Quote :

"i don't understand why people buy houses they can't afford or why banks let them"

It's called WANT. This society is based on want and not need. It's just as much the people's fault as the banks. People should know their limits on their finances.

Also, people should never assume you will have overtime and bonuses in your income. People should make financial choices based on your base income. Medical bills do suck and they are unexpected. It is always good to have 3 months worth of your salary saved up for unexpected bills.

A financial course should be a requirement in college.

9/29/2008 8:22:37 PM

Quote :

" A financial course should be a requirement in college."

No, it should be a requirement in high school. A lot of the people who really need that sort of education never even make it to college.

9/29/2008 8:26:58 PM

Quote :

"whenever my friend eats my food i tell him to stop being such a Democrat"

LOL

Fucking Communists.

9/29/2008 8:29:32 PM

Quote :

"It is always good to have 3 months worth of your salary saved up for unexpected bills. "

It's one thing when you have to pay for an ER visit or a new dishwasher -- hell, cash money for a new car. It's another thing when you have to pay for an organ transplant. There are just somethings that the most financially of savvy people are hard pressed to prepare for.

And I thought that situations like that were few and far between, but I am meeting more and more people like that every day at the hospital.

9/29/2008 8:32:04 PM

the hospital is not a very good sample population

[Edited on September 29, 2008 at 8:33 PM. Reason : to base these types of analyses on, that is]

9/29/2008 8:33:14 PM

I know that, but I have really been alarmed by the stories of some of the people that I have met.

9/29/2008 8:35:51 PM

Believe me, I know how much medical expenses can take a toll. My sister's baby was premature and had to be in NICU for 2 and a half months before she could come home. My sister owes a lot of money to the hospital. On top of that, she cannot find a decent job. She's been denied at many places, and is continuously trying. My sister is on disability for a medical condition, and any job she accepts who have to make more than she would get on disability plus have insurance. Therefore, that's why she isn't just working at MickeyD's. She would lose her disability, and their family would be in worst shape. They live off my brother-in-law's income, which is even less than my own. They are currently living with my parents to try to get back on their feet.



^Your situation is unfortunate, and your child is in my thoughts and prayers. I may not know you or your child, but every prayer counts. If you haven't done this, you may wish to consider having a benefit car wash or benefit supper to help raise some money for your expenses. People do care and do wish to help. I definitely would come and be supportive even though I do not know you personally. My church back home has done this several times and even has had love offerrings for people in need.

9/29/2008 9:38:14 PM

robbin' banks

9/29/2008 9:41:06 PM

Quote :

"If you haven't done this, you may wish to consider having a benefit car wash or benefit supper to help raise some money for your expenses. People do care and do wish to help."

We have talked to a social worker and she has suggested fund raising, but that the fund raising be done by someone other than us. Unfortunately, we do not have any community ties who would do something like this for us.

We are in the process of trying to get disability for our son, but we are right on the edge of making too much money for Silas to qualify. I am afraid that we will be denied. Even if we are approved, it takes months for a decision to be made.

It is extremely frustrating. My husband and I are very functional middle class people. The system is just not designed to help people like us.

9/29/2008 10:40:18 PM

Quote :

"If you haven't done this, you may wish to consider having a benefit car wash or benefit supper to help raise some money for your expenses. People do care and do wish to help. I definitely would come and be supportive even though I do not know you personally. My church back home has done this several times and even has had love offerrings for people in need."

oh yeah? can i sign up for some of this free money too? i was in a bad motorcycle accident 2 years ago and had to pay lots of expensive bills and will be affected for the rest of my life, i hope it's not too late! stupid me just assumed there was this thing called personal responsibility, now you tell me i could have gotten it all taken care of and then some??

9/29/2008 10:53:34 PM

There are people and organizations out there who are willing to help those who are in need when they know that the need exists.

I am a firm believer in allowing people to succeed or fail by their own merits, but there is no shame in accepting charity when there is nothing else left to you. I have met parents who have sold everything that they own in order to afford medical care for their child and it still was not enough.

We were fortunate that our son's *experimental* organ transplant was essentially covered by our health insurance -- most insurance plans do not cover it. I know of several children who died this past year waiting for a transplant because insurance would not pay and the parents could not find the funds to go through with the surgery, exhausting all resources.

[Edited on September 29, 2008 at 11:09 PM. Reason : .]

9/29/2008 11:09:00 PM

^^yes, it's called having a supportive church family that cares and willing to help out people in need. one of my church friends was in a bad dirt bike accident and is paralyzed from the neck down. Talk about medical expenses. His dad died the year prior to a massive heart attack. His mom needed the help and we were more than willing to be supportive.

9/29/2008 11:31:36 PM

Quote :

"stupid me just assumed there was this thing called personal responsibility"

Here's to that!

9/29/2008 11:41:38 PM

^^ Exactly. And it's not just churches either. My grandfather was in a bicycle racing organization when he was diagnosed with cancer. Those guys went to incredible lengths to help out my grandfather while he was recovering. I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

9/30/2008 12:03:22 AM

i thought about this earlier today...i was like man it sure must suck to be one of the people that didnt fall behind on their mortgage

9/30/2008 12:06:22 AM

i'm all for extending a helping hand to people that REALLY need it. unfortunately, in my observations that's rarely the case. usually it's just people too dumb to care for themselves. they either haven't bothered to save, haven't bothered to be insured, or whatever. there's also the people that take this charity on top of any insurance or assets they have to use, which are the worst kind. imo, it's glorified welfare. i'm sorry, but having a strong/supportive church family has nothing to with "hey lets give stupid people money because they have a sob story". i won't even bother to go into the infinite amount of resources, bill reduction, and lenient payment plans are out there for people who can't pay or those that simply ask for them.

maybe it sounds like i'm up on my soapbox here or being insensitive, but that's hardly the case. i'm pretty sure i've earned the right to speak my mind on this subject, and i can empathize with a tough situation from my own firsthand experience.

9/30/2008 2:25:33 AM