How To Survive On $150,000 A Year

Posted on 02.08.07 in Faith and there are 9 comments.

There is an interesting article at MSN Money:

Scraping By On $150,000 A Year

We are so weird here in America. My husband and I just watched a show called House Hunters and the featured couple was looking at a $385,000 / 3600sf home and the wife’s comment about the house was, “I think we can fit in it.”

Granted, they have four kids, but really…

We just received an update on one of our Compassion kids and as I was reading about the community where she lives, one line stuck out to me:

“The average income in this region is $25 a month.”

I don’t think we even have a monthly budget category that is that low.

It seems to me that it’s all about perspective. If we’re surrounded by wealth we feel we need it. If we’re surrounded by poverty we feel blessed by even the simplest things.

But perspective is elusive, isn’t it? It is for me, anyway.

Here’s some perspective in the form of a song by John Reuben called “What About Them.” Very powerful lyrics. (This isn’t the official video, but I don’t think there is one.)

Here’s another song by Jars of Clay. It’s called “Oh My God” and it’s probably the most impacting song I’ve heard in...maybe...ever. (Lyrics)

These thoughts and these songs move me. But I don’t really know how to move. I know how to write and talk, but move? That’s harder.

I’m beginning to think we weren’t created for comfort. We were created for conflict. Conflict with our laziness, our greed, our selfishness. When there isn’t conflict in our own lives we seek it out on TV, in sports and even in church. I want to fight my own tendency to do nothing and do something.

I love this quote from Martin Luther King Jr.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

As Christians we know there is need. We know we should move. But how? What do you do? What will you do? What should we do?

(HT: Brody and Amy)

The Comments:

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Great topic Kat!  As I have been struggling financially after having years of being in the exact opposite position, I am now realizing that I really took advantage of my blessing all that time.  And it’s now in the aftermath that I discover all the opportunities I missed when I actually had the resources to make a difference. 

Not that this takes away any of the meaning, but I have a friend who recently took a trip to China to stay with his new wife’s family.  Many of them work at factories making all the cheap electronics gear we buy in Circuit City, etc.  The same group of people who somehow can produce a product for 1 dollar that would cost 10’s of dollars to be produced in America.  And we collectively always wonder how little they must pay their employees to be able to afford that price.  Anyway, one of the more interesting things I heard about the trip was that yeah, the people there typically made a few dollars a day.  But for them, the value of that money is greater than the average person here.  They typically can pay their rent, phone bills, internet, food bills, etc, in just a few days pay because of the low prices of everything.  I was encouraged to know that the income comparisons we often read about at least some of these countries is not truly accurate in this sense. 

Of course, I’m aware that this is not always true in all poor areas of the world, and I’m not trying to diminish the impact of the comparisons, just bringing to light that it does take more than knowing what people make in a week or a month to know how they can survive on 25/month.

Yes, the whole dollars/month comparison is not a good one unless the cost of living is similar in the areas being compared.  I often see it used, and always wonder, ‘ok, so what does $25 buy them that month?’

Maybe a better way to compare would be to take a basket of goods, which could include basic food items, rent, cost of education etc, and describe how much of that basket a person could buy with what they make that month.  If the person making $25 per month is able to buy more of that basket than a person in another country making $1,000 per month, then we have some idea of who needs more immediate help and can know how to respond.

I think it’s an interesting point that we look for conflict in other places if our own lives are too comfortable.

I know what you mean about the monthly wages.  One of my compassion childrens family earns 15 dollars a month.  I was like....what???

But what others has said is true as well, things tend to be cheaper, I mean they have to be. 

What can we do?  I think we can acknowledge that there is need everywhere.  Maybe we can take a hard look at what we spend our money on, and figure out ways to cut back so we can allocate more money to giving.  We can find ways to give of our time and ourselves.  We can find responsible charities that make sure the bulk of their money goes to helping those they intend to help.  We can recycle and try to use less of the world’s resources. These are some of the things I do.  And they are some of the things I should do more of. 

I also think we have special gifts and passions we can use.  One person might have a passion to help unwed mothers in an effort to prevent abortion, while another might passionatly care about education for all, still another might support alleviating the suffering of those in HIV/AIDS areas of the world.  We should listen to what we care about and throw our hearts into it, I think. 
Anyway, great post!  I hate that I have the tendency to become complacent or discouraged when others don’t feel as passionately about something.  But I suppose that’s the true test of how much you believe in something...when you’re willing to believe in it alone.

I tend to think that the less you have, the more greatful you are to recieve gifts of any form, weather monetary or something else.  People in Mexico, Africa and other areas of the world have so much less than us, that I feel for the most part they appriciate what they do have, and what they are given far more than us, in the way of food, clothing etc.  We Americans take those things for granted at times. 
Like you said, Kat, I don’t think most Americans understand or live out like we understand real poverty that other parts of the world experience.  It’s easy to forget, even after you have seen it.  This country is fueled by greed.  ( like the “I think we’ll fit in a 3600 sq. ft. home” comment.)
On another hand, It’s so hard to know how we, as Americans are supposed to live. It’s easy to get caught up in claiming that we “need” things that we don’t. 
One way I am trying to excersise a little of trimming off excess, is by cutting out some of our cable to sponsor another compassion child. (notice I didn’t say all of our cable.... like we need any!)
On a positive note, at least some people in this country are stepping up, bringing awareness to the needs of the world, and stirring us to do something about it.
Good post, I love those songs…

Wow. Great thoughts everyone!

I totally see what you’re saying Dave. I do imagine that $25 can be spent in drastically different ways in Haiti (where our Compassion child is from) and here in Texas.

I really like Jimmy’s basket analogy. I think that summed it up well. Jimmy has such great insights. He’s so smart and wonderful and handsome. (fyi-Jimmy is my husband - It’s so fun to see him commenting more around here. It’s like when your spouse surprises you at work. Fun.)

In all seriousness, I do like his analogy. Another thing to think about is that if $25 could actually support someone in another country for a month, then I’d have to imagine that the standard of living is remarkably lower in that county. What constitutes their needs is probably drastically different from mine,

Amy - good insights. I like what you had to say about our talents and passions. I think I too often just think of money when I think about helping others, but we can help so much more if we throw our lives in there too.

Kristin - I definitely agree that the less you have, the more thankful you are. As we’re about to welcome our third child, out 1500sf house is getting a bit cramped, so when we get gifts (especially if they’re big) one of my first thoughts is, “Oh, great. Where are we going to put this?”

That’s a terrible attitude to have, but I think it is an accurate reflection of the fact that I don’t really NEED anything.

You’re right about it being hard for us, as Americans, to know how to live. Often seeing the “stuff” other people have makes us think we need it....until we see what other people live without...and then we realize we don’t.

So I guess it’s really important that we don’t close our eyes to the pain or need of the world around us. Not only does it give us a right perspective, but it gives us an opportunity to help.

That $25 a month?  It doesn’t buy a fraction of the lifestyle of someone here living on $1,000 a month.  Not a tiny fraction.

Yes, their “rent” may be $5 a month.  And they may live in a cardboard lean-to.  And their utility bills are low, yes.  No AC or heat.  No cable bills, no car payments—it’s a low-cost lifestyle, when you don’t have anything.

Fact is, our lifestyle, even for those under the “poverty” level here, is so far separated from most of the places Compassion is serving, you truly can’t compare at all.  Suffice it to say, we have tons, they have very, very little.

Actually, even with cheaper prices, I’d rather make $25 a month here than there, for my family’s sake.  This is for many reasons, not the least of which the water supply, health care, government subsidies, and, generally speaking, the rule of law in your neighborhood.

There are probably lots of great organizations, but we’re definitely sold on Compassion, having seen what they do personally in Africa and Asia.  We sponsor six kids right now, and hope to sponsor more.  This isn’t because we’re super generous, it’s because we don’t give 10% to a local church body (ours doesn’t need money) and I have a hard time sleeping at night when I think about these kids, as anyone else would who sees what conditions are like for them.  So we can give it to the churches Compassion works through, who provide a means to survive.

Sorry to go on so long…

I agree.  That extreme makeover show for homes?  It kind of bugs me because it is so focused on having these big, huge, extravagent houses.  There’s enough problem with people thinking they have to have the best of everything, that with only 2 t.v.s they’re at the poverty line, I don’t need some weasley-looking guy in a goatee convincing me my home needs to be put down in favor of the latest mansion.

While I agree that the Extreme Makeover show goes overboard on their homes, I do feel they are providing a lot of people with more than just a home.  Yes they are giving them more than they need, but they are showing them love, and improving these people’s lives drastically.  I think it’s the best use of media money for a tv show that I have seen.

Brant,
I really appreciate your input. I know you’ve seen many Compassion projects first hand. I still remember when you worked at KSBJ and went to India and commented that one little boy you met (I don’t remember if he was one you sponsored or not) was just like you’re little boy and his family was just like your family....except with drastically different life circumstances.

For some reason that really struck me and stuck with me.

I’ve been really impressed with Compassion and have adored getting to know our kids.

Michelle - yes, television certainly does not help Americans retain a proper perspective on needs vs. wants.

Kristin - I haven’t watched one of those home makeover shows in a long, long time, but I do remember often feeling inspired to help others after watching the emotional reactions of the people who were helped.

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