive at $21.36,"

I guess most people think this is normal and eveyy one is entitled to this.

$21.36 is about 10% of what I spend in a month on food...and I don't skimp. She spent it on one meal.

I agree. I can't think of a single time in my life that I spent $21.36 or more on one meal. Even if there are leftovers, that's a ridiculous amount to spend on a meal for anyone who has $50K in CC debt.

I agree that it is a lot even though it provided 3 separate meals.

Growing up we never ate out and since we married at college and had children within a couple years of graduation we went many years hardly ever eating out, it's an easy way to cut down on expenses.

 

[daylatedollarshort]

I do wonder if the prime rib was an impulse control issue or a lack of knowledge on how to shop smarter for groceries.

 

[Throwdownmyaceinthehole]

Guess you are not going to any of a number of New Orleans' finest. Would've thought one of the things worth splurging on in NO is the eating establishments. ��

New Orleans finest are not the expensive French Quarter eateries. Biggest disappointment was my hubs 60th birthday at Commanders Palace. Now a burger at port of call or a Johnny's poor boy, or breakfast at cake or oysters at harbor seafood, and I'm not a local, so I'm sure W2R knows a lot more.

 

[W2R]

Guess you are not going to any of a number of New Orleans' finest. Would've thought one of the things worth splurging on in NO is the eating establishments. ��

Oh my... quite the opposite. Like most locals we just don't normally go to the expensive tourist traps down in the Quarter. Plus, we always split a meal because the portion sizes are too big. Granted, the places where we eat do not have white tablecloths, silver, and crystal, but we do not compromise on the food.

Guess you are not going to any of a number of New Orleans' finest. Would've thought one of the things worth splurging on in NO is the eating establishments. ��

New Orleans finest are not the expensive French Quarter eateries. Biggest disappointment was my hubs 60th birthday at Commanders Palace. Now a burger at port of call or a Johnny's poor boy, or breakfast at cake or oysters at harbor seafood, and I'm not a local, so I'm sure W2R knows a lot more.

Didn't see your post when I posted the above - -- - I totally agree, GMTA

 

[LARS]

Oh my... quite the opposite. Like most locals we just don't normally go to the expensive tourist traps down in the Quarter. Plus, we always split a meal because the portion sizes are too big. Granted, the places where we eat do not have white tablecloths, silver, and crystal, but we do not compromise on the food.

Well then next time we visit your fair city hopefully you'll share the wealth so to speak!


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[W2R]

Well then next time we visit your fair city hopefully you'll share the wealth so to speak!


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Sorry! I'm not leading tours of the eating establishments that are our personal favorites, to strangers on the internet. You need to spend a year or two down here exploring the less expensive restaurants on your own. Then you'll figure it out and find a huge number of great places that you like a lot. (Hint: avoid chain restaurants or restaurants that haven't been in business for at least 5 years, like the plague). You'll get to know the chefs and wait staff, and they will treat you like family. Chefs are our local celebrities and have more sway in what goes on down here than do politicians or wealthy businessmen.

One way to tell a tourist for sure, is that he/she will say something like "Where is the best place in New Orleans to eat (fill in the blank)?" Or, they eat at one place because some clueless person told them to, and declare it has the best roast beef po'boys or shrimp etouffee or whatever, in town. The big secret is that New Orleans is FULL of great restaurants and there really isn't any cool secret restaurant at which everyone should eat.

For about 5 years F and I went to different restaurants every week, always ordering seafood gumbo, to find the best. What a great quest, though quite impossible to complete. We ought to continue it; I'll remind him.

 

[LARS]

Sorry! I'm not leading tours of the eating establishments that are our personal favorites, to strangers on the internet. You need to spend a year or two down here exploring the less expensive restaurants on your own. Then you'll figure it out and find a huge number of great places that you like a lot. (Hint: avoid chain restaurants or restaurants that haven't been in business for at least 5 years, like the plague). You'll get to know the chefs and wait staff, and they will treat you like family.

One way to tell a tourist for sure, is that he/she will say something like "Where is the best place in New Orleans to eat (fill in the blank)?" Or, they eat at one place because some clueless person told them to, and declare it has the best roast beef po'boys or shrimp etouffee or whatever, in town. The big secret is that New Orleans is FULL of great restaurants and there really isn't any cool secret restaurant at which everyone should eat.

So much for Southern hospitality I guess... ?


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[Accidental Retiree]

So much for Southern hospitality I guess... ?


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If I were heading to NO, I'd check out Yelp.


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[W2R]

If I were heading to NO, I'd check out Yelp.

If I were headed to NO, I'd just allot longer than a couple of days so that I had time to familiarize myself with the restaurants, if that was my goal. Hint: There Are No Shortcuts, when it comes to food. You can try www.nomenu.com if you want, which is New Orleans' most well known food critic, but like most local food critics, some think he is not immune to bribes.

I SURE wouldn't ask a local single woman from the internet that I didn't even know where she eats all the time, unless I was a stalker. The reason I wouldn't do that, is that I would be likely to find just as good places on my own and it's just a little weird, KWIM? Unlike other destinations, in New Orleans there is not just One Good Restaurant - - the whole place is full of 'em.