Poor Little Rich Kids

Current song: "Better" ~Regina Spektor (the live version...thank you, Pandora.)

So it's been awhile. I'm still getting used to this whole 'remembering to blog regularly' thing. I'm still getting used to remembering to do quite a few things that need to get done now that I'm living alone and can't rely on anyone else to do them--like remembering it was toilet paper I went to Shop Rite for, not the distracting, addicting on-sale items. I am such an impulse buyer. Shoot.

Needless to say, my forgetfulness got me thinking. Why is it that living in Bergen County makes us all a little bit more stressed and crazed than the rest of the country seems to be? Really, there's only one true answer. The cost of living here is excruciating. And what's worse? It goes completely unnoticed.

Example/Reality Check: This past weekend was my little brother's 21st birthday, and like any awesome older sister would do, I went up to his college in East Stroudsburg, PA to celebrate with him and his friends. I had at least $200 in cash on me (and my cards, of course, just in case), taking into consideration cover charges of bars and clubs, a few drinks for myself, buying a few rounds for my brother, and the ever-popular "let's eat pizza at 3am because we're all starved from drunkenly dancing for three hours" pay-out. I spent under $100 on everything, including dinner before we went out. WHAT? Is Pennsylvania the discount state, or are we just being horribly ripped off here at home? This was the beginning of my mental investigation.

Now, before I continue what may come off as a rant, I want to be straight. I understand that Bergen County is a "desirable place to live" and, therefore, more expensive. I also understand that the more desirable and expensive a place is to live, the wealthier the people that live there are, and the higher the prices are driven because they can be afforded. I understand all of it. And I understand that I CHOOSE to live here and can leave whenever I want; however, as is the same with most of us who currently reside in the (201), this is my home. I was born and raised here. My friends and family are here. My job is here. My life is here...and I can barely afford it.

If you're from the (201), then you know that when you meet an outsider (especially from another state), they automatically assume you're rich because you're from Bergen County. Technically, this is true for everyone that lives here. Here's why: "The median income per household member [in the United States]...was $26,036 in 2006." (Wikipedia) On the flip side: "The median income for a family [in Bergen County, NJ] was $78,079. (These figures had risen to $96,589 as of a 2007 estimate)." (Wikipedia) Holy crap...we ARE rich. Yes, but not really.

While we do make a substantially larger amount of money than the rest of the country, we also pay a substantially larger amount for everything we need. (Except gas. NJ for the win on that one.) Food, clothing, homes, cars, crossing the bridge to NYC (which, by the way, was supposed to STOP years ago, not continue to increase...greedy New Yorkers)--everything. And it seems no one takes this into account. Percentagewise, we make and spend the same as everyone else. The numbers are just bigger coming in and going out. Feh.

If I were politically savvy (which I am far from), I would figure out a way to bring this to the government's attention, especially at those odd times when they decide to try to jump start the economy with a stimulus check. Did ANYONE in Bergen County even get one? Most of the people I know didn't qualify because they "made too much money." The government only gave money to those who made under a certain amount (I want to say $75,000/year or so) and most people who live here and own homes and have lives need to make more than that just for upkeep. The (201)ers who make just above that number are in the same spot as the people making $35,000/year in Wisconsin. Only it looks way worse on paper for them. (But I bet they don't pay $15 for a martini in Wisconsin or $35 for a turkey.)

I'm just sayin'...someone should consider all this. Right? Yes.

Just to support my one, singular self in the (201), I work a regular full time job like everyone else. Monday through Friday, 8:30am-5pm. And, like most people (especially us 20- and 30-somethings), that one job just doesn't cut it. To pay the rest of the bills and feed myself, I work a part-time job at a restaurant. Yay for cash! Boo to the really long days when I work one job after another. I did what everyone else did. I went to college, got my degree, started working right away, and what I'm being paid is fair...in a national kind of way. In a (201) kind of way, I'm poor. This, to me, is sad. Shame on you, Bergen County, for being so wonderful and so difficult all at the same time. Shame.

I get it. If one wants to continue living here and keep up the lifestyle their used to, one must bust their ass extra hard to pull it all together. And keep it all together. "Life is tough--get a helmet."

Then again, maybe we're all just whiny rich kids who will never get it.

Current song: "Still The Same" ~Bob Seger. I love this man's voice.