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What does it cost you to live per day?

How much does it cost you to live per day?


  • Total voters
    21
  • Poll closed .
The world is pretty much like it was when I was 15. The economy on the edge, doing poorly with a worthless piece-of-**** in the white house. Ok, so today, it's a bit better, the Reps control the house unlike the congress we had under Carter.

Getting a job is not the same thing as giving high fives because your favorite party was elected. They actually have nothing to do with each other.
 
You are free to move from the USA.
In your comparison of some living on $2/day, what does a dollar buy in those countries?

What is your point of your post?

My point has remained consistent. A person needs water, air and food to live. Yes. You can buy sufficient air, water and food for $2 a day in order to survive in the United States. You don't have to eat the 3,700 calorie diet suggested by the USDA food pyramid in order to live. This is a myth and most rational people know that the Milk Lobby invented the food pyramid.
 
My point was more along the lines of what someone (by percentage of income) is willing to spend to live in a certain area. The cost of 'living' in a certain area can eat up your income rather quickly if you don't look at it realistically based on percentages.

I wasn't so much debating with you, as suggesting an alternate method of considering what one's 'cost of living' really is.

To remain in good standing with the local taxing authority is not a necessity for survival. The question was, "How much does it cost you to live per day?"

The key word is live. This does not include complying with the law, maintaining an acceptable American lifestyle, feeling good about yourself as a citizen, feeling good about your financial savvy to plan for the future or any other non-tangible necessity.

Basic survival is very barbaric and brutal. Fortunately. Very few Americans have even had to consider surviving in the most basic conditions. This is different for the majority of humans living today. 50% of the world population lives on less than $2 per day.
 
To remain in good standing with the local taxing authority is not a necessity for survival. The question was, "How much does it cost you to live per day?"

The key word is live. This does not include complying with the law, maintaining an acceptable American lifestyle, feeling good about yourself as a citizen, feeling good about your financial savvy to plan for the future or any other non-tangible necessity.

Basic survival is very barbaric and brutal. Fortunately. Very few Americans have even had to consider surviving in the most basic conditions. This is different for the majority of humans living today. 50% of the world population lives on less than $2 per day.

I was applying it to the average American citizen... and even the poorest American lives better then most if third world nations.

Part of the problem with Americans is they tend to live above or at what their income can realistically support, rather then being comfortable below what their income can support.
 
LOL, you actually took that as a serious comment?

Sure, I'll hire him, just tell me where I'm supposed to get the $100,000 per year with an annual taxable income of around $26,000 per year.

I couldn't tell whether or not to take his comment seriously or not either. I would like to keep more of what I bring in too, but there is no way that I can test drive, diagnose, repair, bill, order parts, build estimates and answer the phones all by myself. There would be no income because nothing would get finished. My office manager is awesome and worth every penny she costs me. Notice I didn't say every penny she makes, there is a considerable different between what she costs me and what she makes. Right now I have a temp in my office because my manager (she is 61) is undergoing treatment for lung cancer. I could not simply replace her when she was diagnosed back in December. Under the Family Medical Leave act I am required by law to give her the position back if she wants it and can do it within 12 weeks. That 12 weeks ends Friday. As luck would have it she gets her follow up CT scan Thursday. She intends to come back, and if she is able (been praying HARD) the job is hers. But in the mean time I have scheduled an interview for 2 weeks from now with someone else. It seems many who demand more pay and better benefits are unaware of what employers have to consider. March 5th marks 7 years in business for me. Last year was the first that I made more than any of my employees, and not by much. Within a couple of years when this venture really starts paying off for me I will be labeled as a rich, greedy business owner and these same people will be calling for the government to take all I have.
 
My point has remained consistent. A person needs water, air and food to live. Yes. You can buy sufficient air, water and food for $2 a day in order to survive in the United States. You don't have to eat the 3,700 calorie diet suggested by the USDA food pyramid in order to live. This is a myth and most rational people know that the Milk Lobby invented the food pyramid.

So do you live on $2/day?
Do you receive any govt assistance in doing so?

I and many people I know do not pay attention to the govt "food pyramid".

I make/earn what I earn. I live the way I want to within my means.

As far as calories per day diet. Depends on the work you do.
 
I'm sure a lot of them do. They probably pay a miniscule amount of sales tax.

How judgmental of you, I'm sure it isn't a minuscule amount to them. I also believe that you could factor a certain amount of graft and corruption into the cost even beyond sales tax.
 
So do you live on $2/day?

It's very likely. The water from my facet cost half a cent per gallon. I'm not sure what the feed I eat cost. I would assume that 75% of the food I eat is not necessary for survival. The air I breathe is free.

The rest of what I consume is excess. Yes, my income is higher than $730 but I live a luxurious life as do all Americans.
 
How judgmental of you, I'm sure it isn't a minuscule amount to them. I also believe that you could factor a certain amount of graft and corruption into the cost even beyond sales tax.

I don't know what the sales tax rate is in other countries. In my location sales tax is 7%. If you spend two dollars per day that would equate to $51.10 per year. I doubt even the poorest human could reasonably argue that $51.10 is excessive.
 
My point has remained consistent. A person needs water, air and food to live. Yes. You can buy sufficient air, water and food for $2 a day in order to survive in the United States. You don't have to eat the 3,700 calorie diet suggested by the USDA food pyramid in order to live. This is a myth and most rational people know that the Milk Lobby invented the food pyramid.

No, you can't, not without owning a significant plot of land to boot and then the property taxes would kill your calculation. You can't buy what you need to survive just in food for $2 a day. Oh, you probably could make it a little while on that, but not as long as you might think.
 
OK, let's head off the trollfest here. Are we asking what we each pay for what we would consider necessities to maintain our lifestyle of do we want to go with how many berries it takes to keep you from going blind? I think most of us would agree that people can live on much less than what most consider necessary, especially in the short term. If that is the discussion we are looking for I'm sure I can shed some light on it. I'll just preface that by saying some of you may have been watching a bit too much Les Stroud and if you actually tried to do what you are suggesting here someone like me (hopefully) would be dragging your sorry ass out of the woods drooling and miserable.

My brother in law, a couple of years ago suggested a week in the Smokies (in January no less) for his birthday armed with nothing but matches and a knife. It was his 30th birthday, I guess he had something to prove. His wife called me in a panic and told me he had been watching survival shows for months and felt he could do it. She begged me to go with him. I have considerable experience in AT hiking and wilderness training. I told her "don't worry, I won't let him die. But I am going to let him suffer and take lots of pictures." In the end his brother talked him out of it. He (his brother) had been hiking with me before and showed up unprepared. Like he wore jeans and running shoes and didn't bring a tent. Another guy on the trip showed up with brand new boots (son stepson, I think he still has the scars) and my step father in law showed up with a backpack full of celery. He was on a diet and thought the extra exercise would help him drop some pounds. It did. We laugh about it now, but they learned a lot in those 3 days. Like don't ever do that again. :lol:
 
You live at home?

Well, I'd say your numbers are a bit low. Given the cost of rent/mortgage, home owners insurance, car insurance, taxes, clothes, furnishings, interest payments on debt, the real cost of food (not some milk and kit kats), energy costs, education, phone bills, etc etc

I would say between $30-50 per day.
Yeah, I posted that comment at around 12 PM on Sunday. It was certainly higher than $5 by the end of the day.
 
Really? Are you homeless? Because it costs about $40 a day just for rent and utilities here. There are 3 of us. I would estimate at least $20-$25 a day for my 12 year old son.
Keep in mind that my comment was posted at 12 PM, it was certainly higher than $5 by the end of the day.
 
It's very likely. The water from my facet cost half a cent per gallon. I'm not sure what the feed I eat cost. I would assume that 75% of the food I eat is not necessary for survival. The air I breathe is free.

The rest of what I consume is excess. Yes, my income is higher than $730 but I live a luxurious life as do all Americans.

You seem to dislike the American lifestyle. You are free to move if you wish.
 
You seem to dislike the American lifestyle. You are free to move if you wish.

We may not be able to find all the illegal immigrants, but it certainly seems easy enough to find these folks.
 
You seem to dislike the American lifestyle. You are free to move if you wish.

Thanks for your permission. Which countries are taking American emigrants at this time? Canada? Mexico? China? India? or you don't know?

It's not as easy to switch countries as you might think.
 
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No, how much does it cost you to live aday. Its not about how much you make.

At least that was my original intention.

Are you asking how much it would take for me to live per day, or how much on average my total spending is? Also, it gets a bit complicated in a family situation. For example, how much I NEED or how much I SPEND and do I include the kids? Do I figure our whole family and divide that by how many of us there are?

I could "live" on $0 if I just HAD to. I absolutely do not want to.

What measure, PRECISELY, are you asking?
 
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To remain in good standing with the local taxing authority is not a necessity for survival. The question was, "How much does it cost you to live per day?"

The key word is live. This does not include complying with the law, maintaining an acceptable American lifestyle, feeling good about yourself as a citizen, feeling good about your financial savvy to plan for the future or any other non-tangible necessity.

Basic survival is very barbaric and brutal. Fortunately. Very few Americans have even had to consider surviving in the most basic conditions. This is different for the majority of humans living today. 50% of the world population lives on less than $2 per day.

For a while I struggled with meeting the bare minimal necessities of life for an infant and myself. It sucks. I'm not sure the point you are trying to make, other than I don't think I like it.
 
For a while I struggled with meeting the bare minimal necessities of life for an infant and myself.

I don't know where you live but I highly doubt this is true.

Some people live days without eating. Some people have no cash, credit cards, access to a payday lender or other predatory loan shark. Some people never worry about paying rent because they are homeless.

If you live in the United States I seriously doubt anybody in your social circle would allow your infant to die of starvation. I will take it a step further. I doubt anybody in your social circle would allow your infant to be without a warm home to sleep in. Having a place to live goes way beyond survival.

Health insurance, a decent car, a place to live and a job are not part of the survival process. If someone is struggling to pay for health insurance, car insurance, gasoline or to pay the rent, they are a long ways away from basic living conditions necessary for life.

This is not a bad thing. This is a good thing. No American has experienced this type of lifestyle in the last 50 years. It just doesn't happen.

My life sucks right now too but it's only because of what I have become accustomed to knowing in the past. I used to have $500-$1,200 left over every month to kill my mortgage. It felt good to have that kind of stability. Now I break even in some months. Some months I go backwards but even some Americans would envy the life I have right now.

Struggling doesn't mean you are on the brink of starvation. Struggling just means that you feel bad about your circumstances because you have known better. Some people live like me and think it's cool. The only reason I think it sucks is because I know otherwise.
 
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