What's your pet peeve in RL?

[Murphie]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

And I like my truck Murph, it's 11 years old and it's run forever. And I like it in snow. And mud. And hauling stuff that I couldn't fit in my old Cavalier.

I have always lived in the city. I don't encounter mud, and I don't have much need to go out in the snow.

But I can see the benefit to someone who doesn't have the good sense to live somewhere with paved roads.

[Aksannyi]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Yes I am a country girl, stuck (at the moment) in the big ole city Pittsburgh.

I've actually considered starting a blog about that, the city is just baffling to me. I'm not completely "hickish" but why anyone would want to live in such a crowded place all the time is beyond me.

[Murphie]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

I can't speak for everyone, but I prefer the convenience, the proximity to art, food, and other people. I like not having to deal with having a yard. I want to deal with nature on my own terms. I enjoy the architecture of the city, and the hustle and bustle. I can walk right out of my front door and be in the middle of something, without having to get into a car or sit in traffic.

On the other side of the coin, my parents wanted the opposite of all of that, so they moved way out to the country. It just depends on what you prefer.

[Feba]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Yes, but that only applies if the other person actually cares about going out, and the other person doesn't want to go out as often. Again, it's very dependent on who it is.


As to finances, there are a number of things which can make a second person having a job expensive. Job related expenses (clothing, transportation, food), taxes are the biggest ones. Clothing can be very expensive in a professional environment, compared to house clothes. Transportation, for a few reasons: The cost of gas is rising, a second vehicle can be expensive, not everyone has access to public transportation, car insurance, etc. Food, if your job doesn't provide you with food you likely have to pay for food out (especially if you are unable to bring in a lunch). Taxes can increase by having a second party working in a relationship. There is also the matter of taxes and other finances being complicated by a second job. Jarre, I'm not talking about welfare.

Yes, it's not true in every situation that having a job is a negative thing, but it is true in some.

[Murphie]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Job related expenses (clothing, transportation, food), taxes are the biggest ones.

All of which are usually offset by the extra income, and then some. Also, you are taxed on the income, so it doesn't actually take anything away from the other person's money.

Clothing can be very expensive in a professional environment, compared to house clothes.

Not really. You can dress for most professional environments very cheaply if you shop around. Also, what kind of person just lives in the house? People have to buy clothes to go outside from time to time. We're not talking about an invalid here. Or maybe you are, but I'm not.

Transportation, for a few reasons: The cost of gas is rising, a second vehicle can be expensive, not everyone has access to public transportation, car insurance, etc.

That's what they get for living in the sticks. Most people don't have to deal with these kind of obstacles, and those that do, again, have their costs offset by the extra income. If your job doesn't at least cover the costs of working there, then obviously it's not a good idea to take that job. But almost any job will.

Food, if your job doesn't provide you with food you likely have to pay for food out (especially if you are unable to bring in a lunch).

You're going to eat at home, so I'm not sure why you think this is an extra cost.

Taxes can increase by having a second party working in a relationship.

Increase how?

There is also the matter of taxes and other finances being complicated by a second job. Jarre, I'm not talking about welfare.

They aren't that much more complicated. Most fully functioning adults are more than up to the challenge of a few extra lines to fill out on a tax form.

Yes, it's not true in every situation that having a job is a negative thing, but it is true in some.

You still haven't provided any specific examples. You've just made general statements that say "Oh, it can totally be hard. Take it from me."

[Feba]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

08/25/97 THE SECOND INCOME: IS IT WORTH IT?

Slightly sexist, very out of date, and referring to people with kids, but I'm too lazy to be assed to find anything more modern.

[Aksannyi]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

When I was married it made more sense for me to stay at home because of the extra cost of childcare. Now that I'm single I have to concern myself with that aspect of working/raising children. Although Eddy has the kids right now so it's a moot point for this exact second but I'm quite sure that cost of childcare's going to be a HUGE chunk of change. If I didn't miss my kids so much I'd almost consider letting them stay in Mexico with my ex in-laws (who take EXCELLENT care of them) while I work my ass to the bone and finish school.

Of course, Lalito will be starting preschool soon enough so that's not going to cost me anything, but Evan will still need care, and quite possibly special schools because he's Autistic.

I need to get me a sugar daddy.

I'm kidding.

Sort of.

[Murphie]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

So since we're talking about right now, and people without kids, it has absolutely no relevance whatsoever. Plus, that article actually makes the point that it IS, in most cases, worth it.

[Feba]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

That's what they get for living in the sticks. Most people don't have to deal with these kind of obstacles.

Yeah, not every city has an excellent or even worthwhile public transportation system.

I live in the KC metro, the closest thing we have to public transportation is a very very crappy bus system. For me to ride from the closest stop to my house to the local mall would take well over an hour. It's a 10-20 minute car ride, depending on traffic. That's also not counting the time it would take me to get from my house to the bus stop in the first place.

Anyway, "that's what they get" doesn't mean it's any less of a factor in costs.

You're going to eat at home, so I'm not sure why you think this is an extra cost.

Because making your own meals and having fast food/cafeteria food/dining (depending on where you work) are two very different levels of cost. You can't take lunch in everywhere, and what you can bring in a bag lunch is limited.

Increase how?

Income taxes, I'm pretty sure. I'm not exactly sure, this would be an article I read probably two or three years ago.

All of which are usually offset by the extra income, and then some.

Exactly. Usually. I'm not saying this is better in every case, or even a majority of cases, it's probably a small minority, but it does exist.
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So since we're talking about right now, and people without kids, it has absolutely no relevance whatsoever. Plus, that article actually makes the point that it IS, in most cases, worth it.

Like I said, I wasn't going to put a lot of effort into finding a good article. It does somewhat illustrate the point though-- the fact that, in the end, there was only about 5k net off a 70k income. Nowadays, the prices on gas are significantly higher, which not only drives up transportation costs considerably but other things such as food.

[Murphie]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Yeah, not every city has an excellent or even worthwhile public transportation system.

I live in the KC metro, the closest thing we have to public transportation is a very very crappy bus system. For me to ride from the closest stop to my house to the local mall would take well over an hour. It's a 10-20 minute car ride, depending on traffic. That's also not counting the time it would take me to get from my house to the bus stop in the first place.

Cincinnati's system isn't any better, but I manage. I used to have to ride the bus for two hours. Was it fun? No. But I did what I had to do.

Anyway, "that's what they get" doesn't mean it's any less of a factor in costs.

Which again, offset by income.

Because making your own meals and having fast food/cafeteria food/dining (depending on where you work) are two very different levels of cost. You can't take lunch in everywhere, and what you can bring in a bag lunch is limited.

Where on earth can't you take food of your own in? Everywhere that I have ever worked allows for that. And most places do not have a cafeteria these days.

Income taxes, I'm pretty sure. I'm not exactly sure, this would be an article I read probably two or three years ago.

It depends on your bracket. Almost all of the time, again, offset by extra income.

Exactly. Usually. I'm not saying this is better in every case, or even a majority of cases, it's probably a small minority, but it does exist.

Exceptions to the rule aren't really worth debating about though.

Like I said, I wasn't going to put a lot of effort into finding a good article. It does somewhat illustrate the point though-- the fact that, in the end, there was only about 5k net off a 70k income. Nowadays, the prices on gas are significantly higher, which not only drives up transportation costs considerably but other things such as food.

But they were also paying stupid costs for daycare, and other expenses that they could have curbed.

[Aksannyi]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Well there's at least one good thing about the daycare thing ... it eventually ends. Once your kids are of school age you can send them to public school and that cost is much less than that of an 8-hour daycare program.

[Murphie]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Very true. At most it's just a few years of cost. I mean, not that there aren't costs related to sending children to school, but we weren't really talking about people with kids anyway, because kids add a whole other social/emotional dynamic to the "to work or not to work" question.

[Aksannyi]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Yeah I'm just butting that in there to make the topic relevant to me.

I know how cocky that sounds.

[Jarre]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

It's a 24 gallon tank, and I run it till it's pretty much on "E" every time. I like to buy in bulk, lolz.

And I like my truck Murph, it's 11 years old and it's run forever. And I like it in snow. And mud. And hauling stuff that I couldn't fit in my old Cavalier.

Yes, don't get between a redneck and her truck. I will cry when I have to say goodbye to it forever. I'm attached to it, really attached to it.

Thats 90 litres, which at todays petrol price here of £1.029 is £92.61 = $187

so here int eh uk we pay an extra $107 for teh equivilant petrol.
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I was going to mention this as well. Even in situations where one income is enough to feed/clothe/house both people, there are the emotional and social considerations also.

True.

Another true statistic. in the Uk they have been doing many surveys over the last few years and they worked out that it costs around £100k to raise a child from 0-18 thats nearly $200k per child.

[Aksannyi]

Re: What's your pet peeve in RL?

Thats 90 litres, which at todays petrol price here of £1.029 is £92.61 = $187

so here int eh uk we pay an extra $107 for teh equivilant petrol.

That's insane. But either way you look at it, it's way too much fucking money.