Hi All!!

I was reading my local newspaper and of course all the articles were about what is going on with today's economy and how the government MIGHT generate funds.

One reporter wrote "The government can fix the problem by LOWERING OUR SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, OR.... by raising the age of people who qualify for Social Security.

Do any of you think that the government might REDUCE our monthly social security?? Can they do this? Now I know this is a stupid question, and I know the government can do any darn thing they wish to do.

But reduce a person's fixed income. Holy Cow. People can't make it as it is.

If my landlord's property taxes get raised, they will have to raise all the tenants. I've been very fortunate. They haven't done this in QUITE while, but if they are raised, then they have to pass this along to the tenants. I completely understand this.

But when you think about it, every January, we get some little raise in our monthly benefits. The medicare (well they take more money out of that), more money out of everything.

but to think that come January, when we expect some dinky little RAISE, and then to discover we might actually be getting less money....well, it does make a mind get a bit nervous.

Do any of you think the government might actually do this??

I'd appreciate all opinions.

Mel

I'm not worried about it. I think they'd come up against some mighty powerful objections if they messed with Social Security and or disability benefits.

I'm trying hard not to let the media put the fear of God into me about this economy. I think they generate more panic than is necessary.

Hi. Thanks for responding so quickly.

I am going to be repeating your post TO MYSELF, all day long.
I'm going to be like the Little Engine that could.

Instead of saying "I think I can, I think I can".

I'm going to be saying.:

OH NO, THEY CAN'T ....OH NO THEY CAN'T

lol lol

Thanks much

Just out of curiosity, I went to google and typed in "Can they reduce our Social Security Benefits".

I got this link.

VERY INTERESTING. Don't know if I believe it but here it is.

http://www.ssa.gov/qa.htm

I think they can do anything they want but it would be countered with a mass protest. I think it may seem more reasonable to think they would not give us cost of living before they cut your actual pay. But again, mass protest because our little check isn't much. lol

I can't work anymore.....I can't afford to lose even $5.00 of my benefits! Thanks for the link Melody!!

i agree with sandy ... they may try ... they may even do the cut but the mass protest that will arise will force them to return to how it is now ... i don't think the public will tolerate gov. taking more from ss

One candidate will, and one will not.

I voted for the one who will not reduce your benefits (and the benefits of military personnel....which is mind-boggling based on his history).

-Vic

I don't think SS or SSDI will be reduced or eliminated EVER. How will we pay our rent and buy food?? We'd all be homeless. It'd just make a bigger mess if they tried.

My LL takes any raise I get PLUS. I never see the raise. It's actually getting harder and harder to buy food. Usually the last week of the month, I can't. Really sucks.

Well, I have found a way to reaaaalllllyyy stretch a buck.

I literally live on fish and chicken and veggies. We don't go out to eat ANYWHERE except on a birthday, and then it's around the corner where there is a lovely Japanese restaurant and you can get a lunch box for about $7.00. I get the grilled salmon, with some shrimp, some brown rice and it comes with a salad. Not bad for 7 bucks.

But going to the movies, going out to dinner, going on vacation??? Hasn't happened for YEARS.

I do go out to breakfast. There is a lovely cafe not too far from me where you can get breakfast for $1.75. Nice big cup of coffee (which you fix yourself), and a couple of egg whites on a roll (or two eggs if you prefer).

You pay $1.75 and they throw in the coffee. But I go for the socialization. We all get together and discuss what's in the paper. Best 2 hours every morning I ever spent. I know all the people. We laugh and sit around and it costs me a total of 2 bucks (with the tax).

So that is my indulgence. Sometimes Alan comes with me, but most often he gets up MUCH later than me, so when I get home, (around 11:30 a.m. or noon), he is just getting up and I fix him his breakfast.

I have learned to buy chicken on sale. Fish on sale, veggies on sale (everything I buy is on sale). I'll walk 7 blocks and compare prices. You have NO IDEA HOW MUCH YOU CAN SAVE.

I once bought a pint of grape tomatoes for 99 cents a pint. Exactly one block away, the same tomatoes (same box, same company, same packaging) was selling for $2.99. Give me a break.

So I've learned where to shop and HOW TO BUY.

Today I bought 4 packages of boneless and skinless chicken. And a bottle of Heinz Ketchup (Alan puts it on everything).

Believe me, this is a LOT of chicken. I paid $22 for the whole kit and kaboodle.

But the cheapest thing I buy is spaghetti when it's on sale. You can get two packages (1 lb each) for a buck.

I make 1/2 a package. MAKES A LOT OF SPAGHETTI. I also make tuna croquettes.

So when it breaks down, it comes to less than 30 cents for a meal.

Two bad I don't eat spaghetti. The Dreamfields spaghetti (the low carb kind) costs $3.49 a package. Can you believe this?

I pay $.50 cents for plain package of regular spaghetti and they charge $3.49 for a package of Dreamfields?? Forget it, I didn't buy it.

I do without. Everything is too much money. And thank god I don' buy Polly-O cheese. My god, the other day I went near the milk and cheese aisle and 16 oz of Polly-O was $7.99.

oh my god.

melody