@@Jax2132 Saying they would not care is too weak of a statement. CEOs profit entirely off the labor of others. Therefore, they want that labor to be as desperate as possible, so that it can be purchased cheaply, and the CEO can show higher profits for his company - and keep more of them for himself. Socioeconomic trends of the past few decades are not the result of apathy or ignorance but rather of evil greed that is satisfied by hurting others to the biggest extent that those who run the system can get away with.
The thought of retirement makes me cry. My apologies to everyone who have retired and filing social security during this time after putting in all those years of work just to lose everything to a problem you never imagined to happen. It’s so difficult for people who are retired and have no savings to fall back on.
True, It has never been easier to understand how to build your money after retirement than it is right now with the inflation, when you may study and experience a completely variegated market passively by employing a successful portfolio-advisor. The impacts of the U.S. dollar's gain or fall on investments, in my opinion, are complex.
Even if you’re not skilled, it is still possible to hire one. I was a project manager and my personal portfolio of approximately $850k of my retirement pension took a big hit in April due to the crash. I quickly got in touch with a financial-planner that devised a defensive strategy to protect my funds and make profit from my portfolio this red season. I’ve made over $350k since then.
I really don't like making such recommendations, because everyone's situation is unique. But there are plenty of independent financial advisors you could check out. I've been working with “Colleen Janie Towe” for sometime now and she's very, very good. If she meets your discretion, then you could go ahead with her. Most likely, her deets can be found on the net, so you can confirm yourself.
Thank you for this tip. It was easy to find your coach. Did my due diligence on her before scheduling a phone call with her. She seems proficient considering her resume.
As a poor person myself, it blows my mind watching poor people stress over being able to afford Christmas presents. I promise you your friends will be okay without your $20 gift card this year.
I agree. I know a lot of high income earners that can afford to "gift" for Christmas, but a lot of them don't. You usually end up buying things the person doesn't need or want. Best thing is just to spend time with people. Or do a drawing and everyone just buys a gift the person whose name they draw.
If you are worried about Xmas present you ain't poor yet. The poor don't even notice its Xmas. Well they do but presents are the least of their worries.
Christmas is not about giving gifts, people! I don't feel sorry that these immigrants are struggling ,what did they think! The American dream was about! No one owes anyone anything , the stories are ok ,but it is what it is!
I don't want to sound cold hearted but many working poor and unemployed also have pets. If you can't to feed yourself why buy a dog or cat? Food and vet bills will aren't cheap
This is from 10 years ago. The 2008 economic crash was not that long ago. It hit seniors very hard, so I imagine that's why he had to give away his beloved pet.
So much respect for Percy and his wife. They really understand marriage, and being there for each other through thick n thin. I hope they have better times ahead soon 🙏
@@DB-vt1kk yeah except not all kids are like that, cant really generalize based off this video plus for all we know the parents refuse any help. My grandma who i love with all my heart refuses help from anyone until its too late and that pisses me off. sometimes its a pride thing
I used to get angry at my husband and call him a tightwad😂😂😂 but now we’re a about to retire and have no debt no mortgage no car payment we only pay property taxes thank God my husband didn’t allow me to run our finances 😂😂😂
That’s wonderful that your husband was focused and goal driven! 👏🏾👏🏾 You are debt free and that’s a blessing, makes life easier when you retire. It’s rough for senior citizens today, so many are working in their 70’s and 80’s! We are definitely going to be in a depression if something doesn’t give! I hope not, we went through enough during the onset of the pandemic and with these horrible people running our government (both Republicans & Democrats). Smh 🤦🏽♀️
I don’t let Christmas , birthdays etc put me in debt. There’s so much social pressure to keep up but it’s not worth putting your self in stress. All you need is to focus on the meaning of the holiday and just have a simple meal as a family together . Love one another that’s enough don’t get into the materialistic side of it all.
My husband and I do not exchange gifts for Christmas birthdays and anniversaries or anything, I have stopped buying Christmas presents for anyone, after the age of 12 no one needs a Christmas present it's ridiculous.
Just don’t celebrate it, it’s pretty simple, and considering it’s only a pagan celebration anyway…… Social pressure”, what a complete load of rot!!!! Don’t YOU have a mind of your own. 🙄🙄🙄
I agree, and he’s only 20 years old. He was raised right (maybe not privileged or rich but with the right humanity). He has very good values as a human being and as a man. ❤
My wife and I both retired to Morocco last year, Considering the current rollercoaster nature of U.S economy and stock market, I decided to stay on the sideline for awhile, She was a lawyer born in Texas. After vacationing here a couple of times, we decided this was the place for us. I’m worried with the numerous bank failures as of late, am I better off reinvesting my savings in the stock market or do I wait?
It is impossible to successfully time the market. Decide what percentage of your net worth you want to permanently allocate to stocks and buy a good dividend ETF like SCHD and enjoy the rising dividends.
There are numerous intriguing stocks across various industries that might catch your attention, but it's not always advisable to act on every prediction. Therefore, I suggest that you work alongside a financial advisor who can help you determine the best times to buy or sell the shares or ETFs that you are interested in.
I have maintained contact with a financial analyst since the inception of my business. In today's dynamic market, the challenge lies in determining the opportune moment to purchase or sell when investing in trending stocks, a task that may seem straightforward but can prove to be quite challenging. With a portfolio that has increased by over $650k in a relatively short span of one year, I have delegated the responsibility of selecting entry and exit orders to my advisor.
@@edward.abraham I need a guide so i can salvage my port-folio due to the massive dips and come up with better strategies. How can one reach this advisor?
@@rebecca_burns14 "Julia Ann Finnicum" my financial advisor, is widely recognized for her proficiency and expertise in the financial market. With a comprehensive knowledge of portfolio diversification, she is acknowledged as an authority in this field.
Because they are going from a Republic to Communistic. They don't want productive citizens, they want slaves. The government was suppose to support us not strive to rule over us.
I grew up in poverty. My mom was a waitress and dad was a cook. Watching my parents struggle growing up really inspired me to stay in school so I can have a career that pays well. Now I can help my parents out financially. I am so grateful that I am able to make their lives a little easier now.. I just wish I can do that for more people who needs help..
But the point of this show is that even people who are cooks or waitresses, also deserve a living wage. Theoretically, if everyone works a better job, who is going to clean, take trash away, work in restaurants, shops........no matter what the job is, it should be enough for a person to live a life normally. 40 hours a week, vacation time, social security... Not everyone can and want to go to college, and that is also fine. But everyone needs to earn enough to live from off of one job, no matter what the job is.
@@milenadocic i completely agree with you.. it’s really unfortunate that a lot of people can’t afford basic things in one of the wealthiest country in the world.
Good for you! I did same...worked in a grocery store at age 16....but went to college at night after work to be able to find a better life...and help my family....
@@milenadocic you hit it on the head. The point isn’t everyone needs to go to college to get a job. The point is we need to make it so that if you are working no matter the job you can easily live well. Now if you choose to go above and beyond you will be compensated even more. Why should you have to work 2-3 jobs and still not make ends meet.. nah that’s crazy. I feel you completely hit it on the head.
I was raised by a single mother who raised 5 kids on her own. I am saddened by the negative comments on here. Unless you've experienced the types of struggle and hardships, you're not going to get it. A lot of these living situations that these folks are in, is because of the many different circumstances that led to it. Everyone in this documentary is hard working and trying to survive but also better themselves and their circumstances. I admire all of them for having the courage to have their hard lives filmed and I'm hoping for the best turnout for all of them. I learned a long time ago to never look down on or judge someone and it's helped me appreciate my life even when I've struggled through some very hard times, too.
I grew up poor. Single mom with a factory job and 4 kids. She knew voting democrat was bad to do. NAFTA killed the factory jobs and created the rust belt. Anyone who voted for the Clintons made their beds.
It broke my heart hearing Percy telling about having to give up Cream. That had to be devastating. I've gone through hard times, and the only thing that sustained me was my animal companions.
My parents are immigrants and raised 3 kids without any support of the government. They work both 60h/week to provide the basics. I remember my parents saving any penny they can as there has no family and friends here to support us here in case of problems. Now they are retired and they do nothing....other than gardening, cook healthy and simple meals and takes walks daily. For most people, this type of retirement is probably boring. But for my parents, not having the needs to works anymore and no stress on paying their monthly bills is ABSOLUTELY a luxury.
Having children before you have stabilized yourself can definitely lead to poverty. The monthly cost of maintaining a horse could be the equivalent of a retirement savings. Our family does not exchange Christmas presents as it's just not cost-effective with so many people.
Percy and his wife really broke my heart. Hard working folks but paying off the house and pausing expensive hobbies and traveling would have made a world of difference in their retirement. Retire with dignity. 💔
@@SF-ob8tj Right. So many people do that and then become empty nesters with lots of maintenance on a big house. Bad move. People have to be strategic and practical, not impulsive and impractical.
I guess back in 2000 folks didn't have access to financial guidance, because with a combined income of $99.000 they could have paid their house (79.000) off in 5 years.
When we worked, we saved money. We lived a simple life in an old run down house. We now are retired. Living the exact same lifestyle we lived before retirement. People spend too much on things. And on entertainment.
That moment at the Christmas party when she kept having her makeup bags stolen and repeatedly kept finding more was actually hilarious😂 Light moments to lift spirits in hard times
Hilton's mom really put him in a bad place taking him to a place where he wouldn't be able to work, and then not even giving him the tools to be able to work where he would be able to. If he's only going to be able to work in America, he should have learned English.
She could have getting him a birth certificate in Mexico when she returned to Mexico to start with. That guy is struggling with everything. Incapable of sorting things out. It is depressing.
IF i had to guess she did not know. Many people go to other countries simply to have a "better passport". Becoming an American citizen is no easy task and definitely not cheap. If it all works out the investment would have paid off.
Best time to invest? thats funny though because in the last four months I have lost more than $47,900 in stock market which is the biggest I have loss since I ventured into stock investment.
you could be right or wrong . i once had similar problem but now its a different ball game for me because I was lucky to have met FLORENCE YAGODA , a financial manager and stock expert, I have made more than $165,000 in 6 weeks under her supervisions
Percy bought the house 13 years ago for 79 0000 with a yearly income in the range of 6 figures. Hard to feel sorry that they didn't prioritize paying off their mortgage.They had everything - trips, horses, ect. Should've paid the house quickly first.
Unfortunately the majority of the older generation who are now in retirement years did not think or plan further ahead. Some did. Not everyone. So they then end up still working. Also the combination of Urbanisation and big business closing or relocating leaves many towns/cities across the globe virtually ghost towns. Look at how italy are selling €1 houses, same in portugal and japan etc. Big city life & big corp are killing average lives. It is time to change how we live and incredibly at the same time we will then start changing climate change and heal the earth in turn
This was filmed in 2013 Making 100k from the year 2000-2010 is close to $1,000,000 that passed through their hands: where did the money go? Was it poorly managed? I don’t know but it’s very hard for me to imagine not being able to payoff a $79,000 home in those 10 years Sadly this I believe is a combination of financial illiteracy and poor choices.
@@BlaCkHearTed825 Yep - but guess what. Once you get established, saved a 6-12 month emergency fund - THEN you can have some fun, spend on a ‘want’. It isn’t forever. Scrimping & saving now means that later, you can splurge a little.
@@BlaCkHearTed825 Unfortunately some of the better jobs are in one area that may not be affordable for the family to live near. It's a real thing for many people.
Agreed. However, I have been in a similar position in the past and those things help you forget how bad your situation is. Albeit you are digging a deeper whole.
Emilia really needs to accept and adapt to the new way of things. I hate to see this because she reminds me of my own mother that won’t adapt and learn to use technology to her advantage and in return is being left behind in today’s workforce because of her stubbornness.
yeah i agree, she could work at home depot or lowes since she has trade experience and she could sell things to contractors instead of working for min wage. lowes has a way to apply in the store and im sure home depot still does. she could be a sales specialist or even work down at the lumber desk working with contractors making sure they get what they need. I hope things work out for her, i like her and she seems like a good women
@UCJXPEK-g4qe84_-G6pNEwGg She's 18, she's a freaking child herself, hence the childish behaviour. But is it fair to expect anything more of a teenager? She didn't have any adult experiences before getting knocked up, it's obvious she's completely oblivious about life and the situation they're in.
@@Lex1987 When I was 18, I was carrying a full engineering course load, while serving/training in the Army Reserve/ROTC, and working various minimum wage type jobs every free minute I had. I guess some of us are adults at 18, and other's are immature children. It's time for her to start "adulting."
Percy and his wife is a wonderful example to what couples should be like and there's such a good-hearted happy spirited people no matter what they go through these are the kind of people I like just positive in every aspect God bless them
Percy and his wife have such a beautiful family ❤ you can feel the love all those people have for each other whether they’re blood related or were brought together by marriage. Family is EVERYTHING. It’s THEE most important thing anyone can have. I tested up listening to those grown boys talk about the sacrifices their parents made for them. I too am bless with wonderful parents who did everything they could for my sister and I. They even put us through private school. They’ve never let me struggle or be in a bind. The world would be a better place if everyone had parents like that.
Yes, I'm glad mom and daughter are reunited after Nicole's early years without Emilia being able to be the loving hard working parent and Mimi she is. It brings tears to my eyes b/c my grandmother used to play "Trouble" with me and I loved it. Emilia if you see this I'd love to be able to write to you. You are a STRONG lady, don't forget that! I'm Italian too by the way. I hope you got to keep your motorcycle!
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
I feel like nobody thinks “what if” when it comes to finances and life. I try to find joy in non monetary ways and save what I can for hard times. People need to really rethink going big on everything because good times don’t last always!
I always admired my parents . Leaving school at 15 my dad trained in the printing trade and my mum done typing classes she always had office jobs . Me and my sister wanted for nothing as kids . My parents own their home . Nice car , go on cruises every year . Don’t owe anyone any money . Me I sometimes don’t even have enough money to eat . I could go to my parents and eat but I don’t want to worry them . I’m scared of retirement age . Only good thing I have is a lifetime secured tenancy
@@Taylor23890 My Dad printed yellow pages phone books for 37 years and my Mom worked in the bindery binding telephone books! Dad always said by mom working it made it easy for him ..we always went on vacation had a boat...the perfect life growing up in Southern California.... Life was better all the way around...we lost so much industry in America... I can't complain...I only have a tenth/ eleventh grade education...I entered the building trades in 1987 I learned a skill trade that even I can do to sell artwork after I retire....I learned and learned well ...am going through hard times since the pandemic but will make it with some hard work. Eric Underwood Class of 81 Downey High school CA ✌️
Really can't feel bad for Emelia. She's complaining about being broke yet is eating out, buys cigarettes, has her nails done and buys expensive gifts... people can spend their time and money as they please, but there's a lot of excess there. Also, she has a marketable skill and always seems to have an excuse for every solution. Something doesn't add up there...
I agree but when she started stalking abt her medications and not being able to deal with day-to-day emotions, being rude to her boss, etc, it became clear to me she suffers from mental illness and likely some type of personality disorder (maybe suffered a lot of trauma as a kid). She’s not all there and is very negative with questionable judgment.
She already says that she has no future so that means she has no plan she lives day by day. If I were her I’d sell that Harley and get great money for it. And pay all of it towards your debts.
The twins dying was heartbreaking. I was in tears. Children make a couple have hope & a sense to keep on working for the future of them & their children & when that hope dies its so difficult to continue due to grief & pain of loss.
I totally agree and can't imagine. However I hope this time they wait to get pregnant until they are more stable. That is what would be best for them and their future kids
$1600-1700 for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in Silicon Valley?? You know this is an old program because a studio apartment anywhere near Silicon Valley will run $3000+ today. (1/10/2023)
Yes, I noticed that. Unfortunately, if they were having a hard time when things were cheap, they are in seriously deep trouble now. Even high tech workers are being slammed, and they can make $75k a yr with no sweat, just out of college with no work experience. Many of them said they have a hard time paying $3-4k for rent after taxes. Ms. B. Churchill
My third year in college i almost gave up. I had not slept much in 3 years and school was hard. With every ounce of energy i finished. It was tough but i am reaping the rewards. Bookkeeping is a good choice for woman and pays pretty well
I feel you. I am close to finishing my degree to become a nurse practitioner, so right now I just go to work and school. This documentary makes me appreciate what I have and not wish for the things I don't.
You must sacrifice early to benefit later. I’ve done it. You can too. It’s hard but it must be done or retirement could be a nightmare. I’m much older now, close to retirement. Thank god I worked my butt off. I think I’ll be ok. Budget, Save, stay out of consumer debt and invest early. Choose a career you enjoy that pays well-get educated.
@@ericshang7744 Yeah, children give people hope and meaning. I say this as a childless woman by choice. People in the comments seem to ignore the fact that the decision to have kids is seldom rational. It's partly driven by the need to transcend the mundaneness and greyness of everyday life, or at least that's how I see it. Which is why it's hard to decide not to have them, since you have to find others way to achieve that.
@@leonore3349 Yes. I agree. It was as a single mom but blessed with 2 sons ....now 39 and 27. But it was manageable...and I even paid a high mortgage...got good child and worked and things cost less. The young people have it way harder. Everything is expensive....
Percy and his wife are couples goals. Yes, they’re going through a rough season but they have what money can’t buy: love, commitment, faith and strong family values. When all else fails this will sustain you❤🙏🏾 *I appreciate how instead a bunch of gifts at Christmas they choose to spend money on building memories around food, family and good times.
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
She's my favourite, followed by Percy. She's hilarious. She's swears, smokes, knows all her faults, and still manages to crack a joke and make us all smile. She's precious.
17:13 "Hilton has to take a day off work without pay to see a specialist." Sounds quite normal to an US-American, and totally weird to anyone else in a decent developed country. She'd be better off in Cuba than in the land of the free...
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
Heartbreaking to see these good people struggling so hard to pay their bills. I remember being amazed at the cheap prices when travelling to US. Those times are but a distant memory.
AITA, but damn getting pregnant when you're broke AF living in a garage seems ridiculous to me. There are things I'd like to do, but if there is no money for it, I need to wait until there is. Why doesn't this apply to family planning? Why bring kids into a miserably poor life like that? I'm not saying you need to be rich to have kids, but financial preparation and stability are a must imo. 🤔
No, you are not TA. My impression was that this hard-working young man was clearly that young lady's ticket out of poverty. [Yes, it takes two to tango, but it looks like he's doing all the clean-up and maintenance after the dance.]
A lot of those options may have not been readily available to them, and family planning may not have been taught. Many people don't actually know how pregnancy works, and schools and parents aren't always reliable teachers. They were probably not planning to start a family (as happens to many people of all incomes) since they are in such a tight spot, but they're there anyway.
@Erin if you're old enough to play, then I guess you gots to pay. I don't know any place in the US where this information isn't widely available. Poverty isn't an excuse for decisions that detrimentally affect innocents for a lifetime.
@@Erin-rg3dw While you make some valid points, I suspect this couple used the Internet to gather the information about their transportation to the US. If they're sending money home, then they are again proving themselves capable of gathering the information they deem important. Birth control (and more to the point, laying a sound financial foundation) was not terribly important to them it seems.
If I had not bought a house 15 years ago, there would be no way I could ever retire. The price of housing is skyrocketed and so is rent. If I try to buy the exact same house now I wouldn't be able to afford it, with the payments nor would I be able to retire. You can no longer pay rent on social security. The best decision I ever made was to buy a house 15 years ago, or I would be completely screwed!!!!!!
Buying a house is likely a good idea for the long haul, true. I purch'd a home for $400k in March of 2016. That puppy is now at $750k. Happy puppy at this point, no doubt. Pymts are high since it's on a 10-year loan, but yassum. That's at 1.875%. Only 1 in 400 RE loans are sub 2%. Fed pension, working FT in the Tres Dept of a bank in retirement. This place has a defined benefit pension as well, just like the Fed Gov. LOVING IT !!!
Why do people decide to take on excess responsibilities within a fragile economy? I understand the joy of parenthood, pets (including horses), large homes and such. But taking a step back and think about the financial impact associated w/ these major life decisions. No judgement, just live life within boundaries that allow for gradual and comfortable progress.
My sympathy for Emilia went out the window when she gave her grandson an iPad for Christmas. I get that she loves him, but come on. She needs the money way more than her grandson needs an iPad.
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
That is my plan as well, if your house is paid off and you do not have a car payment, to me that's retirement, now my social security can pay the water and electric, taxes......
@@reginafisher9919 he’ll yeah that’s what I’m talking about. I would at least start a Roth IRA it grows tax free as long as u pull it out after 63-65. This couple could have easily paid off their house. 5 years max and they would have had a paid for home. Rent it out buy a second property and have the tenants from your first property pay off the second mortgage. I bought a multi family 4 unit property lived in it till I paid it off and now my tenants are paying my current home mortgage. I have ZERO bills that I pay with my money. My tenants literally pay the tax, insurance, utilities, cell phone, and truck. All my money I invest and save.
American work contracts are awful. No sick pay, poor maternity/paternity leave, few paid leave if any, low wages and not all have health care. Pensions don’t seem to be compulsory. No safety net. Lose everything with one medical emergency. Expensive for medication. The irony of diabetes patients crossing over in to Mexico just so they can afford life saving medicines. Terrifying. So lucky in the UK to have paid time off for medical appointments, 12 month’s maternity leave, sick pay, paid holidays, pensions and one price for medical prescriptions.
Yes! I am Canadian, and I am just appalled at the poor to non-existent social supports in the U.S. I am a retired teacher and live very comfortably on teaching pension, Canada Pension, Old Age Security, and investments. I’m not rich, but I never worry about getting my bills paid. I remember to be grateful for this sane and peaceful country. 🇨🇦
God bless all these folks. This humbles my heart to see everyone struggling and sacrificing so hard to make ends meet. I need to watch this more often to appreciate what opportunities that God has given me. Keep grinding folks.
@Alpha Omega An even bigger Spoiler alert: #1 Not too sure if you're aware that SCIENCE has FAILED to define the genesis of EMOTIONS. There is NO EMPIRICAL DATA to DEBUNK ABSOLUTELY !!! how emotions are experienced in humans. What remains as the LOGICAL CONCLUSION, is the Case for a Spirit within the Human Body. #2 SCIENCE ONCE AGAIN, has FAILED to define how NDE (NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES) occur, and possible explanations for the existence of such. This is, though not conclusive in and of itself, leads to ANOTHER LOGICAL inductive conclusion, that God is the LIKELY explanation for NDE ? #3 The Big Bang THEORY, is STILL a THEORY 😁
Wish they'd do a story on me... single black mom who moved to cheaper to live state away from all family and friends, worked and successful helping community and high paying job while daughter in college. All about budgeting and strategizing... and personal responsibility
I’m so sorry about the babies. That was hard to watch . I just turned 65, I retired many years ago because of polio, disability plus retirement. My husband retired years later from a naval shipyard. That’s where we met and he died four years ago and I’m so grateful that he looked out for me. This is correct, nobody going to be retiring 20 years from now. Where did we go wrong? I would not want to try to be working in this day and age, they don’t care about people. If you don’t have a government job or corporation job and you avoid the axes, you might retire.
With that attitude Emilia will never be able to develop and grow as an individual contributor. She reminds me of one of those disrespectful classmates i had in high-school. She acts like a spoiled teenager. She needs to grow up. but when your in your 50s trying to grow up, its just sad that she acts as entitled as she does. smh
Popping kids without any financial stability 🤦♀️🤦♀️ that young couple are making the worst decisions. For starters that girlfriend needs to work and stop her leisure trips to MeX
My bf retired this year at 47 years old. No mortgage($800k he paid off)no debts-I’m 7 years younger and hope to do the same. This definitely made me realize that I don’t need anything extra.
Percy and his family will make it no matter what. It's all about attitude. They are so grateful for all the right things. I can see them coming together with any problem and finding a solution because they're all willing to compromise however they can. They're just lovely!
Retirement means that your mortgage loan is paid off and credit card debt is paid off and automobile loan is paid off and maybe then a person can retire
That's what we did. We are happy and have zero debt. House is paid off, and at Christmas we have a big dinner with no gift exchange. Simply and stress free
Everyone thinks college is the answer. It isn't. Plumbers, , carpenters, make good money 💰. Right now believe it or not, landscapers are making good money by doing veggies and fruit gardens in people backyards and helping to maintain them
It’s not just the case in the United States, we have the same problem in the UK and here in Spain. You can find electricians or plumbers, but there are lawyers abound.
People, please ensure at the minimum you have a 6 month emergency fund, you dont have children you can't afford, and do not confuse wants with needs. This will help you get out or stay out of the poverty cycle. I myself come from straight poverty, now 28, earn $112k, and positive net worth of $100k and growing. I believe in you!
@@strykerman8590 Buy a starter home on a 15 year loan - then save & buy another to rent out. You can’t believe how fast 15 years goes by! You will be so glad you did it.🤑
Exactly “education “ is the key and not necessary a 4 year degree.. now a days you can lear a lot online for free… no internet? Then go to the library. Its all a mindset..
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
I know it’s easier said than done, but if I was in a really hard financial situation I would not be getting my nails done and smoking. I could afford those things now, but then that would just be less money for retirement. Bad choices are part of the problem. I wish everyone on this documentary well though. My comment is based off of an observation, that’s all.
My birth dad passed away at 45. My step dad (who was a double amputee) passed away at 62. My mom (who is disabled) relied on them for income. When my step dad passed, she couldnt pay her rent. Her childless son who pulls 200k with his wife denied her help, so I, the little sister with 2 kids, stepped in and pay half her rent, got her on EBT for food, take her out. I’m all she’s got left. And you know what, it motivates me more to keep going. I’m opening up my second business next year and am projected to be a millionaire in the next 7 years. Let’s go!!
Honestly, the United States doesn't want you to retire here. They only want workers. If you can, save up enough to go to Thailand, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Spain. You need enough to get over to the country, but in other countries, 2k a month is like 4k a month in the U.S.
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
At $100k in combined income, their $79k house should have been paid off years ago. 3 to 5 years max. Their disposable income went to caring for a horse. Ugh. Bad choice. They are their own problem.
Their household income is gross not net. Taxes federal and state Utilities Interest rate on the loan Food/groceries Add up what you spend annually on the above.
@@n.r.7298 I reiterate exactly what I said. Their annual take home Net of taxes would have been around $75k. That's $6,250 per month. That's plenty of money. Had they set better priorities and made better decisions, that measly $79k house could/should have been paid off within 5 years. To do so would only have required them to pay only a puny $15,800 per year. Instead, he decided to moronically spend his disposable money on a horse and all its expensive upkeep. You Reap What You Sow. That's what's happening to them now.
@@questioneverything594 wow you are such a judgmental a$$ hole know it all! I’m sure he knows what he should have / could have done in hindsight. You live life long enough and see how perfect your life will be . Anything can happen that can put you or anyone on the streets! I learned a long time ago to be kind and considerate to others , no one is perfect! 🙄
@@vetgirl71 I've lived a long life and I generally agree with what you said. Calamities can unexpectedly happen to anyone. But my central point is valid and stays the same: he helped create his own problem but not living within his means. Making $100k a year in an inexpensive area means his $79k mortgage should and could have been paid off in 3 to 5 years. His priorities were out of whack. A horse....???? Come on...
This makes no sense...they made $99k a year and their house cost $79k....they could have paid it off in full after only a few years with that salary. Why are they still paying for it 13 years later??? They made more than the cost of the house per year. Houses where I live at $1.5 million+ and an average salary is like 65k....
Expensive hobbies and mismanagement of money I guess. With their extended family, I figure they'd probably lend money to them as well. Not an excuse I guess but I think that's what happened.
There’s also property taxes, food, electricity, dental, medical etc. They really didn’t earn enough money. $79K for a home is cheap which tells me they could have bought a smaller home for cheaper and been fine.
Yep. I grew up very, very poor. Mom was disabled and unable to work and dad was a security guard. He also was lazy and didn't work any overtime. They had 4 kids. Best decision I ever made was to not have children.
I really feel for Hilton Kennedy 😥 and think everyone thinks he's a cash machine!, Such a good man who deserves all his American dreams to come true ❤❤
With today's housing market, it's really hard to imagine someone being behind on their mortgage when they bought a property for 70K. Most people lucky enough to buy a 70K property today would be paying so much in rent that they'd have that mortgage paid off in a year.
Great series! Thanks! I must say I can not resonate with a lot of the decisions that these families are making, but I admire their hard work to soldier on with their life no matter the circumstances.
I've been watching this series week to week as it is uploaded and I was surprised when I saw 27:08 that this documentary was made 10 years ago, so that got me curious to see where they are now and it looks like most of them are doing well thankfully.
@@xoxoxoxoxo7997 For real, that was what I was thinking while watching. This was filmed late 2013 to early 2014...I cannot imagine how people in these living situations now are surviving 10 years later.
I was thinking that $1600/month for a single or one bedroom in Silicon Valley must have been at least 8-10 years ago! Now they’ve been at least 2x as much for a while now. And even a garage rental is way more than $300.
This is a heart-rending, humbling story that is part of the fabric of America in the past few decades. The OIC Industrialization piece struck a chord in me, I had my first training as an immigrant at an OIC center, I'm sorry that it no longer helps folks in many communities that need it.
This entire series should be shown to all the CEOs and top managers of all the big corporations of America. And to all politicians.
Yes, but they would not care.
The working class should still get a living wage period. Look at Sweden.
@@Jax2132 Saying they would not care is too weak of a statement. CEOs profit entirely off the labor of others. Therefore, they want that labor to be as desperate as possible, so that it can be purchased cheaply, and the CEO can show higher profits for his company - and keep more of them for himself. Socioeconomic trends of the past few decades are not the result of apathy or ignorance but rather of evil greed that is satisfied by hurting others to the biggest extent that those who run the system can get away with.
@@joefunk76 So how come most people are not in poverty in America? You choose where you want to work.
Government and politicians already know all this, they simply do not care
The thought of retirement makes me cry. My apologies to everyone who have retired and filing social security during this time after putting in all those years of work just to lose everything to a problem you never imagined to happen. It’s so difficult for people who are retired and have no savings to fall back on.
True, It has never been easier to understand how to build your money after retirement than it is right now with the inflation, when you may study and experience a completely variegated market passively by employing a successful portfolio-advisor. The impacts of the U.S. dollar's gain or fall on investments, in my opinion, are complex.
Even if you’re not skilled, it is still possible to hire one. I was a project manager and my personal portfolio of approximately $850k of my retirement pension took a big hit in April due to the crash. I quickly got in touch with a financial-planner that devised a defensive strategy to protect my funds and make profit from my portfolio this red season. I’ve made over $350k since then.
This is exactly how i wish to get my finances coordinated ahead or retirement. Can you recommend the financial advisor you used to get ahead?
I really don't like making such recommendations, because everyone's situation is unique. But there are plenty of independent financial advisors you could check out. I've been working with “Colleen Janie Towe” for sometime now and she's very, very good. If she meets your discretion, then you could go ahead with her. Most likely, her deets can be found on the net, so you can confirm yourself.
Thank you for this tip. It was easy to find your coach. Did my due diligence on her before scheduling a phone call with her. She seems proficient considering her resume.
As a poor person myself, it blows my mind watching poor people stress over being able to afford Christmas presents. I promise you your friends will be okay without your $20 gift card this year.
I agree. I know a lot of high income earners that can afford to "gift" for Christmas, but a lot of them don't. You usually end up buying things the person doesn't need or want. Best thing is just to spend time with people. Or do a drawing and everyone just buys a gift the person whose name they draw.
I Agree !! Idk why poor ppl I include myself as well worry about damn Xmas gifts … man foh
If you are worried about Xmas present you ain't poor yet. The poor don't even notice its Xmas. Well they do but presents are the least of their worries.
Christmas is not about giving gifts, people! I don't feel sorry that these immigrants are struggling ,what did they think! The American dream was about! No one owes anyone anything , the stories are ok ,but it is what it is!
I don't want to sound cold hearted but many working poor and unemployed also have pets. If you can't to feed yourself why buy a dog or cat? Food and vet bills will aren't cheap
Percy crying over his horse broke my heart. You could tell he really loved him.
Oh I know the feeling! I have 3 horses I have to board now, after leasing for 20 years...
That damn horse was a foolish purchase.
@@lynnkalles2055 Exactly. Wasteful spending
This is from 10 years ago. The 2008 economic crash was not that long ago. It hit seniors very hard, so I imagine that's why he had to give away his beloved pet.
Thanks for the heads up so now i aint watching this
So much respect for Percy and his wife. They really understand marriage, and being there for each other through thick n thin. I hope they have better times ahead soon 🙏
lots of people now take the easy way out and forget the vows they took, i def have respect for them sticking through it all good or bad
Some nice people here.
I don’t understand why his kids can’t help. Even if it’s just 20 a month or something. This is why I never wanted kids. 😂
They might be dead by now since this was filmed ten years ago...
@@DB-vt1kk yeah except not all kids are like that, cant really generalize based off this video plus for all we know the parents refuse any help. My grandma who i love with all my heart refuses help from anyone until its too late and that pisses me off. sometimes its a pride thing
I used to get angry at my husband and call him a tightwad😂😂😂 but now we’re a about to retire and have no debt no mortgage no car payment we only pay property taxes thank God my husband didn’t allow me to run our finances 😂😂😂
That’s wonderful that your husband was focused and goal driven! 👏🏾👏🏾 You are debt free and that’s a blessing, makes life easier when you retire. It’s rough for senior citizens today, so many are working in their 70’s and 80’s! We are definitely going to be in a depression if something doesn’t give! I hope not, we went through enough during the onset of the pandemic and with these horrible people running our government (both Republicans & Democrats). Smh 🤦🏽♀️
I don’t let Christmas , birthdays etc put me in debt. There’s so much social pressure to keep up but it’s not worth putting your self in stress. All you need is to focus on the meaning of the holiday and just have a simple meal as a family together . Love one another that’s enough don’t get into the materialistic side of it all.
That and birthday, and weddings.
💯
Same! And me and family just buy gifts for the kids and our mom...just to make it easier for everyone.
My husband and I do not exchange gifts for Christmas birthdays and anniversaries or anything, I have stopped buying Christmas presents for anyone, after the age of 12 no one needs a Christmas present it's ridiculous.
Just don’t celebrate it, it’s pretty simple, and considering it’s only a pagan celebration anyway……
Social pressure”, what a complete load of rot!!!! Don’t YOU have a mind of your own. 🙄🙄🙄
Most women would be super lucky to find a man as devoted as Hilton..mad respect
I agree, and he’s only 20 years old. He was raised right (maybe not privileged or rich but with the right humanity). He has very good values as a human being and as a man. ❤
Ofc🎉
Does anyone know what happened to them? It’s been over 10 years.
My wife and I both retired to Morocco last year, Considering the current rollercoaster nature of U.S economy and stock market, I decided to stay on the sideline for awhile, She was a lawyer born in Texas. After vacationing here a couple of times, we decided this was the place for us. I’m worried with the numerous bank failures as of late, am I better off reinvesting my savings in the stock market or do I wait?
It is impossible to successfully time the market. Decide what percentage of your net worth you want to permanently allocate to stocks and buy a good dividend ETF like SCHD and enjoy the rising dividends.
There are numerous intriguing stocks across various industries that might catch your attention, but it's not always advisable to act on every prediction. Therefore, I suggest that you work alongside a financial advisor who can help you determine the best times to buy or sell the shares or ETFs that you are interested in.
I have maintained contact with a financial analyst since the inception of my business. In today's dynamic market, the challenge lies in determining the opportune moment to purchase or sell when investing in trending stocks, a task that may seem straightforward but can prove to be quite challenging. With a portfolio that has increased by over $650k in a relatively short span of one year, I have delegated the responsibility of selecting entry and exit orders to my advisor.
@@edward.abraham I need a guide so i can salvage my port-folio due to the massive dips and come up with better strategies. How can one reach this advisor?
@@rebecca_burns14 "Julia Ann Finnicum" my financial advisor, is widely recognized for her proficiency and expertise in the financial market. With a comprehensive knowledge of portfolio diversification, she is acknowledged as an authority in this field.
The Government can fund wars but we cant help our older generations or the needy smh.
You first have to help yourself. That's NOT the government's job.
GOD has and will have their bottoms, every time they pass away. I guess they don't fear God yet.
Politicians can't get wealthy on helping people
@@birdlebowski8545 so true, and judgment is waiting.
Because they are going from a Republic to Communistic. They don't want productive citizens, they want slaves. The government was suppose to support us not strive to rule over us.
I grew up in poverty. My mom was a waitress and dad was a cook. Watching my parents struggle growing up really inspired me to stay in school so I can have a career that pays well. Now I can help my parents out financially. I am so grateful that I am able to make their lives a little easier now.. I just wish I can do that for more people who needs help..
But the point of this show is that even people who are cooks or waitresses, also deserve a living wage. Theoretically, if everyone works a better job, who is going to clean, take trash away, work in restaurants, shops........no matter what the job is, it should be enough for a person to live a life normally. 40 hours a week, vacation time, social security... Not everyone can and want to go to college, and that is also fine. But everyone needs to earn enough to live from off of one job, no matter what the job is.
@@milenadocic i completely agree with you.. it’s really unfortunate that a lot of people can’t afford basic things in one of the wealthiest country in the world.
@@sunnycali1294 exactly!
Good for you! I did same...worked in a grocery store at age 16....but went to college at night after work to be able to find a better life...and help my family....
@@milenadocic you hit it on the head. The point isn’t everyone needs to go to college to get a job. The point is we need to make it so that if you are working no matter the job you can easily live well. Now if you choose to go above and beyond you will be compensated even more. Why should you have to work 2-3 jobs and still not make ends meet.. nah that’s crazy. I feel you completely hit it on the head.
I was raised by a single mother who raised 5 kids on her own. I am saddened by the negative comments on here. Unless you've experienced the types of struggle and hardships, you're not going to get it. A lot of these living situations that these folks are in, is because of the many different circumstances that led to it. Everyone in this documentary is hard working and trying to survive but also better themselves and their circumstances. I admire all of them for having the courage to have their hard lives filmed and I'm hoping for the best turnout for all of them. I learned a long time ago to never look down on or judge someone and it's helped me appreciate my life even when I've struggled through some very hard times, too.
People don’t realize once you are at the bottom. It’s 10 times harder to get out of it.
Very true your words!!
I grew up poor. Single mom with a factory job and 4 kids. She knew voting democrat was bad to do. NAFTA killed the factory jobs and created the rust belt. Anyone who voted for the Clintons made their beds.
Great comment ya don’t judge and be grateful
It broke my heart hearing Percy telling about having to give up Cream. That had to be devastating. I've gone through hard times, and the only thing that sustained me was my animal companions.
it's ridiculous how many low income people (and homeless) keep pets. A typical pet costs around $20k over its lifetime.
it s all the emotional support they have when no human cares....@@doubanjiang
Owning a horse on a $99,000 combined income, and not already having paid off their house seems like a bad financial decision
My parents are immigrants and raised 3 kids without any support of the government. They work both 60h/week to provide the basics. I remember my parents saving any penny they can as there has no family and friends here to support us here in case of problems. Now they are retired and they do nothing....other than gardening, cook healthy and simple meals and takes walks daily. For most people, this type of retirement is probably boring. But for my parents, not having the needs to works anymore and no stress on paying their monthly bills is ABSOLUTELY a luxury.
Having children before you have stabilized yourself can definitely lead to poverty. The monthly cost of maintaining a horse could be the equivalent of a retirement savings. Our family does not exchange Christmas presents as it's just not cost-effective with so many people.
Videos like this can really humble a person. Never take anything for granted, be grateful of what we have.
Completely agree.
The level of emotional investment I have for these people’s lives is unreal. I’ve never rooted harder for someone I’ve never even known.
And this happened in 2013-2014. I wonder how they're doing now...
Austin Google their names and see what pops up.
It's tough watching this in 2023 and knowing that the problems they were facing have gotten EXPONENTIALLY worse
Thats what i was thinking. Its way worse now. Hope they all doing better. Would be good to see an update.
If Percy or his family ever sees this he’s such a sweet soul. I hope the best for him, his wife and his family.
Hard working both of them
Seeing Diana's belly flat broke my heart. They were so happy. I pray they can overcome this tragedy and focus on themselves and get somewhere.
They ended up having a set of twins. They’re no longer together, but Hilton is married and has additional children.
Percy and his wife really broke my heart. Hard working folks but paying off the house and pausing expensive hobbies and traveling would have made a world of difference in their retirement. Retire with dignity. 💔
I don’t know why they bought such a big house when they were already middle age. A small condo would have been better.
@@SF-ob8tj Right. So many people do that and then become empty nesters with lots of maintenance on a big house. Bad move. People have to be strategic and practical, not impulsive and impractical.
I guess back in 2000 folks didn't have access to financial guidance, because with a combined income of $99.000 they could have paid their house (79.000) off in 5 years.
@@sunnysunshine6271 I think maybe they had bad credit and had an adjustable rate. That’s why the payments probably never touched the principle.
@@SF-ob8tj Yeah, I just finished the next episode and was shocked that after 13 yrs they haven't paid a dollar off.
Percy seems like such a lovely man. I hope everything works out for him and his wife.
When we worked, we saved money. We lived a simple life in an old run down house. We now are retired. Living the exact same lifestyle we lived before retirement. People spend too much on things. And on entertainment.
and on fleshlights?
That moment at the Christmas party when she kept having her makeup bags stolen and repeatedly kept finding more was actually hilarious😂
Light moments to lift spirits in hard times
Hilton's mom really put him in a bad place taking him to a place where he wouldn't be able to work, and then not even giving him the tools to be able to work where he would be able to. If he's only going to be able to work in America, he should have learned English.
My thoughts exactly 😢
Set up for failure. She should have had him learn English in school at least, he could've gone to college in the USA
She could have getting him a birth certificate in Mexico when she returned to Mexico to start with. That guy is struggling with everything. Incapable of sorting things out. It is depressing.
IF i had to guess she did not know. Many people go to other countries simply to have a "better passport". Becoming an American citizen is no easy task and definitely not cheap. If it all works out the investment would have paid off.
Percy is such a precious person, I wanted to give him a hug when he started to cry :(
There might be an economical turmoil but there is no doubt that this is still the best time to invest.
Best time to invest? thats funny though because in the last four months I have lost more than $47,900 in stock market which is the biggest I have loss since I ventured into stock investment.
you could be right or wrong . i once had similar problem but now its a different ball game for me because I was lucky to have met FLORENCE YAGODA , a financial manager and stock expert, I have made more than $165,000 in 6 weeks under her supervisions
Search her name on the web you will see all you need to know about her.
Thanks for the info . Found her website and it really impressive
@@jamesmaduabuchi6100 they really got the bots replying to each other rn...
Percy bought the house 13 years ago for 79 0000 with a yearly income in the range of 6 figures. Hard to feel sorry that they didn't prioritize paying off their mortgage.They had everything - trips, horses, ect. Should've paid the house quickly first.
I was thinking the same thing. Life is all about priorities.
Exactly I’m so confused and even with half a salary they should be able to pay the mortgage
Unfortunately the majority of the older generation who are now in retirement years did not think or plan further ahead. Some did. Not everyone. So they then end up still working. Also the combination of Urbanisation and big business closing or relocating leaves many towns/cities across the globe virtually ghost towns. Look at how italy are selling €1 houses, same in portugal and japan etc. Big city life & big corp are killing average lives. It is time to change how we live and incredibly at the same time we will then start changing climate change and heal the earth in turn
This was filmed in 2013
Making 100k from the year 2000-2010 is close to $1,000,000 that passed through their hands: where did the money go?
Was it poorly managed? I don’t know but it’s very hard for me to imagine not being able to payoff a $79,000 home in those 10 years
Sadly this I believe is a combination of financial illiteracy and poor choices.
79k for a decent home?? That’s dirt cheap. Money must’ve passed through their hands like water. Skewed priorities, no sympathy.
Every one of them has made bad financial choices. $3k ring, smoking, pregnancy, gifts for others, parties.
Eating out, having cable tv, driving an hour to work.
@@BlaCkHearTed825 Yep - but guess what. Once you get established, saved a 6-12 month emergency fund - THEN you can have some fun, spend on a ‘want’. It isn’t forever. Scrimping & saving now means that later, you can splurge a little.
@@BlaCkHearTed825 Unfortunately some of the better jobs are in one area that may not be affordable for the family to live near. It's a real thing for many people.
Braces
Agreed. However, I have been in a similar position in the past and those things help you forget how bad your situation is. Albeit you are digging a deeper whole.
I love how Percy has to dance when music is playing!
Emilia really needs to accept and adapt to the new way of things. I hate to see this because she reminds me of my own mother that won’t adapt and learn to use technology to her advantage and in return is being left behind in today’s workforce because of her stubbornness.
yeah i agree, she could work at home depot or lowes since she has trade experience and she could sell things to contractors instead of working for min wage. lowes has a way to apply in the store and im sure home depot still does. she could be a sales specialist or even work down at the lumber desk working with contractors making sure they get what they need. I hope things work out for her, i like her and she seems like a good women
That's their own fault. They are those people who say *old school still works*
came here to say exactly this. she clearly a hard worker but she wasting all that time and energy because she refuses to adapt. sad
at this age its very hard to adapt especially with technology.
@@waleed8530 it's only hard for some to adapt because don't want to
Hilton is such a good worker. They both now need to keep working and recover
And not have kids they can't afford!
You mean she needs to start working in the first place. They should leave California. It’s too expensive them to have a future here.
@UCJXPEK-g4qe84_-G6pNEwGg She's 18, she's a freaking child herself, hence the childish behaviour. But is it fair to expect anything more of a teenager? She didn't have any adult experiences before getting knocked up, it's obvious she's completely oblivious about life and the situation they're in.
@@Lex1987 When I was 18, I was carrying a full engineering course load, while serving/training in the Army Reserve/ROTC, and working various minimum wage type jobs every free minute I had. I guess some of us are adults at 18, and other's are immature children. It's time for her to start "adulting."
@@libertarian4323 are you a woman or a man.
Emilia is such a wonderful grandmother and her grandson will forever remember her love and kindness ❤
Will there be a follow-up “Where Are The Now”? The content of the videos suggest these were filmed many years ago…
This is from 2013 , would be nice to see an update.
Percy and his wife is a wonderful example to what couples should be like and there's such a good-hearted happy spirited people no matter what they go through these are the kind of people I like just positive in every aspect God bless them
Percy and his wife have such a beautiful family ❤ you can feel the love all those people have for each other whether they’re blood related or were brought together by marriage. Family is EVERYTHING. It’s THEE most important thing anyone can have. I tested up listening to those grown boys talk about the sacrifices their parents made for them. I too am bless with wonderful parents who did everything they could for my sister and I. They even put us through private school. They’ve never let me struggle or be in a bind. The world would be a better place if everyone had parents like that.
Family isn't everything, and struggling will never be the move
I’m very happy for you.unfortunately not everyone has that advantage in their lives 😢
@@cristinaevans139 I know and that breaks my heart
You’re so right. Something I never had and I now do everything for my kids ❤
If their family is so tight and great, why don't they bail them out?
I just love seeing Emilia having a wonderful relationship with her daughter after her struggles and absence. And she’s a wonderful grandmother ❤
Yes, I'm glad mom and daughter are reunited after Nicole's early years without Emilia being able to be the loving hard working parent and Mimi she is. It brings tears to my eyes b/c my grandmother used to play "Trouble" with me and I loved it. Emilia if you see this I'd love to be able to write to you. You are a STRONG lady, don't forget that! I'm Italian too by the way. I hope you got to keep your motorcycle!
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
I feel like she could be the next Roseanne or Everybody Loves Raymond.
@@annabanana730 hahaha yes she has a great personality and humour!
I feel like nobody thinks “what if” when it comes to finances and life. I try to find joy in non monetary ways and save what I can for hard times. People need to really rethink going big on everything because good times don’t last always!
The young woman still getting her eyebrows done when she can’t pay her bills is pretty clueless.
Owning and boarding a horse? I’m with you!
..but God forbid our educators be able to spend $240 a year on themselves.
@@hannahbananamarshall I don’t you what the $240 for teachers means.
I always admired my parents . Leaving school at 15 my dad trained in the printing trade and my mum done typing classes she always had office jobs . Me and my sister wanted for nothing as kids . My parents own their home . Nice car , go on cruises every year . Don’t owe anyone any money . Me I sometimes don’t even have enough money to eat . I could go to my parents and eat but I don’t want to worry them . I’m scared of retirement age . Only good thing I have is a lifetime secured tenancy
@@Taylor23890 My Dad printed yellow pages phone books for 37 years and my Mom worked in the bindery binding telephone books!
Dad always said by mom working it made it easy for him ..we always went on vacation had a boat...the perfect life growing up in Southern California....
Life was better all the way around...we lost so much industry in America...
I can't complain...I only have a tenth/ eleventh grade education...I entered the building trades in 1987 I learned a skill trade that even I can do to sell artwork after I retire....I learned and learned well ...am going through hard times since the pandemic but will make it with some hard work.
Eric Underwood Class of 81 Downey High school CA ✌️
Really can't feel bad for Emelia. She's complaining about being broke yet is eating out, buys cigarettes, has her nails done and buys expensive gifts... people can spend their time and money as they please, but there's a lot of excess there. Also, she has a marketable skill and always seems to have an excuse for every solution. Something doesn't add up there...
I agree but when she started stalking abt her medications and not being able to deal with day-to-day emotions, being rude to her boss, etc, it became clear to me she suffers from mental illness and likely some type of personality disorder (maybe suffered a lot of trauma as a kid). She’s not all there and is very negative with questionable judgment.
She already says that she has no future so that means she has no plan she lives day by day. If I were her I’d sell that Harley and get great money for it. And pay all of it towards your debts.
The twins dying was heartbreaking. I was in tears.
Children make a couple have hope & a sense to keep on working for the future of them & their children & when that hope dies its so difficult to continue due to grief & pain of loss.
indeed
I totally agree and can't imagine. However I hope this time they wait to get pregnant until they are more stable. That is what would be best for them and their future kids
It felt like foreshadowing after showing the outfits.
Even before miscarriage showed.
$1600-1700 for a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in Silicon Valley??
You know this is an old program because a studio apartment anywhere near Silicon Valley will run $3000+ today. (1/10/2023)
15:28 it shows 2013 on her calendar :)
Damn too much.
@@wildfiregirl1556 That’s half the cost of today. This is 10yrs old.
Yes, I noticed that. Unfortunately, if they were having a hard time when things were cheap, they are in seriously deep trouble now. Even high tech workers are being slammed, and they can make $75k a yr with no sweat, just out of college with no work experience.
Many of them said they have a hard time paying $3-4k for rent after taxes.
Ms. B. Churchill
Omg
My third year in college i almost gave up. I had not slept much in 3 years and school was hard. With every ounce of energy i finished. It was tough but i am reaping the rewards. Bookkeeping is a good choice for woman and pays pretty well
I feel you. I am close to finishing my degree to become a nurse practitioner, so right now I just go to work and school. This documentary makes me appreciate what I have and not wish for the things I don't.
You must sacrifice early to benefit later. I’ve done it. You can too. It’s hard but it must be done or retirement could be a nightmare. I’m much older now, close to retirement. Thank god I worked my butt off. I think I’ll be ok. Budget, Save, stay out of consumer debt and invest early. Choose a career you enjoy that pays well-get educated.
@@indeed1965 Dangerous field. They force many to take poison injections.
The young hispanic couple is unlucky as heck. It never ceases to amaze me how fundamentally random and unfair life really is.
they should've just keep one baby the moment they found out their pregnancy issue, at least one baby would have real chance to survive.
@@ericshang7744 Maybe they couldn't face doing it for religious reasons, for example.
@@leonore3349 i appreciate that, it’s just so sad they lost both of the babies.
@@ericshang7744 Yeah, children give people hope and meaning. I say this as a childless woman by choice. People in the comments seem to ignore the fact that the decision to have kids is seldom rational. It's partly driven by the need to transcend the mundaneness and greyness of everyday life, or at least that's how I see it. Which is why it's hard to decide not to have them, since you have to find others way to achieve that.
@@leonore3349 Yes. I agree. It was as a single mom but blessed with 2 sons ....now 39 and 27. But it was manageable...and I even paid a high mortgage...got good child and worked and things cost less. The young people have it way harder. Everything is expensive....
Percy and his wife are couples goals. Yes, they’re going through a rough season but they have what money can’t buy: love, commitment, faith and strong family values. When all else fails this will sustain you❤🙏🏾
*I appreciate how instead a bunch of gifts at Christmas they choose to spend money on building memories around food, family and good times.
I love Emilia’s humorous personality despite her harsh condition haha! She sounds like she has a lot of fascinating stories to tell…
I agree, she would be a fun friend to have and an interesting person to talk to!
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
She's my favourite, followed by Percy. She's hilarious. She's swears, smokes, knows all her faults, and still manages to crack a joke and make us all smile. She's precious.
17:13 "Hilton has to take a day off work without pay to see a specialist." Sounds quite normal to an US-American, and totally weird to anyone else in a decent developed country. She'd be better off in Cuba than in the land of the free...
Emila must be in her 60s now. I wonder how she's doing.
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
I feel so bad for Hilton and Diana. I hope things have improved for them.
Heartbreaking to see these good people struggling so hard to pay their bills.
I remember being amazed at the cheap prices when travelling to US.
Those times are but a distant memory.
AITA, but damn getting pregnant when you're broke AF living in a garage seems ridiculous to me. There are things I'd like to do, but if there is no money for it, I need to wait until there is. Why doesn't this apply to family planning? Why bring kids into a miserably poor life like that? I'm not saying you need to be rich to have kids, but financial preparation and stability are a must imo. 🤔
No, you are not TA. My impression was that this hard-working young man was clearly that young lady's ticket out of poverty. [Yes, it takes two to tango, but it looks like he's doing all the clean-up and maintenance after the dance.]
@@lokijordan birth control could've helped until they were ready-ish.
A lot of those options may have not been readily available to them, and family planning may not have been taught. Many people don't actually know how pregnancy works, and schools and parents aren't always reliable teachers. They were probably not planning to start a family (as happens to many people of all incomes) since they are in such a tight spot, but they're there anyway.
@Erin if you're old enough to play, then I guess you gots to pay. I don't know any place in the US where this information isn't widely available. Poverty isn't an excuse for decisions that detrimentally affect innocents for a lifetime.
@@Erin-rg3dw While you make some valid points, I suspect this couple used the Internet to gather the information about their transportation to the US. If they're sending money home, then they are again proving themselves capable of gathering the information they deem important. Birth control (and more to the point, laying a sound financial foundation) was not terribly important to them it seems.
love this series
Me too, I'm addicted to them.
Are these episodes current though? And yes I agree a good series 👍
@@enyafire2875 They're 10 years old.
@@leonore3349 We need something more current. People need to see that things haven’t changed.
@@enyafire2875 Filmed in 2013/2014, released in 2015
Hilton needs to think of Hilton. You are not ready to raise a family. He needs to work on getting a better career
Their income was 99k and they bought a house for 79k. How did they not pay their home off?
If I had not bought a house 15 years ago, there would be no way I could ever retire. The price of housing is skyrocketed and so is rent. If I try to buy the exact same house now I wouldn't be able to afford it, with the payments nor would I be able to retire. You can no longer pay rent on social security. The best decision I ever made was to buy a house 15 years ago, or I would be completely screwed!!!!!!
Buying a house is likely a good idea for the long haul, true. I purch'd a home for $400k in March of 2016. That puppy is now at $750k. Happy puppy at this point, no doubt. Pymts are high since it's on a 10-year loan, but yassum. That's at 1.875%. Only 1 in 400 RE loans are sub 2%. Fed pension, working FT in the Tres Dept of a bank in retirement. This place has a defined benefit pension as well, just like the Fed Gov. LOVING IT !!!
BIG salute to ALL hardworking folks, may your dreams come TRUE
Why do people decide to take on excess responsibilities within a fragile economy? I understand the joy of parenthood, pets (including horses), large homes and such. But taking a step back and think about the financial impact associated w/ these major life decisions. No judgement, just live life within boundaries that allow for gradual and comfortable progress.
Heartbroken for that poor couple who lost their precious babies
They really do not need any babies until they get their life together, God took them babies so they will not be in poverty. A blessing
My sympathy for Emilia went out the window when she gave her grandson an iPad for Christmas. I get that she loves him, but come on. She needs the money way more than her grandson needs an iPad.
And frankly his parents could have financed one with their phones or something. That was nuts
I will agree bill's, before Christmas
That poor decision is why they are where they are, because of unsmart decisions like that. Hard to feel bad
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
@@US_ARMY_25_INF._DIV. And a smoker. How can she afford cigarettes? On average, Illinois has the fourth-highest per-pack cost in the US
I see there financial struggles but I also see so much love. Money cant buy love.
God is good❤
Bought a house for 79k 13 years ago. That’s would have been the number one thing I would focus on to pay off all my debt before I retire.
That is my plan as well, if your house is paid off and you do not have a car payment, to me that's retirement, now my social security can pay the water and electric, taxes......
@@reginafisher9919 he’ll yeah that’s what I’m talking about. I would at least start a Roth IRA it grows tax free as long as u pull it out after 63-65. This couple could have easily paid off their house. 5 years max and they would have had a paid for home. Rent it out buy a second property and have the tenants from your first property pay off the second mortgage. I bought a multi family 4 unit property lived in it till I paid it off and now my tenants are paying my current home mortgage. I have ZERO bills that I pay with my money. My tenants literally pay the tax, insurance, utilities, cell phone, and truck. All my money I invest and save.
@@jalamela1480 that's amazing.!
I would buy a horse instead (sarcasm)
@@pearlperlitavenegas2023 a horse for 79k? I’ll stick to buying land.
American work contracts are awful. No sick pay, poor maternity/paternity leave, few paid leave if any, low wages and not all have health care. Pensions don’t seem to be compulsory. No safety net. Lose everything with one medical emergency. Expensive for medication. The irony of diabetes patients crossing over in to Mexico just so they can afford life saving medicines. Terrifying. So lucky in the UK to have paid time off for medical appointments, 12 month’s maternity leave, sick pay, paid holidays, pensions and one price for medical prescriptions.
Yes! I am Canadian, and I am just appalled at the poor to non-existent social supports in the U.S. I am a retired teacher and live very comfortably on teaching pension, Canada Pension, Old Age Security, and investments. I’m not rich, but I never worry about getting my bills paid. I remember to be grateful for this sane and peaceful country. 🇨🇦
God bless all these folks. This humbles my heart to see everyone struggling and sacrificing so hard to make ends meet. I need to watch this more often to appreciate what opportunities that God has given me. Keep grinding folks.
Spoiler alert ⚠️: there's no such thing as a god deity. 😶
Absolutely!
@Alpha Omega
An even bigger Spoiler alert:
#1 Not too sure if you're aware that SCIENCE has FAILED to define the genesis of EMOTIONS. There is NO EMPIRICAL DATA to DEBUNK ABSOLUTELY !!! how emotions are experienced in humans. What remains as the LOGICAL CONCLUSION, is the Case for a Spirit within the Human Body.
#2 SCIENCE ONCE AGAIN, has FAILED to define how NDE (NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCES) occur, and possible explanations for the existence of such. This is, though not conclusive in and of itself, leads to ANOTHER LOGICAL inductive conclusion, that God is the LIKELY explanation for NDE ?
#3 The Big Bang THEORY, is STILL a THEORY 😁
Why isn't "god" paying our bills? FOH with that science fiction.
We all have 24 hrs in a day… how you spend them makes the difference
Wish they'd do a story on me... single black mom who moved to cheaper to live state away from all family and friends, worked and successful helping community and high paying job while daughter in college. All about budgeting and strategizing... and personal responsibility
Hilton and his girlfriend loss of their babies broke my heart but they are in heaven together ❤️
We need financial literacy in schools but the government won’t implement it . Financial literacy is the key .
I agree. Organize your own courses in the community then - for kids, for adults.
@@ENDEVRDocs I share my knowledge for free unfortunately grown adults don’t want to change their money habits .
Percy and Bev are blessed with a beautiful family. Love for each other if a true gift.
All these individuals coming from countries claiming asylum, have no clue that their journey here won't be an easy one either.
I’m so sorry about the babies. That was hard to watch . I just turned 65, I retired many years ago because of polio, disability plus retirement. My husband retired years later from a naval shipyard. That’s where we met and he died four years ago and I’m so grateful that he looked out for me. This is correct, nobody going to be retiring 20 years from now. Where did we go wrong? I would not want to try to be working in this day and age, they don’t care about people. If you don’t have a government job or corporation job and you avoid the axes, you might retire.
With that attitude Emilia will never be able to develop and grow as an individual contributor. She reminds me of one of those disrespectful classmates i had in high-school. She acts like a spoiled teenager. She needs to grow up. but when your in your 50s trying to grow up, its just sad that she acts as entitled as she does. smh
It's good to see people put their animals first so they can live n survive. It's sad but also a happy ending for the horse.
These documentaries reminds me of those shows I've watched in the 80s/90s. Love it.
Percy and his family are so wonderful. Best wishes to all of them.
Popping kids without any financial stability 🤦♀️🤦♀️ that young couple are making the worst decisions. For starters that girlfriend needs to work and stop her leisure trips to MeX
My bf retired this year at 47 years old. No mortgage($800k he paid off)no debts-I’m 7 years younger and hope to do the same. This definitely made me realize that I don’t need anything extra.
Boyfriend at 47 sounds wierd asf
Sorry I’m divorced and we’re dating. What shall I call him?🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@Seeingisntbelieving manfriend
What does he do for health insurance ? Honestly curious question. Not trying to me a smart a**.
Please could you say how did he manage to retire at age forty-seven?
Percy and his family will make it no matter what. It's all about attitude. They are so grateful for all the right things. I can see them coming together with any problem and finding a solution because they're all willing to compromise however they can. They're just lovely!
I never had the retirement dreams. I worked untill 70 yrs. old and was forced to retire because of my age. Enjoyed working
Retirement means that your mortgage loan is paid off and credit card debt is paid off and automobile loan is paid off and maybe then a person can retire
That's what we did. We are happy and have zero debt. House is paid off, and at Christmas we have a big dinner with no gift exchange. Simply and stress free
@@lynnkalles2055 very good and that was my plan also to get myself out of debt before I retired
Yup
They may struggling but they have beautiful families and hearts
Why would you have horses but then what seems like a 40-60 year mortgage loan??? Seems like priorities were WAY off.
Yeah they were living waaaaay above their means! Horses are crazy expensive.
That episode hurt …. So sad. God bless you all ..
Everyone thinks college is the answer. It isn't. Plumbers, , carpenters, make good money 💰.
Right now believe it or not, landscapers are making good money by doing veggies and fruit gardens in people backyards and helping to maintain them
It’s not just the case in the United States, we have the same problem in the UK and here in Spain. You can find electricians or plumbers, but there are lawyers abound.
My heart breaks for Diana, what a devastating loss.
People, please ensure at the minimum you have a 6 month emergency fund, you dont have children you can't afford, and do not confuse wants with needs. This will help you get out or stay out of the poverty cycle. I myself come from straight poverty, now 28, earn $112k, and positive net worth of $100k and growing. I believe in you!
Believe in your self! Great words to live by!
And pay your house off if you can!
@@strykerman8590 Buy a starter home on a 15 year loan - then save & buy another to rent out. You can’t believe how fast 15 years goes by! You will be so glad you did it.🤑
They say 80% of Americans don't have a thousand dollars in savings
@@xoxoxoxoxo7997 Misleading stat. What percent of Americans are children or young college students?
This is why vocational trades and college education in something that is needed is beneficial.
Exactly “education “ is the key and not necessary a 4 year degree.. now a days you can lear a lot online for free… no internet? Then go to the library. Its all a mindset..
Emelia deserves so much better. She’s a really hard worker. Keep on keeping on Emelia. 👍🇬🇧
No, she doesn’t. She is getting exactly what she made happen. Poor decisions have consequences
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
I know it’s easier said than done, but if I was in a really hard financial situation I would not be getting my nails done and smoking.
I could afford those things now, but then that would just be less money for retirement. Bad choices are part of the problem.
I wish everyone on this documentary well though.
My comment is based off of an observation, that’s all.
She is her own enemy and cries about it
My birth dad passed away at 45. My step dad (who was a double amputee) passed away at 62. My mom (who is disabled) relied on them for income. When my step dad passed, she couldnt pay her rent. Her childless son who pulls 200k with his wife denied her help, so I, the little sister with 2 kids, stepped in and pay half her rent, got her on EBT for food, take her out. I’m all she’s got left. And you know what, it motivates me more to keep going. I’m opening up my second business next year and am projected to be a millionaire in the next 7 years. Let’s go!!
The RV park in Redwood City (silicon valley) was charging $1500/mo for a spot several years ago. The COL is absolutely insane.
Honestly, the United States doesn't want you to retire here. They only want workers. If you can, save up enough to go to Thailand, Portugal, Costa Rica, and Spain. You need enough to get over to the country, but in other countries, 2k a month is like 4k a month in the U.S.
I love the cackling laughter of Emilia and her friends at the party. It's too sad they can't really afford to have that party.
she has a very problematic personality....being crass and vulgar and loud was maybe kind of sort of sexy and cute to some people when she was in her 20 s and 30 s....now she is just an old knuckle dragger...
I didn't believe it was cackling until I watched it myself. You were right.
They were cackling but it was ok ..
At $100k in combined income, their $79k house should have been paid off years ago. 3 to 5 years max. Their disposable income went to caring for a horse. Ugh. Bad choice. They are their own problem.
Their household income is gross not net.
Taxes federal and state
Utilities
Interest rate on the loan
Food/groceries
Add up what you spend annually on the above.
@@n.r.7298 I reiterate exactly what I said. Their annual take home Net of taxes would have been around $75k. That's $6,250 per month. That's plenty of money. Had they set better priorities and made better decisions, that measly $79k house could/should have been paid off within 5 years. To do so would only have required them to pay only a puny $15,800 per year. Instead, he decided to moronically spend his disposable money on a horse and all its expensive upkeep. You Reap What You Sow. That's what's happening to them now.
@@questioneverything594 wow you are such a judgmental a$$ hole know it all! I’m sure he knows what he should have / could have done in hindsight. You live life long enough and see how perfect your life will be . Anything can happen that can put you or anyone on the streets! I learned a long time ago to be kind and considerate to others , no one is perfect! 🙄
@@vetgirl71 I've lived a long life and I generally agree with what you said. Calamities can unexpectedly happen to anyone. But my central point is valid and stays the same: he helped create his own problem but not living within his means. Making $100k a year in an inexpensive area means his $79k mortgage should and could have been paid off in 3 to 5 years. His priorities were out of whack. A horse....???? Come on...
This makes no sense...they made $99k a year and their house cost $79k....they could have paid it off in full after only a few years with that salary. Why are they still paying for it 13 years later??? They made more than the cost of the house per year. Houses where I live at $1.5 million+ and an average salary is like 65k....
Expensive hobbies and mismanagement of money I guess. With their extended family, I figure they'd probably lend money to them as well. Not an excuse I guess but I think that's what happened.
There’s also property taxes, food, electricity, dental, medical etc. They really didn’t earn enough money. $79K for a home is cheap which tells me they could have bought a smaller home for cheaper and been fine.
Thank you! That math had me scratching my head, too. Then I saw the horses...
Dear people, if you are poor, like I am, avoid getting pregnant until you are stable. Break the cycle, please, for your OWN good.
I know some single people who's also poor and struggling as well
Yep. I grew up very, very poor. Mom was disabled and unable to work and dad was a security guard. He also was lazy and didn't work any overtime. They had 4 kids. Best decision I ever made was to not have children.
Exactly
I really feel for Hilton Kennedy 😥 and think everyone thinks he's a cash machine!, Such a good man who deserves all his American dreams to come true ❤❤
Percy seems like such a sweet person 🙂. 💗
With today's housing market, it's really hard to imagine someone being behind on their mortgage when they bought a property for 70K. Most people lucky enough to buy a 70K property today would be paying so much in rent that they'd have that mortgage paid off in a year.
This series is priceless, takes me back to when I struggled..but in the 60's there was a lot of jobs before they shipped all jobs overseas
Great series! Thanks! I must say I can not resonate with a lot of the decisions that these families are making, but I admire their hard work to soldier on with their life no matter the circumstances.
I've been watching this series week to week as it is uploaded and I was surprised when I saw 27:08 that this documentary was made 10 years ago, so that got me curious to see where they are now and it looks like most of them are doing well thankfully.
How'd you find out?
Would be nice for new material especially with this inflation /economy
@@xoxoxoxoxo7997 For real, that was what I was thinking while watching. This was filmed late 2013 to early 2014...I cannot imagine how people in these living situations now are surviving 10 years later.
I was thinking that $1600/month for a single or one bedroom in Silicon Valley must have been at least 8-10 years ago! Now they’ve been at least 2x as much for a while now. And even a garage rental is way more than $300.
@@DrezdanyWildlifePrior to watching this I had no idea people rented garages to live in at all.
Smoking=waste of money
Having children when you’re already poor=waste of money
Holiday presents =waste of money
Nails=waste of money especially when money is tight!!
This is a heart-rending, humbling story that is part of the fabric of America in the past few decades. The OIC Industrialization piece struck a chord in me, I had my first training as an immigrant at an OIC center, I'm sorry that it no longer helps folks in many communities that need it.