# How do poor people afford everything? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018 "2012-11-14T19:50:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![CEOofPolar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@CEOofPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CEOofPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/201 "2012-11-15T18:59:50Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > 40 hours a week at minimum wage works out to $290.00. Are you seriously saying a pizza delivery person can average $210.00 in tips? And most pizza delivery persons probably only work part time. > > I agree with **Annamikaa**. Have you ever worked any kind of service level job at all? Have you ever had to do anything for yourself? > > EDIT - Actually, read the post that **Croatulus** linked to. Hopefully it will open your eyes. $210 in tips you got 7 days to do it. 30 a day average tip 3 10 delivers a day. stop acting foolish. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/202 "2012-11-15T19:01:49Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > $210 in tips you got 7 days to do it. > > 30 a day average tip 3 10 delivers a day. stop acting foolish. You should stop insulting people. Go read that post I linked to from the pizza shop manager. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/203 "2012-11-15T19:08:02Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > $210 in tips you got 7 days to do it. > > 30 a day average tip 3 10 delivers a day. stop acting foolish. > [@Crotalus](#): > > You should stop insulting people. Go read that post I linked to from the pizza shop manager. Agreed. Who works seven days at a half-minimum wage job? Or would want to? Here’s another page for your edification. [Why your pizza delivery guy hates you.](http://gregspages.com/discussion/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=462) ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/204 "2012-11-15T19:33:22Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > house maintenance don’t cost thousands of month like you think maybe once every 10 years get new windows. but overall its funner to have a house and personally if you can spend most of your pay check on a house and get a junker car. A roof lasts from 10 to 30 years unless you get something insane like no shit for real slate or a soldered copper. Driveway needs repaving if you live in the snow belt on average about 20 years. Windows need replacing about every 10 if they are gas filled dual pane. Furnace needs cleaning, burners adjusted, chimney cleaned every year dryer needs to be serviced every year [lint buildup can cause structure fires] chimney for fireplace or wood stove needs cleaning every year filters for kitchen hood needs replacing every year water filter - under sink type needs filters changed every 300 gallons IIRC, same with the separate attach to the faucet type. Water softener systems need cleaning and adjustments every year Swimming pool and hot tub filters need back washing when clogged, assorted chemicals need adding on schedule ranging from daily to weekly, with testing for water chemistry and other chemicals used to tweak the water weekly Plumbing systems - septic tanks need servicing every year, plumbing breaks, gets clogged. I can’t even finish listing all the crap that needs to be done to a house … the list is pretty much endless and needs attention so it doesn’t get out of hand. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/205 "2012-11-15T20:21:56Z")
**aruvgan** , let’s not forget the appliances that break down, the landscaping that needs doing, the trees that can fall in a storm and cause damage, the sewer system problems, the well problems - I could go on and on just based on what my landlady has had to take care of over the last ten/eleven years while I’ve been renting from her. Why in HELL would I want to own those problems? 😃 This guy does not have the SLIGHTEST clue about home ownership, working, renting, or frankly, anything. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/206 "2012-11-15T20:24:13Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > That’s fair enough - but is anyone suggesting that house-buying is somehow superior for everyone? > > There are lots of reasons why one person might prefer (or need) to rent. Another common one is that someone moves around a lot for work, and the added transaction expenses of repeatedly buying and selling houses make that choice not worth-while. > > I swear, these discussions often have a defensiveness that is simply not warranted. The choice of one over the other is driven by lots of factors, some financial and others not, and will vary depending on the individual and location. Why is that a surprise? Well, the OP did, and others were saying why buying is such a good idea. I agree that it usually is, if you have the choice. I was giving an example of why quite a large number of people don’t have that choice. There was nothing defensive in my post and you’re over-reaching if you think there was. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/207 "2012-11-15T20:26:17Z")
I’ve lived in my rented house now for about three years. In the time I’ve been here: - Out of the many oak trees, three times a branch has fallen. All three times it took down one of the power or phone lines. Verizon will fix the lines, but I would have had to saw up the branch and clean up the mess. - The thermostat was broken and had to be replaced. Not a big deal, but I would have had to do it. - The tiles underneath the floor under the toilet were badly set in and they had to get a plumber in to redo the whole thing. - Our faucet on the sink was heavily damaged and had to be replaced by some underground flooding. - Oh yeah, the underground flooding. Apparently a big water main broke? And they had to fix it. Now I think ConEd or whomever fixed it, but the landlord had to make all of the arrangements, and they did pay for all of the water! I would have had to pay for all that. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/208 "2012-11-15T20:42:39Z")
Man, I had NO IDEA until now how easy it is for me to be poor! Why, here I thought I’d been struggling for all these years, when it turns out that there are just DOZENS AND DOZENS of jobs out there willing to pay me several thousand dollars a week for three hours of work! Stupid me! We poor people must be IDIOTS!!! I feel so foolish. I’m off to deliver a pizza or two and get my house paid off! ---
**Author:** ![CEOofPolar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@CEOofPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CEOofPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/209 "2012-11-15T21:03:36Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Well, the OP did, and others were saying why buying is such a good idea. I agree that it usually is, if you have the choice. I was giving an example of why quite a large number of people don’t have that choice. There was nothing defensive in my post and you’re over-reaching if you think there was. it’s good to buy now because from 5 years ago i noticed a 20% decrease in house prices. you can buy a house and they let you keep it for a year before they take it away because my uncle died and it was a year later aunts estate was foreclosed. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/210 "2012-11-15T21:07:54Z")
> [@AngelSoft](#): > > I do sometimes worry about my future as I don’t have a 401k or anything at all. I think that’s another thing people don’t consider when they think about being poor. It’s not just the day to day struggle. It’s knowing that, chances are, you’re going to be doing this till the day you die because you just can’t get yourself any sort of retirement set up. Yeah, I fully expect to be working until the day I die. I just have never had so much money that I could afford to have non-liquid savings. Jobs don’t last very long anymore (I have, technically, a 401k with 30 bucks in it, because I was eligible through my employer one pay period before they laid me off), so when I have money I have to save it – someplace accessible without a penalty – for the times when I don’t have money. And by now I’m well past the time when I’d still have enough time for a retirement account to grow large enough to support me. It’s worrisome, but what’re ya gonna do? ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/211 "2012-11-15T21:11:11Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > it’s good to buy now because from 5 years ago i noticed a 20% decrease in house prices. you can buy a house and they let you keep it for a year before they take it away because my uncle died and it was a year later aunts estate was foreclosed. I had no idea it was so easy! Thanks! So what would you recommendation be for living arrangements during the 7 years your credit has been completely destroyed? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/212 "2012-11-15T21:25:06Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > $210 in tips you got 7 days to do it. > > 30 a day average tip 3 10 delivers a day. stop acting foolish. Oh, I see - you foolishly believe that everyone PizzaDeliveryGuy delivers to _will actually give a tip_. Ha-ha-ha - that’s _funny_. And of the subset who do tip not all will tip $3. You have clearly never been allowed out into the real world. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/213 "2012-11-15T21:28:18Z")
This guy and Anonymous User should be best friends. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/214 "2012-11-15T21:28:35Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I had no idea it was so easy! Thanks! > > So what would you recommendation be for living arrangements during the 7 years your credit has been completely destroyed? Pfft. Don’t be such an idiot! There are perfectly good cardboard boxes just LYING AROUND EVERYWHERE! Honestly. Why don’t poor people just wake up and look around them at all the opportunities they’re missing?! ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/215 "2012-11-15T21:31:13Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > Well, the OP did, and others were saying why buying is such a good idea. I agree that it usually is, if you have the choice. I was giving an example of why quite a large number of people don’t have that choice. There was nothing defensive in my post and you’re over-reaching if you think there was. No-one is claiming that people always have that choice, other than the OP who is clearly some kid. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/216 "2012-11-15T21:37:45Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Man, I had NO IDEA until now how easy it is for me to be poor! Why, here I thought I’d been struggling for all these years, when it turns out that there are just DOZENS AND DOZENS of jobs out there willing to pay me several thousand dollars a week for three hours of work! Stupid me! We poor people must be IDIOTS!!! I feel so foolish. I’m off to deliver a pizza or two and get my house paid off! Please note: All the people who say SHIT like this have jobs. Dozens of people have told me how easy it is to get disability and/or welfare. What do they have in common? They are working. If it’s so fucking wonderful and easy, why don’t they do it?? ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/217 "2012-11-15T21:37:46Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > No-one is claiming that people always have that choice, other than the OP who is clearly some kid. Yeah, it’s not really the op I was thinking of. But some people do seem to forget sometimes just how high your income might need to be to afford a mortgage. Tbh, it surprises me now and then - that my parents’ generation could buy their own homes on less than average wages whereas now it takes multiples of average wages to do so. It’s a whole different paradigm. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/218 "2012-11-15T21:38:05Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > it’s good to buy now because from 5 years ago i noticed a 20% decrease in house prices. you can buy a house and they let you keep it for a year before they take it away because my uncle died and it was a year later aunts estate was foreclosed. > [@Enderw24](#): > > I had no idea it was so easy! Thanks! > > So what would you recommendation be for living arrangements during the 7 years your credit has been completely destroyed? Actually, for foreclosure it’s 10. The 7 years is for ordinary bankruptcy. If I recall correctly. Anyhow - I’m not sure whether to take the OP seriously or not. Does he really believe the BS he’s spouting, or is he toying with the stupid people on the internet? ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/219 "2012-11-15T21:39:52Z")
> [@CEOofPolar](#): > > or you can work 2 different minimum wage jobs and have enough for ends meet bingo Wait, we started with the premise that your sister could barely make ends meet on $60k per year, and now it’s just “Heigh ho, jobs are so easy to obtain that I might as well get another”? Also, suddenly, $30k per year (the amount one would earn - not bring home, but earn) at minimum wage X full time X 2 is “enough?” Somehow, I’ve lost the narrative here… (BTW, per your prior thread, your $20/week haircut habit would cost an entire month’s earnings at a minimum wage job.) I think your mother would be doing you a huge favor by expecting you to go out and find a job and pay for your own luxuries. And I’m not being a smart ass, I really mean that it would do you a world of good to learn a little bit about money, budgeting, and the real world sooner rather than later. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018/220 "2012-11-15T21:41:22Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Anyhow - I’m not sure whether to take the OP seriously or not. Does he really believe the BS he’s spouting, or is he toying with the stupid people on the internet? I’ve refrained from participating in this thread because I’m asking myself the same question. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-poor-people-afford-everything/641018.md?page=12)