Ah hem....most of us here are not deadbeats..

Munchkin--Thank you for posting! You should register for the site and spend more time here. You even get paid for posting! :)

Most of the people here are like you, and just don't make the money that they're worth, and since they are human, they make mistakes and things go downhill from there.

The people that are here are here to make their lives better and move on, and help people that are in the situation they were.

Munchkin...I agree with you. Although my financial situation was mostly brought on by my mistakes...I had some incredible bad luck on top of those mistakes.
With the death of my husband 4 years ago...we had little insurance...it forced me in a hugh mountain of debt...I tried to get out of it with credit cards and bad loans..etc. Anyway as I look at the fianancial headlines about CEO's and CFO's and corporate executives with such hugh pay packages I wonder how did it get so bad?? When did these people start getting such monsterous salaries? Why do these businesses seem to think they deserve it?? It has created a hugh gap in the income classes..you're either going to be filthy rich or very poor. Maybe those who call us "deadbeats" are the ones who are actually bringing our salaries down.

This post was excellent. I totally agree with you. I think that these posters do this to make themselves feel better abou themselves at other people's expense.

Hang in there it's great that you have been able to move up in your company but unfortunately it is all too common that the "little people" don't get paid what they are truly worth. If it weren't for you the big people that get paid the big bucks wouldn't be able to their job sufficiently.

ladybug

Try not to take them types of posts personally as they only wish to upset people.I have been here for about a year and my advice is given to help consumers protect themselves in accordance with the laws of credit & collection. If someone owes a legitimate debt,then they should pay it if it is properly proven.The laws were put on the books for a reason and every consumer should use them to verify they are paying a valid debt.

Ya know funny this comes up today. My daughter just left and was telling me how the cost of gas is really hurting her. She is a senior in college and works a part time job to help with any extras she may want or need. She just told me how frustrated she is, she said, i have to work 5 hours a week JUST to pay for a tank of gas!! Isn't that sad? She can only work 20 hours at the most. I mean think of people who only make min wage, they work an hour for a little more than 1 gallon of gas!!!
Just my 2 cents worth,
Ang

The best and easiest thing to do is to simply into those uninvited guest's who's intent is to simply post somehting malicious about you or others on this site or the general populaion. I think ackowleding them does more harm than good.

The American dollar isn't worth what it used to be. The problem with prices is that there is always someone willing and able to pay more forcing the rest of the population to follow because the seller knows what they can get for it.

This may not be a fair statement, but I see advertising as a big problem. People have gone from buying what we need to buying what we want. And the advertisements make it seem like you can????????t live without the product. Sometimes it????????s hard to tell the difference. We make bad choices, credit allows us to and then it????????s too late. You????????re over your head in debit and one blow to your financial life and it sends you into a down word spiral.

I wanted to respond to the original post and say that yes, most people here have had financial hardships and many people do not realize (i say many meaning our friends who are well off not you guys :) that it just takes one bad thing to start that domino effect. A disability, an accident, anything can happen that is unexpected. My parents were doing well for years and years they worked hard, saved for a home, then after a few years of being married my father who made a good living, was 100 percent totally disabled by a car accident causing him to lose his job and our family had to endure thousands of dollars worht of medical expenses, on top of that my sister was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis and we had millions of dollars literally worth of hospital bills. we are now ok and thankfully the docs diagnosis was wrong, my sister is fine now, but still takes only one thing to happen in our lives and sometimes even those who try to prepare just can't! but we learn from them and this forum has allowed many of us to help and comfort each other :)
another side: the dollar is definitely not worth what it used to be! gas is outrageous!

I just want to thank munchkin for starting this thread! Just reading through it is interesting enough! And I can't agree more with anyone!

I agree, people who struggle financially aren't always losers!! Bad things happen to good people.

FYI wrote:
Quote:

Hey Unc I deleted your two duplicate posts. :shock: :lol:

Thanks! They never were visible to me at the time, else I'd have deleted them myself. :oops:

Most people are where they are as a direct result of their own actions and decisions.....sorry but that's true.

Bad luck happens to us all and fate kicks us all in the butt. Funny how those that are responsible have a backup plan and come out okay in the end and those that don't become 'victims'.

As for the OP, she is right. I associate the term deadbeat with those that can but will not pay their bills. Those that make bad decisions (like not staying in school) that lead to their inability to pay their bills are just dumba$$e$.

Delayed gratification is a trait almost uniquely owned by well off people. Immediate gratification is a trait almost universally owned by the poor.

Guest by design

I would say that Guest's post is case and point for Munchkin. I would like to add that even those who have a backup plan, Guest, sometimes end up still in a financial mess.... I lived it....My father saved all his life, worked hard sometimes two jobs...became terminally ill at the age of 43 and like the person who posted above, racked up bills in the hundred thousands, his last two years he could not work and quit treatements but it took him two years to die and all the money he saved went toward keeping food on the table, electricity on and a roof over his head and paying enough on the medical bills and other bills to keep creditors from calling. My point...even the best laid plans can go awry. It would be so nice if life were as simple as Guest posted.

Roxy...apparently the "Guest" is of the opinion that only the uneducated and financially unskilled fall on into debt. However that is not what we do on this site...we do not asked how people get into their situations...we just let them know how "they" can
legally help themselves. "Guest" needs to post on a site that wants to hear his opinion on back-up plans.

Laura, thanks for pointing that out..I became incesned by part of the post that I could not see the forest for the trees.

Thanks Roxy...I was trying to put that as eloquently as possible without sounding like an uneducated person.

Does anyone remember the one guest that called us all "Uneducats"?

I still want to be one of those...lol

Jessi...does that mean you can't be educated???

No, we took it as some sort of a cat. We were going to get uniforms and everything...lol

Oh...ok..never read that one...must have been before my time. So your avatars would be cats with dunce caps on???

Hey all you can do is plan.

If you save, work hard, save some more, make sure your insurance is in place, and take care of your own business....you will be okay 99.9% of the time. The other .1% of the time...well, life just really sucks sometimes.

Sorry, but this whole woe is me thing gets tiring. I am tired of the people who call themselves victims. Well, yeah they are victims....of THEMSELVES. Yes, I am judgemental and harsh. But that is what America needs....no more of this BS victimhood status where nothing is your own fault.

I work my arse off (currently 80+ hours a week combined), save, pay my taxes, buy my insurance policies to protect my family, save for retirement, save for the kid's college and I have very little for myself to spend. But that's okay because I am doing my part. I may die tomorrow but if I do, my life is insured and my family will be okay. I may lose my job tomorrow but if I do, I have some savings and will be okay. I may lose my home to a fire tomorrow but if I do, I have homeowners insurance and will be okay. I may become disabled tomorrow but if I do, I have insurance in place and will be okay. If life hands me something that I can't handle financially, it will not be from a lack of planning on my part. It would be easy to join the ranks of the unprepared and cancel all insurance because 'I can't afford it with my Lexus payment'...but that is irresponsible. It isn't luck that I am in this position, I have had to work hard and forego my desires to get here.

Yet I see plenty of so-called 'disadvantaged folks' who are carrying around their blackberries et all, going on vacations, buying new cars every year or two, living in homes I cannot afford, and watching TV's I can't afford. Then when fate comes knocking on their door and--because of their personal spending irresponsibilty--they have no savings, no insurance, and no emergency plan....it is hard for me to feel sorry for them.

99% of the people on this site who are behind are behind because of their own actions or inactions. People get sick, people lose jobs, people have fires, people get robbed, people have murphy come to town. People who don't plan for a rainy day get wet. People who don't maintain their roof get wet too!

Sorry but it is all about priorities folks. 99% of the time you can prevent catastrophy with some planning.

The current state of the mortgage crisis and foreclosures isn't due to a wave of people getting terminal illnesses or whatnot. It is caused by chronic over spending by people living above their means.

Guest by design

So "Guest" your life is in order. More power to you..you made your point. This site is not for people like you...you're doing OK. This site does not judge people...we just give them advice. I agree most people (including myself) have made financial mistakes and I have learned from it. I am glad there is a site like this...they helped me when no one else would and I am better off financially because of it.

Ditto Laura :wink:

Guess I am that one percent! We did all that you are doing-working three and a half jobs, insurance saving,etc--If you have to go on disability-it doesn't last long, and the pay isn't what is craacked up to be-husband lost his job after 25 years-thought we would be ok too- problem is- with his age-absolutely no jobs anywhere around here-life happens-savings runs out,etc..We are probably overinsured- dad was in the insurance business-we couldn't have prepared any more and still fell into that hole.

Am I a victim? Yes to the one cc that we got 25 years ago with a $780 credit limit- have paid over 14,000 to them-otherwise-I am out of debt,thanks to this forum and the people, as are others here,with more on their way to becoming debt free.

I don't mind you stating your opinion- but please refrain from attacking others, their acts, etc

Jessi- I am an uneducat,too..KAren :lol:

Well, just so that my comments aren't misinterpreted...let me clarify.

I am not seeking to make anyone feel bad or point my finger at anyone and say BAD. To the contrary, I am trying to help people wake up and realize that either life can happen to you or YOU can happen to life.

Some people like Bossy run through a rough patch and I am no exception. Being as prepared as possible is all you can do and sometimes even that isn't enough. However, spending more than you make will ensure that small bumps in the road become major catastrophies.

Take payday loans for instance. People think they can borrow their way out of financial trouble. It never works, period.

I used to be in a lot of debt and tried to be sophisticated and manage debt. That doesn't work. I am still in a little debt on my truck payment-- celebrated my wife's retirement by buying a new truck!!!! WTH? :D But this is my last debt and I plan to live my financial life like my Grandparents do.

Funny, at family reunions we grandkids and family members that used to think My grandparent's financial--cash only pay as you go or don't buy it--system was antequated and simplistic are all stressed out, greying, and exhausted from having to hustle to make money to buy things that we don't need to impress people that we don't even like (got that from Dave Ramsey). We sell last year's must haves that we are still paying on at this year's garage sales to people just like my Grandparents--all so that we can have room to go buy more crap that we will pay for during the next 3 years. They, on the other hand, have no financial worries and they eat sleep and laugh well.

Guest by design

Thanks for making that clear.

I had gotten pay day loans through all of this- not thinking it would get me out of a financial mess- but to pay the electric bill, get groceries and medicine for my youngest, who at the time was on 8 meds. Today I know that none of that will help- and tell others that getting a loan to pay off loans will only keep you stuck in that cycle. But I think first of all, people need to become educated as to what they are doing financially, their rights as a consumer, etc., then they will be able to get out of debt, and find out what put them there to begin with, and not do it again-at least that has worked for me..karen

Guest, it is great to hear that you are doing so financially well 99.9% of the time, but unfortunately you are neglecting what is more important then all of those things, specially when you are working 80+ hours a week. Not spending all that quality time with your loved ones which you probably can't even afford a MC Donalds meal for them since you keep so little for you to spend and I understand since you have all those insurance payments etc. Do not judge others for in the way you judge, you will be judge and by your standards of measure it will be meausured to you.

I let guest into this discussion because some good points are being raised. I fortunately have no bad incidents so far.July of this year was very hard for me taking a month off of work to recuperate from surgery.I pinched and squeezed all the over time I could and will probably finish the year out at about 90K annual before taxes.

You are right Cajun- guest does have some valid points- just wanted to make sure there wasn't any slamming here. Everyone is going to have a different view point on alot of these issues- what I try to do is help educate people, give them hope and support them-as was done with me..Hope you are doing ok after your surgery!..karen

KATELYN2COOL,

Well, working all those hours comprises two jobs and drivetime. The rest of the time is spent with the family. I guess that is where I differ from other people....in the have to department.

Some would say that I would have to quit the second job (working for myself) and stay home, go into debt, get payday loans, and ultimately end up in bankruptcy. Seems to be the American way lately.

I say that I have to do what is necessary to pay my bills until I can undo some of the debt I have done. See, you have to pay the piper sometime somewhere. I say that Children who spend quality time with their dad and mom having fun are better off than those who get foreclosed and have debt collectors calling all the time. We all have to sacrifice.

GBD

Right bossy...I am not slamming anyone.

What I seek to point out is the errant way of thinking that most Americans have...whether in debt or not. "I will always have a car payment"...."Don't pay off your home because you will lose the interest deduction on the mortgage". American education regarding personal and home economics is TERRIBLE.

This is a debt intevention of sorts trying to help people that are playing with fire see that if you keep doing the same things, you will get more of the same. I sure as heck hate to see the misery that gets posted here daily and hope that a little tough love will help people out.

People wouldn't go to an AA meeting and tell an alcoholic that is isn't their fault. They are all about personal responsibility.

GBD

Just like you we all have very different situations and some people might judge you for spending little time with your family but noone should judge about other peoples situation. And of course it's not right to get paydayloans, and end up in bankrupcy. I am very sure that everyone here who has gotten into this big PDL mess etc, has been for a need not because we just love going around borrowing money and getting in debt. I had no choice then to get in the debt situation that I am getting out of right now, My family and I lost our home during hurricane Wilma, had to move out for 8 months, my insurance company went bankrupt, my dad past away and funeral expenses were $10,050. We had no choice then to use all our savings, that's exactly why I ended up in this mess it's not because I wanted to it's because sometimes hard situations just take you there. Believe me we are all sacrificing to get back on track.

Katelyn2cool,

You clearly belong in the category of 'couldn't help it'. Clearly the exception to my comments. Good luck with that!

GBD

And what is the point here that is clear to me after reading through this entire thread? That "guest" had decided (in the beginning) to judge people and to say that "we" made the decision to be in debt. For all the members who posted as to how they got into their particular situation, that's fine. Now "guest" can see that there are a lot of "couldn't help it" people in the world. And to come here and post without knowing everyone's situation is just amazing to me. I personally am not going to go into how some people work thier ass's off for a company that doesn't even offer benefits, so they can't have insurance or 401K or savings. I'm not even going to go into how some people work their ass's off and every single penny goes towards their bills and sometimes it's still not enough. And these are not people who buy new cars every two years or have Blackberry's and what-not. And these are not "uneducated" people. Every single person is an individual who has a unique situation which led them down an unfortunate path. And for someone to come along and judge a mass amount of people blows my mind. Death, destruction, job loss, illness, etc. There are many factors that come into play when debt is incurred. Until you have walked in someone's shoes and lived the lives they have, no one should come here and pass judgement. No one.

I have tried to understand why "Guest" is posting his opinion? I understand what he is saying but does he expect the mods and others on here to confront those asking for help as to how they got into their current situation? This site will remain as it is I am sure...so what is your purpose?

Exactly how I came to be in the situation I now find myself in is irrelevant. It ain't great, but it ain't that bad, either. I made my own decisions, and I stand behind them.

Anybody who wants to pass judgement on me for my situation is welcome to. Just do it to my face, not hiding behind your monitor.

laura, this is why I posted that for all the members who chose to post the reason they found themselves consumed by debt was fine. It's okay if they want to divulge that information to make their point. I personally do not. No one here ever needs to feel as though they have to "explain" themselves or tell anyone what has happened to bring them here. We are just glad everyone is here looking for help and helping others. Why we are here is no ones business except our own. And to pass judgement regarding why anyone is here is beyond my comprehension.

Why we are here is personal? I have no need of any of DCC's services and I am still here because I desire to help people and the only way I can do that is to show them what their rights are regarding finances.

And, I thank God for you, cajun. You're here just to help others. Thank you.

Hey I enjoy helping here and on other consumer boards.I also get the benefit of learning the laws throughly using my research skills. Maybe one day I will be able to afford law school before I get too elderly. :roll: :lol:

cajun, if you get through law school before you're 95 years old, I'll call on you! :D

I can see guest point quite easily. I may not have gone that route but each to his or her own. Imagine what out economy would be like if we were taught to think more about the risk and rewards of credit early on starting in Jr High or even High School. Would most of us have the debt we have now? I have about 600 dollars worth of debt left and it has taken me about 2 years to clean it all up on my own and on my terms. If I had been half as educated on credit as I am now there is no way I would have ever had credit debt.

The economy doesn't only suck because of jobs, or forclosures, a huge part of the crappy economy is because so many Americans live well beyond their means and when a bump happens in their lives they get snowballed in with debt very quickly.

I have one credit card that I pay off each month and a vehicle that I make monthly payments on. In the next two years I hope to be able to purchase a home and while I'm excited it scares me. I ask myself everytime I think about it.. Have I learned my lesson. I hope I have and I hope I won't repeate my same mistakes I've made in the past because it is a long painful and embarassing process of trying to straighten everything out.

FYI, I think you've learned your lesson. If you hadn't, you wouldn't even question yourself. You learned it the hard way (as we all have). And, I say, good luck to you in purchasing a home!

To reply directly to cannr's post above.

I didn't judge anyone. I was merely countering the notion that the people posting here were victims of life (a few are...most aren't). The truth of the matter is that most of the people that are in collections/foreclosure are there because 1) they spent themselves into a position where a streak of bad luck would put them there or 2) they just never stopped spending. Either way it is lack of preparation and lack of planning.

I refuse to call people who harm themselves victims. I wouldn't call an alcoholic a victim of deceptive advertising by the beer makers. I won't call someone who destroyed their own financial situation a victim either. That was my point.

But either way, I am NOT judging anyone. If you are in debt and in collections, I feel for you--no matter how you got there. I hope you pay out and never borrow a dollar ever again.

The gist of my point is that if we continue to feed those in collections the line 'well it really isn't your fault' then it gives them a convenient excuse to keep doing the same thing. On the other hand, if they recognize their collection status as a symptom of the real problem--over spending--and recognize not only their personal culpability but also the fact that there are steps THEY CAN TAKE to prevent it again...haven't we helped them? It isn't called tough love for nothing.

GBD

I take FULL responsibility for my situation and where it led me but that being said, CA's still MUST follow the law and treat consumers with some sort of compassion as human beings! What gives them the right to degrade and demand payment thru all sorts of scare tactics? Just because we found ourselves in this position, for whatever reasons, we are STILL human beings! Simple enough. Threats of jail, civil suits, garnishment, bank levies, does not make me have the money any more than i had before i became deliquent....:roll:
I think CA's would have much better luck with being pleasant than nasty as they are.
But that's just my opinion,
Take it for what it's worth and i am NOT here to judge anyone, only support them and let them know things DO get better!
:D
Ang

Hi Ang! You are right! That's exactly why we are all here to support eachother and help eachother in every which way we can. We are not here to judge or criticize people and find out step by step how they got in debt.

Hi Ang,

You are exactly right...collectors are complete turds.

I came here--not because I was in collections--but because LTD was trying to collect on me despite having the wrong name, address, phone number, social, etc. I reported them to the FTC and they were just fined 1.4 MEEEEELLLLION dollars.

Again, I am not seeking to make anyone in collections feel worse than they already do. I am trying to point the way out and make some people--perhaps--reconsider how and why they got there. For each of you that say "yeak, I screwed the pooch on this one" there are those that will keep repeating the mistakes that got them here.

Not judging...not saying you are a bad person if you are in collections...just saying that there is an alternate way.

GBD

Guest..there are alternatives to your financial situation. However when your personal income changes abruptly...like mine did...you have to change the way you live...leaning to live a completely different lifestyle (after 30 years) and within your means does take time. I feel into traps with payday loans and yes I did feel "victimized" by loan companies wanting 500 to 1000% back on what I was loaned. This is wrong..and these people posting on this site should be given information on how to legally deal with them.
You may not say it...but I feel they are victims like me and are being preyed upon by payday lending predators.