Stupidity of people

[cardtrick]

Really interesting information, thanks for posting. Most people I know wouldn't choose to take the lifestyle that comes with needing welfare. As long as they aren't living a nicer life than the majority of others, I think we're doing ok.

Dan - Love your blog! Something I've always wanted to do and intend on doing before I turn 35. I'm 27 now. I really need to figure out how much I would need for a trip like that. I'm working on boosting my earnings and savings. Any advice on how much to budget for a trip like that is greatly appreciated!

[uppercrustsc]

I have actually done a lot of research about the issue of welfare because it is a subject very close to me. Many of the assumptions being thrown around about welfare users are factually incorrect.

The average welfare family has the same number of children as the average family nationally. Half of all people who receive TANF are off in less than 4 months, and 3/4 are off in under one year. The number of those that reach the lifetime limit of five years is very small. 90% of entitlement benefits go to the elderly, the disabled, and working families. The number of families receiving cash assistance is at a historic low. Teenage unwed births has been on a steady decline for the last 20 years. The percentage of food stamp benefits being spent on junk food is less than 2.5%. I can keep going...

Thums up Hamchan. I am agree with you

[YLTL_Dan]

Dan - Love your blog! Something I've always wanted to do and intend on doing before I turn 35. I'm 27 now. I really need to figure out how much I would need for a trip like that. I'm working on boosting my earnings and savings. Any advice on how much to budget for a trip like that is greatly appreciated!

Awesome, thanks for checking it out! You'll see our final spending tally in a couple of months when we're done traveling, but the good news is we're spending less per month traveling than what we spent per month "living" back in the US. It mostly depends on how you want to travel - as a backpacker, hybrid backpacker, or luxurious traveler. There are a ton of variables, but for one person - and assuming "medium range" - I'd look at saving $70-$80 per day... so if you wanted to travel for six months, maybe try to save ~ $15k. I'll start a new thread on here when we're done with our travel so I don't highjack this thread too much .

p.s. It's totally worth it

[cardtrick]

Awesome, thanks for checking it out! You'll see our final spending tally in a couple of months when we're done traveling, but the good news is we're spending less per month traveling than what we spent per month "living" back in the US. It mostly depends on how you want to travel - as a backpacker, hybrid backpacker, or luxurious traveler. There are a ton of variables, but for one person - and assuming "medium range" - I'd look at saving $70-$80 per day... so if you wanted to travel for six months, maybe try to save ~ $15k. I'll start a new thread on here when we're done with our travel so I don't highjack this thread too much .

p.s. It's totally worth it

Please do start a thread once you're back. Would love to learn more. Not a single person I've talked to, who has done something like this said they regretted it.

[jIM_Ohio]

Okay I love my family but I really do wonder about how stupid some of them are. I know many people rail against the welfare system, and I defend it as helping those who need it. But when I start to see people who are on it not working and being stupid I just want to smack them (them being my family members).

First my cousin is 35 with a 1 year old. He is working as a substitute teacher trying to get a full time, permanent position but his girlfriend, whom he didn't marry, doesn't work and is getting food stamps, free medical, and welfare but they live together. His parents said "she doesn't want to get married until she can wear a fancy gown and have a big wedding". Okay seriously hello! You had a kid, live rent free in another family member's house (aunt who has alzeheimer's living with daughter but can't sell house), and you are thinking of having a big wedding? You don't even have a full time job? I don't get where their values are. When I look at them I wonder if what is wrong with society and perhaps the welfare and food stamps aren't working. Instead they are promoting laziness and stupidity.

Second my other cousin is 31 and come to find out 10 weeks pregnant. She is unmarried and living on the mainland, but now is moving back home to Hawaii to live with the father of her baby. They are "too busy" to get married. But at least the guy has a job and house. I think she got pregnant on purpose because my aunt and uncle were pressuring her to date him and be with him. And she did it to trap him. After all "he has a good job, family has money, and he owns a house." Yeah another one going on welfare, free medical, and probably food stamps while living with her boyfriend.

Third my aunt who is 27 (long story about more stupidity) has two kids 5 and 3, unmarried, on welfare, food stamps you name it. She has been going to school to get her degree and using federal/state money to send her kids to daycare. But now that she's done she still isn't working and living off the government.

I can't fathom the stupidity. My mom, a retired social worker, told me growing up there is no such thing anymore as an accidental pregnancy. Nowadays with birth control there shouldn't be accidents. I feel bad saying this about my own family but why do they do such stupid things?

More than just getting a hand out, do they realize the responsibility of raising a kid? And having kids willy-nilly with people I don't think they are even committed to? What is going on with people nowadays? An cousin #1, his mom said "oh nowadays it's the in thing. Everyone has kids not being married. You just have a child when you want."

Sorry for vent but I can't help but shake my head at this stupidity.

Funny you blame the people, and I blame the government for enabling stupidity and laziness.

Take away the government programs and people will get motivated so they can afford their iphone

[LivingAlmostLarge]

The government gives handouts, but what about growing up and being responsible period? What about people who aren't saving for retirement? They aren't necessarily depending on the government but they are still being irresponsible. Or in a lot of CC debt.

[KTP]

Funny you blame the people, and I blame the government for enabling stupidity and laziness.

Take away the government programs and people will get motivated so they can afford their iphone

I think we are in the last stages of the old Roman empire. Thank goodness we have reality TV, which is a bit more humane replacement of the old gladiator games to keep the masses entertained while society collapses.

I give us about 50 more years, which puts me in the ground, so its all good.