It is hard to imagine what it is like to live with next to nothing until you sit down and pull it apart piece by piece. I spent countless hours making a budget, and then rewriting the budget, until I finally got to the point where I could make a family of four successfully live off of a yearly income of $24,251. I visited websites I never thought I’d visit and budgeted things I unconsciously assumed everyone already had. The experience was both stressful and rewarding all in one. In the end, it all worked out for the family who is hypothetical in this situation but reflects the real lives of so many in the United States. I used two different avenues when it came to researching my paper. For the majority of the information I found I used online
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I had things that would be deemed unnecessary on my list, such as lotions, perfumes, end tables, television, Netflix, and bed frames. I got rid of the bed frames because I know several people who don’t have them anyway, and I got rid of the TV and Netflix because even I do not watch TV or use services such as Netflix because I am so busy with homework. I figured if my family wanted to watch something like a TV show or movie they could probably find it on YouTube or some other site for free. Hygiene products, like bath soap, shampoo, and deodorant, I decided were must haves. I decided to buy my family enough clothes to get them through the week even if they did not do their laundry. I tend to wear the same clothes over and over again, so I figured if you were strapped for money it would not be that difficult of a thing to do. I wanted to make sure the baby would have enough diapers and baby food, and I decided the mom would breastfeed to save money. I picked foods that were relatively cheap, basic enough that even an 8 year old would like them, and easy to take to work for lunches. I decided to buy the garlic powder for spaghetti and also to make homemade garlic bread if desired. I figured the family could drink water from the faucet, as that is how I was raised and still …show more content…
Honestly, I think this family is living in poverty even if the federal line says they are not. I did not realize how much I overlooked or took for granted in my own life until I did this project. I may have experienced financial hardship before, but at least my family did not have to start over without anything. I feel confident that the budget I created for this family will help them survive and keep their dignity, even if it seems like less than what they
I had things that would be deemed unnecessary on my list, such as lotions, perfumes, end tables, television, Netflix, and bed frames. I got rid of the bed frames because I know several people who don’t have them anyway, and I got rid of the TV and Netflix because even I do not watch TV or use services such as Netflix because I am so busy with homework. I figured if my family wanted to watch something like a TV show or movie they could probably find it on YouTube or some other site for free. Hygiene products, like bath soap, shampoo, and deodorant, I decided were must haves. I decided to buy my family enough clothes to get them through the week even if they did not do their laundry. I tend to wear the same clothes over and over again, so I figured if you were strapped for money it would not be that difficult of a thing to do. I wanted to make sure the baby would have enough diapers and baby food, and I decided the mom would breastfeed to save money. I picked foods that were relatively cheap, basic enough that even an 8 year old would like them, and easy to take to work for lunches. I decided to buy the garlic powder for spaghetti and also to make homemade garlic bread if desired. I figured the family could drink water from the faucet, as that is how I was raised and still …show more content…
Honestly, I think this family is living in poverty even if the federal line says they are not. I did not realize how much I overlooked or took for granted in my own life until I did this project. I may have experienced financial hardship before, but at least my family did not have to start over without anything. I feel confident that the budget I created for this family will help them survive and keep their dignity, even if it seems like less than what they