We are the 99%!!!

Recently there has been a movement started by many people who are fed up with what is currently going on in our country. Everyone knows about the great bail-out that was given to big businesses and banks so that they could continue to work. However rather than taking that lowering their CEO and higher ups salaries they used that money to line their pockets and pay for extravagant items. This 1% has lived and thrived off the averages American’s backs while the average Americans are losing their jobs, homes and hopes to have a better or just meager life. People that were fed up with this decided to storm Wall-Street and protest what has happened, to add insult to injury Bank of American decided that they are going to charge their customers to use their own money by charging for a debit card. All the while the banks are lining their pockets. Now back to the protest. Hundreds and even thousands of people have protested Wall-Street demanding a change, they have deemed themselves the 99%. This movement has resonated with many Americans and those around the world. There have been other Occupy protests around American and the world. There was even an Occupy Austin. I have been looking at the testimonies of the 99% and I feel that I need to share my story and the story of those that I care about.

MY STORY:

I was told to go to college and earn a degree so that I can get a good job. I am very thankful that I was able to go to college, and manage to graduate and pay for it. I graduated with a substantial amount of student loan debt yet not even that much compared to others. I was also able to get a job right out of school that paid decent. The job that I had was difficult; I was using my own vehicle to travel from client’s house to client’s house. The gas bill and wear and tear I was accruing on my car became much more than Michael and I could afford. I was paying nearly $500-$600 a month in gas as well as getting an oil change every 6 weeks. I was only getting reimbursed for about $225 at most a month. I was also becoming much stressed out and sick from the job. I had a moment of stress that I knew if it continued was going to put me in the hospital if not taken care of. Michael and I discussed it and we came to the decision that my health was more important than the little money I was bringing in. We added up the expenses and were able to get by for a little while. For a little while I was without insurance and was forced to pay for my medical stuff out of pocket. Luckily I was able to get on Michael’s insurance and my premiums were paid for. However mental health coverage was not offered so I am still paying out of pocket for that. We have a medical pay card but I have already used over $1000 of it. We also had savings that we were going to use for our honeymoon but we ended up living off that. Once that money was used I needed to get a job, although I was applying to several jobs at the time. I finally got a job at Target as a cashier, something that was very demeaning. After about 2 months at the job and a discussion with management about trying to move up I began to be treated horribly and finally told that my job was temporary and I there was going to be layoffs soon. At the time I had applied for a career job at the American Cancer Society (ASC), but I scrambled to get a job at Victoria Secret. At that time I had to have my wisdom teeth out with caused me to be out of that job for a week and a half. I was also offered the job at the ASC (which is such a blessing). Because of my surgery I was unable to complete my two weeks, and Victoria Secret also did not want to work with me on only having to work weekends. The past month has been hard and we barely got by. Luckily we were able to get some help from family. On October 3 I began my new job at the ASC. I will be making a decent salary and will finally be able to start making payments on both of my student loans, and also began paying off some of our credit card debt. Michael works a good job that is fortunately giving him training that will help him advance at his career. We will be able to pay off our credit card debt and create a buffer for ourselves. We are able to afford right now to put money into retirement as well. We can also afford to do something fun about 2 times a month. Buying groceries is a struggle and we have to compromise and the quality food we get sometimes. We are only able to afford a little bit of fresh produce. I try to cook as healthy for us as I can. I feel that we are blessed right now. I do worry about our future because in a year or so we would love to start a family and have a home. I am not sure if we will be able to that for a while. Even with everything that we have we still struggle to get by and we are learning how to love each other and grow as a newlywed couple with money woes. I hope that we continue to strive, but we are still the 99%.

MY FAMILY’S STORY:

My grandparents did the right thing and saved up for their retirement. But my grandfather got sick and the medical bills began to pile up. Luckily he was able to get a bit in unemployment and finally they are both on their allotted social security. They have health care through medicare but they also pay for private premiums as well. My grandma has put off some of her medical stuff because of money. Both of them work part time to have extra income, but they can only work a certain amount and it still is barely enough to get by. They are lucky by most standards right now but they are still the 99%.

My parents both have good jobs, but my dad has to work two jobs for them to have what they have. My dad needs a new truck but they are not able to get it. My mom had to get a new vehicle but her warranty doesn’t cover everything. I know my mother would love to work closer to her home but she has great benefits and pay at the University. She has to drive nearly an hour and 45+ miles a day to get there. My sister plays select soccer but worries about the cost. That is something a young child should not have to worry about. My parents struggle but still compared to most they have a lot. Even with what they have they are the 99%.

I know that most everyone in my family struggles for what little they have. They have all paid taxes to bail-out Wall Street. It is not fair that this is happening to those that I love and to many Americans. Something needs to change, and I hope that it does.

My family, my friends, and my husband and I are the 99%.

This was a very long blog post but I feel that it needed to be said. I hope that telling my story will help others get involved and change the way things are going.