A sample to do list for a working class family. The everyday struggle to make ends meet.
Do laundry-got 2 loads done before the dryer broke down! I guess I can hang them out on a line like my granny did. Think positive, things will get better!
Mow lawn-Finally could afford some gas to cut the grass and now the lawn mower just quit working. At least half the lawn is done. Don't worry, I can fix it.
Pick up paycheck-That's for 2 weeks! 60 hours for 14 days, I need to find another job that will give more hours, benefits and pay! Calm down. Just be glad you have a job, ok.
Go to the bank & make a deposit-Overdrawn! How did that happen, I had enough in the bank to cover that! I should just close my account. Remember think positive, not negative.
Fill up gas tank-$85.00! What is going on with these gas prices? I remember when $20..... Stop being so negative or things will only get worse.
Pay bills-$235.00 for electricity! $220.00 for cable! How am I going to pay all of this? I hope I can pay half of each one for now. Think positive.
Buy groceries-I went $40.00 over my budget. Oh well, at least I can still feed my family of 5 on $140.00 every two weeks. We only eat once a day but it's better than starving.
Buy school supplies, clothes and shoes-What ever happened to just paper and pencils? Why do they need 4 dozen pencils, 6 packs of paper and expo markers? Am I paying for the teachers' supplies too? I can barely afford the paper and pencils.
Repair one of the two broken down cars in the driveway-My other car just broke down and now I can't get anywhere. Maybe my friends can give me a ride for a few days until I can figure something out.
Call loan companies and ask for an extension-I hope I can pay my payment a little late this month, I know it will probably drop my score but what can I do. I have to make arrangements or I'll lose my stuff.
Start looking for a cheaper place to move-I can not believe the prices on rentals these days. If we hadn't had that wreck last year we could have bought a house, instead we had to use our savings to live on when we lost our jobs. I'll be glad when this nightmare is over. I'm trying to stay positive but it's getting harder everyday.
Try to find a better job-Not qualified not enough education. If I had finished school I'd have a better job I guess. I wish I could afford to go back to school. Maybe one day.
Get another car-I spent $50.00 in gas just to get to work for 2 days in my friends gas hog. I have to find a way to get another car. What can I do? I have to be positive.
Go to the doctor-I am having anxiety attacks, Doc. I can't seem to get a handle on my finances since we had the car wreck. I can't sleep. I can't stop worrying about all my bills and what we're going to do for transportation. Can you help me and how much is it going to cost?
Think positive-Think positive and good things will happen? You have to believe that no matter how bad things are at the moment because the alternative is a nervous break down.
This is a sample “To do” list.
But it came out of my agenda from earlier this year.
I am a strong believer in positive thinking but in the times we live in right now it's getting harder to keep positive. I think this economy is creating more poverty. I work for one of the biggest companies in the world and we can't get over 30 hours a week. I think things could be better for people if they could work more hours. More hours. Less employees. That way everyone could get health insurance. I don't have any or my kids. I'm working on it but it takes time. I just thought people would like to see a working class Mom and Dad's to do list. It's been worse for us but there were times when things were a lot better!
Maybe one-day things will get better for us. We work really hard and we seem to get no where. So not all of Americans are being lazy. Their hardships are not always from being lazy. It's just how their lives turned out. I want more from this life than what I currently have. I will push myself to become more. No matter what it takes. Whatever my “To Do” holds in store for me I will overcome. Poverty does not and will not define me.
