Bail Me Out

I need $0.05. That's right, just five cents. More specifically, I need one million people to send me five cents. Or five hundred thousand people could send me ten cents. That's all it would take to bail me out.

You see, I was having tea with my sister-in-law this morning and we were talking about (among other deeply philosophical things) the current economic crisis. We both agreed that the $700 billion bailout package seemed to be rammed down the throats of the American public. I spoke with many people who simply did not want that to happen. In all fairness I spoke with many people who did want it to happen. "Let them (the banks) fail! We will all be fine.", said the former. "Something must be done or we will all fail.", said the latter.

Either way, everyone seems to be in agreement that the large financial institutions in this country (auto executives, too) have not been wise in how they have managed their money. Well, guess what? I have made financial mistakes in the past, too. I think that most of us have. And therein lies the resentment to the bailout. It is funded by our money! Why won't anyone bail us out?

Just so you know, I am not an executive of any sort. I make $12.91 per hour and I work 40 hours a week. My company frowns on overtime even though I love it. Should I ever be in "danger" of getting overtime then I am asked to cut my remaining shifts short so that I don't earn the time-and-a-half. My job is good, though, and I like what I do (I am a chef/instructor). It also has health insurance. I like that. In the current economic crisis, though, I am not inclined to make a move to another job. That would just be too risky.

Still, between credit card payments, car payments, rent, and utilities I have difficulty making ends meet. If I could eliminate $30,000-$50,000 worth of debt then my life would change dramatically...no, make that profoundly. So I am asking for help from the public. The difference is that you will have my solemn word that I will not go into debt again. My credit accounts will be closed. I will not take the money and go on a really nice pheasant hunting trip in England (in case you don't know many of the banking executives used some of the bailout money to do this). I won't even use the money to buy gas or groceries or anything else. The money will be used to eliminate, completely and totally, my debt. Should there be any left over it will be donated to a charity (local animal shelter), even if the amount left over is $1.00.

I know that many Americans are in the same position that I am in. I will gladly send five or ten cents along in return when I can; I don't see any banks doing that right now (or ever, for that matter).

I know what it is like to live above one's means. I also know what it is like to live below one's means. For what it is worth, I am now downsizing my life. I no longer want lots of "stuff". I am just trying to get to a point where I can pay my bills of necessity and save some at the end of the month. I want to feel what it is like to not have to worry each week about where the money is going to come from. So what do you say, brother? Can you spare a dime?