Comments on: More About the “Cheap in America” 20/20 Special

By: T

Sat, 18 Aug 2007 07:21:34 +0000

A lot of of the SF thing has to do with the fact that it’s the Salvation Army. This is not a very religious area and some people go out of their way to avoid religious charities. I think they should have put a gay rights charity in front of each store to see which city was more generous! A lot of the response has to do with what the charity represents, which has different implications in different parts of the country. Personally, I even find the name “Salvation Army” creepy.

By: bluntmoney

bluntmoney — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 14:09:40 +0000

I think a lot of the “middle class” lives paycheck to paycheck…

By: dimes

dimes — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:36:07 +0000

I wanted to catch that special but I was at work. Thanks for the recap.
I’ve often thought that the poor and lower middle class give more because they probably were raised poor and know the feeling of going to bed hungry or wondering if they’re going to be able to pay for the plumber. The middle middle and upper middle classes are caught in the debt and affluenza cycle and spend a lot of money servicing their debts. Of course I don’t know for sure, but that’s just my impression. My husband and I give money, time (me) and blood (him). I vastly prefer local and faith based charities because I can see them at work, and avoid larger charities unless I know how their dealings work (service Emergency Reliefs and ARC). There are too many groups out there to toss money at everyone who asks you.

By: D

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 18:23:22 +0000

I know nothing…just one to get that out first.

Here is what I “think”.

1. Comparing SF to another city outside of California is not apples to apples. The cost of living is way to high for the west coasters, example property. Then to couple that with a Macy vrs Walmart, utterly uncomparable. I would have been more impressed if they at least utilized similar stores and clientele. SF’ers are using up the majority of their disposable income for the necessities, even before debt service. At least that is my opinion.

2. Middle class is not all it is believed to be. People are caught in the middle and just barely a step above poverty and the poor. Most middle class people would easily slide back with a couple of missed checks. The term is just to make people feel some sort of accomplishment.

I agree totally with the Helpers High. It is even better when you don’t have money to help and you give of yourself for another or a cause. It isn’t something you can brag about or even share, it just “is” inside you. Kind of like a peace. Even for the little things like helping the elderly lady at Walmart get a needed item off the top shelf, she doesn’t ask for help, but you know she needs some and it is the right thing to do. After retrieving what her sights are on her smile says it all as you walk away.

Lastly, I don’t believe money should be the only measure to charitable giving and not just because I can give so little. I don’t think it should be the only measure because giving is a series of multiple and different acts that one does strictly for someone else, without regard for self. And most times the act is worth more than money.

By: MakingOverMyMoney.com » Blog Archive » San Fran is stingy (and more on giving)

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:32:36 +0000

[...] Tricia over at Blogging Away Debt wrote a little about the 20/20 show Cheap in America that was on last night. I admit to not watching a lot of live tv and even less of tv news, so I’m glad she wrote a follow up. [...]

By: MOMM

MOMM — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:05:51 +0000

Thanks for that recap.

It probably does have to do with the debt that middle class families have. We are also focused on paying off debt and haven’t given as much as we have in the past.

I agree with the community feeling too.