50% of Americans Couldn't Come Up with $2000 - Page 5

Sundae · 05-25-2011, 12:52 PM

I'd liek to know the amount of people polled to start with.
If that's already been addressed here I apologise.

And the area.

Maybe we should do an anonymous Cellar poll, but include restrictions such as "not including money borrowed from family, loan sharks or earned short term by illegal activity."

I'll bet over 50% would be able to.
Then again the dolescum on her have been mostly British.
And mostly me.

Spexxvet · 05-25-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae

Maybe we should do an anonymous Cellar poll, but include restrictions such as "not including money borrowed from family, loan sharks or earned short term by illegal activity."

I'll bet over 50% would be able to.

I agree, but I don't think this community reflects general society. For one, we can all afford a computer and internet connection.

Sundae · 05-25-2011, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spexxvet

I agree, but I don't think this community reflects general society. For one, we can all afford a computer and internet connection.

That was my point.

I'm not saying the poll was deliberately skewed, but without knowing the numbers polled and the how and where, such a dramatic figure does not necessarily reflect the average.

It could only be 100 people in a small area.
Or 250 people using a public library.
Or 1000 people on a certain calling list.

classicman · 05-25-2011, 01:00 PM

glatt: hangs with dolphins.

infinite monkey · 05-25-2011, 01:06 PM

*snort*

Around here, we refer to payday loan folks as loan sharks. I know few who've never had to use it.

But it's capped based on your income. It just puts you in a hole if you use it for, say MEDICAL EMERGENCIES like no teeth don't tell me having no teeth isn't an emergency unless you're unemployed or work with dead animalsand you get behinder and behinder. They just don't nail your knees to the floor.

infinite monkey · 05-25-2011, 01:19 PM

eeeeek.

I'm so scared of Giant Smilie Head I'd probably poo out the money.

(Yeah, thing was, I had helped out a friend with her husband's teeth because they had no money or insurance...they make the payments, but it's in my name. OTHERWISE, I could have done all the teeth fixing I wasn't expecting to happen without having to do what I did. Stupid, probably...but trying to help gets me in all kinds of trouble. I should stay out of the helping business.)

Hey, just a general note: (ding ding ding) that's why I hate these kinds of finger-wagging statistical statements of how dumb some of us are: there are an awful lot of situations that can't be controlled or situations where we were busy trying to help someone else...something all the stats in the world doesn't take into account: the human aspect.)

BigV · 05-25-2011, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by infinite monkey

eeeeek.

I'm so scared of Giant Smilie Head I'd probably poo out the money.

--snip

Is this you (gender changed to protect the gastronimically solvent)?

Nirvana · 05-25-2011, 01:40 PM

We have property and livestock. We live like the "Amish" mostly but we almost own our farm outright. All assets not much cash. I have a ton of credit at Sears

infinite monkey · 05-25-2011, 02:05 PM

Right. Like "4 out of 5 dentists surveyed" like CWEST!

Maybe they surveyed 5 dentists: Dr Charlie West, Dr Cary West, Dr Charlene West, Dr Chaz West, and Dr Conway West.

infinite monkey · 05-25-2011, 04:13 PM

Clodfobble · 05-25-2011, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Monkey

Maybe some day you won't be able to get a card unless you promise to carry a balance or pay a monthly fee, but it's not here yet.

Nah, they'll just charge merchants more and more to be allowed to run transactions. You know those "rewards" cards everyone has? I learned awhile ago that the merchant is the one paying that extra reimbursement back to you, not the credit card company. It's something they have to put up with if they want to allow their customers the convenience of using credit cards.

The kids' preschool tacks on a 2% surcharge for anyone using a credit card instead of a check, plus an additional 3% if it is a rewards card.

Uday · 05-25-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete Zicato

An article here says that 50% of Americans could not raise $2000 in the event of an emergency.

That is a scary statistic. I'm sure the economy is partly to blame, but it's also the fact that many (most?) American families did not save while the economy was good.

As I understand your economy, if 50% of your citizens saved money, your economy would collapse.

skysidhe · 05-25-2011, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uday

As I understand your economy, if 50% of your citizens saved money, your economy would collapse.

Good call Uday.

Undertoad · 05-25-2011, 08:35 PM

J: "Of course. Not just my bank, but all credit card companies cancel cards that are not used. It's called Inactive Termination."

(J manages customer communication at one of the major banks mentioned, including rate changes, balance transfers, and yes, inactive termination.)

Undertoad · 05-25-2011, 08:41 PM

J followon: "The risk departments actively try to cancel accounts that are not used, because some people forget they have the cards and then when they are stolen they are a bigger problem. We market to people trying to get them to use their cards. Use of a card without running a balance still means the card is active. They could probably use the card once a year and not be terminated."

05-25-2011, 12:52 PM	#1
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'd liek to know the amount of people polled to start with. If that's already been addressed here I apologise. And the area. Maybe we should do an anonymous Cellar poll, but include restrictions such as "not including money borrowed from family, loan sharks or earned short term by illegal activity." I'll bet over 50% would be able to. Then again the dolescum on her have been mostly British. And mostly me. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

05-25-2011, 01:00 PM	#4
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	glatt: hangs with dolphins. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

05-25-2011, 01:40 PM	#8
Nirvana Back in 10 Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 3,684	We have property and livestock. We live like the "Amish" mostly but we almost own our farm outright. All assets not much cash. I have a ton of credit at Sears __________________ Speaking simply... do not confuse this with having a simple mind.

05-25-2011, 01:06 PM	#5
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	snort Around here, we refer to payday loan folks as loan sharks. I know few who've never had to use it. But it's capped based on your income. It just puts you in a hole if you use it for, say MEDICAL EMERGENCIES like no teeth don't tell me having no teeth isn't an emergency unless you're unemployed or work with dead animalsand you get behinder and behinder. They just don't nail your knees to the floor.

05-25-2011, 01:19 PM	#6
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	eeeeek. I'm so scared of Giant Smilie Head I'd probably poo out the money. (Yeah, thing was, I had helped out a friend with her husband's teeth because they had no money or insurance...they make the payments, but it's in my name. OTHERWISE, I could have done all the teeth fixing I wasn't expecting to happen without having to do what I did. Stupid, probably...but trying to help gets me in all kinds of trouble. I should stay out of the helping business.) Hey, just a general note: (ding ding ding) that's why I hate these kinds of finger-wagging statistical statements of how dumb some of us are: there are an awful lot of situations that can't be controlled or situations where we were busy trying to help someone else...something all the stats in the world doesn't take into account: the human aspect.)

05-25-2011, 02:05 PM	#9
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002	Right. Like "4 out of 5 dentists surveyed" like CWEST! Maybe they surveyed 5 dentists: Dr Charlie West, Dr Cary West, Dr Charlene West, Dr Chaz West, and Dr Conway West.

05-25-2011, 04:13 PM	#10
infinite monkey Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 13,002

05-25-2011, 08:35 PM	#14
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	J: "Of course. Not just my bank, but all credit card companies cancel cards that are not used. It's called Inactive Termination." (J manages customer communication at one of the major banks mentioned, including rate changes, balance transfers, and yes, inactive termination.)

05-25-2011, 08:41 PM	#15
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	J followon: "The risk departments actively try to cancel accounts that are not used, because some people forget they have the cards and then when they are stolen they are a bigger problem. We market to people trying to get them to use their cards. Use of a card without running a balance still means the card is active. They could probably use the card once a year and not be terminated."

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