One in Three Americans Face Poverty, Latest Census Study Shows

They drive cars, but seldom new ones. They earn paychecks, but not big ones. Many own homes. Most pay taxes. Half are married, and nearly half live in the suburbs. None are poor, but many describe themselves as barely scraping by.

Down but not quite out, these Americans form a diverse group sometimes called “near poor” and sometimes simply overlooked — and a new count suggests they are far more numerous than previously understood.

When the Census Bureau this month released a new measure of poverty, meant to better count disposable income, it began altering the portrait of national need. Perhaps the most startling differences between the old measure and the new involves data the government has not yet published, showing 51 million people with incomes less than 50 percent above the poverty line. That number of Americans is 76 percent higher than the official account, published in September. All told, that places 100 million people — one in three Americans — either in poverty or in the fretful zone just above it.

After a lost decade of flat wages and the worst downturn since the Great Depression, the findings can be thought of as putting numbers to the bleak national mood — quantifying the expressions of unease erupting in protests and political swings. They convey levels of economic stress sharply felt but until now hard to measure.

Read the full article at this link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/19/us/census-measures-those-not-quite-in-poverty-but-struggling.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Most of Unemployed Now Without Benefits

WASHINGTON - The jobs crisis has left so many people out of work for so long that most of America's unemployed are no longer receiving unemployment benefits.

Early last year, 75 percent were receiving checks. The figure is now 48 percent — a shift that points to a growing crisis of long-term unemployment. Nearly one-third of America's 14 million unemployed have had no job for a year or more.

Congress is expected to decide by year's end whether to continue providing emergency unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks in the hardest-hit states. If the emergency benefits expire, the proportion of the unemployed receiving aid would fall further.

The ranks of the poor would also rise. The Census Bureau says unemployment benefits kept 3.2 million people from slipping into poverty last year. It defines poverty as annual income below $22,314 for a family of four.

Yet for a growing share of the unemployed, a vote in Congress to extend the benefits to 99 weeks is irrelevant. They've had no job for more than 99 weeks. They're no longer eligible for benefits.

Get the full article at this link:

http://www.cnbc.com/id/45174237

The 7 Most Horrifying Cost Cutting Measures of All-Time

Money is tight, and everyone is cutting costs. But it's all about knowing where to cut; the family will skip the vacation, but doesn't try to save on clothes by turning the neighbor's cats into loincloths.

Unfortunately, when large organizations try to cut costs or figure out new sources of revenue, they tend to take the kitty loincloth approach. We're talking about ...

Story at link:

http://www.cracked.com/article_18884_the-7-most-horrifying-cost-cutting-measures-all-time.html

Poverty, The Home Game Edition

Take the challenge. How would you fare if you were in the same position that so many Americans now find themeselves?

http://playspent.org/

Now challenge Congress to do the same.

Poverty is Big Business

Money as Debt (MUST SEE VIDEO)

Feel like the walls are closing in on us? Money not going as far as it used to? Well, you're not alone, and you're not imagining things. While we bicker back and forth amongst ourselves about why the economy is fubar, the pure and simple truth is kept hidden from view, just enough, to let the screw job happen while most Americans are none the wiser. It's not the foreign aid, it's not welfare for the poor, it's not the huge military budget. It all comes down to the simple fact that we operate in a debt-based economy. It doesn't matter if you use a credit card or take out a mortgage. Even if you are a cash and carry guy/gal, every single dollar in your pocket represents debt, not value. Sound crazy? Well it's the truth.

Take the next 47 minutes to watch this stunning video. In that time you will learn more about economics than most people learn in a lifetime of study. Economics is not as complex as we are all led to believe. We have all been duped, so don't be surprised if you are a little pissed off to by the time you are done watching and learning.

(The video takes a few seconds to get going, there's a long black screen leading in.)




If anyone would like to own the DVD, including Money as Debt II: Promises unleashed, you can order directly from the film-makers website...

http://www.moneyasdebt.net/

Wal-Mart says their customers are 'running out of money'

I used to be part of the once a month crowd. I would go to Walmart and stock up on all my canned and dry goods, lots of frozen stuff too. Then throughout the month I would hit my local supermarket for fresh meats and produce. That changed for me this past winter. Suddenly, I saw a big rise in prices, and many of the products I used were no longer there. It was very sudden too. I mean from one month to the next. It only took me one visit and I decided I could do better stretching my limited cash and newly awarded allotment of foodstamps at my two local supermarkets, as long as I shopped with the sale flyer in hand. I haven't been back to Walmart since for groceries.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Wal-Mart's core shoppers are running out of money much faster than a year ago due to rising gasoline prices, and the retail giant is worried, CEO Mike Duke said Wednesday.

"We're seeing core consumers under a lot of pressure," Duke said at an event in New York. "There's no doubt that rising fuel prices are having an impact."

Wal-Mart shoppers, many of whom live paycheck to paycheck, typically shop in bulk at the beginning of the month when their paychecks come in.

Lately, they're "running out of money" at a faster clip, he said.

"Purchases are really dropping off by the end of the month even more than last year," Duke said. "This end-of-month [purchases] cycle is growing to be a concern.

Full article from CNN Money at link:

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/27/news/companies/walmart_ceo_consumers_under_pressure/index.htm