[Poll] Eeeeeeekonomy.

[thefourthvine]

So, the other day I took the earthling to the mall for walking-around purposes, and every single store except the Cinnabon was having a sale. It was a little scary. And we're looking for a desk right now, and half the local furniture stores are having a sale. The other half are out of business. Friends of mine have been laid off. California's budget looks like it's been hit by asteroids.

I am alarmed. And so I'm wondering about y'all: how are you doing? Poll time!

And, by the way, if you're thinking now might be a good time to get your finances in order, I highly recommend the services of jarrow, who does custom budget spreadsheets for fellow fans (and, I assume, others). The spreadsheets are a) really, really pretty (they look like Monopoly!) b) easy to use and c) cheap. It does not get better than that, people. (Except it does: he also provides instruction and tech support. And emotional support, too, if you need it, like if you find budgeting just way too scary ever to face, or if you hyperventilate every time you think about your bills.) We had been trying to use Quicken for two years, and basically only achieving an ever-growing hatred of Quicken. John's spreadsheet, on the other hand, is totally working for us.

And now, let's talk about you.

[Poll #1425209]

Comments

[dancinguniverse.livejournal.com]

I just graduated college, and I have a job, though it's only a one year position. Hopefully I'll be at grad school after that, and I'm in a field where I get paid to go to grad school, as long as I TA or do research, both of which are expected anyway, and guaranteed positions.

But my Mom was out of work for a few months, and her new job is not nearly as nice as the old one, and of my friends who graduated and didn't go to grad school, only one of them is currently employed. And I went to a nice college, so that's pretty scary.

I feel like I'm doing quite well, but I've also been living in dorms for the past four years, so living above the ramen-only diet seems like high class living. And I have no dependents, and no expenses beyond rent and food and some student loans, so I think I have it pretty easy. I'm not making that much (not minimum wage, but certainly not beyond what I've known cashiers at somewhat nicer stores to make), and I think I'm living both comfortably and below my means, which feels good.

I get insurance through the college I'm doing research for, and it's a pretty nice package, so that's ok. At the same time, I'm only going to hold this position for a year, so a lot of the policy stuff I just didn't care about. Long term disability? It's only a year long position. That really shouldn't make a difference to me. I really only cared about whether I could get my prescriptions cheaply. I doubt I'll even see a physician in the next year.

*shrug* I'm optimistic, as long as I get into grad school. I didn't, last year, and that was crushing, but I also applied to pretty competitive schools. I'm good for now.

[thefourthvine.livejournal.com]

I just graduated college, and I have a job, though it's only a one year position. Hopefully I'll be at grad school after that, and I'm in a field where I get paid to go to grad school, as long as I TA or do research, both of which are expected anyway, and guaranteed positions.

This sounds cautiously awesome, if such a concept is possible.

I feel like I'm doing quite well, but I've also been living in dorms for the past four years, so living above the ramen-only diet seems like high class living.

*snickers* Yes, I remember the days when purchasing mac and cheese seemed like a great luxury. Oh, ramen; where would the American education system be without you?

I'm optimistic, as long as I get into grad school.

I hope you do. What field, out of curiosity?

[dancinguniverse.livejournal.com]

I'm in astronomy. For most of the hard sciences (physics, chemistry, and astronomy, for sure, but a few of the others as well, depending on the kind of program), schools will only admit as many people as they have funding for. So admission comes with the promise of a TA or RA position. Research pays better than being a TA (and is generally reserved for students in their later years of school), but in either case, it's enough to live on. It's usually between 17 and 28K a year, depending on the location, and what they deem to be a living wage. Universities in bum-fuck nowhere pay very little, while Hawaii, for instance, pays absurdly high stipends. Did I mention they waive your tuition and give you health care?

It really is an incredibly good deal. I have no idea why the sciences work like that, when humanities, medical, and law schools quite famously don't. But higher education in the sciences shouldn't require payment at all. You do make money on the deal.

[heyiya.livejournal.com]

I have no idea why the sciences work like that, when humanities, medical, and law schools quite famously don't.

Actually the humanities do, at least for most PhD programs in the US. They just pay a bit less. That's my situation -- although my health insurance sucks. (Though since I grew up with national healthcare in the UK, my idea of what good health insurance would be is probably very skewed.)

[dancinguniverse.livejournal.com]

Okay, yay for everyone, then! But then why is everyone so totally shocked when I tell people I get paid to go to grad school? It's like the great hidden secret of higher education. Seriously, everyone should go to grad school.