Rants of the 'perpetual poor'

Some people are financially sidelined by circumstances beyond their control, while others just poor-mouth -- making excuses for their circumstances with phrases like "The poor man just can't get ahead" or "We struggle just to make ends meet" or "I work hard so I deserve it."

"Frugal Dad" calls these folks the "perpetual poor" and explains how you can identify them in this biting and humorous post. For instance, he writes, those who use the "poor man" rant referenced above "can recite the last five winners of American Idle (that's not a typo) from memory, haven't picked up a book since high school," and "never stretched to learn a new skill at work, but complain about being passed over for promotions."

• Bing: How to get a job promotion
  

Frugal Dad says the people who moan "We struggle just to make ends meet" often claim that "rising gas prices, a shrinking economy, and the president of the United States all conspire to keep them down." You'll find these folks stocking up on cigarettes and beer at the convenience store, and browsing at car dealerships on weekends "leaving a trail of drool in their wake."

Other phrases he tackles are:

• "You can't take it with you." (These people live hard and never save for retirement.)

• "The only way to get rich in America is to hit the lottery." (These folks don't realize the lottery is a tax on poor people.)

• "Everyone has a car payment -- it is a fact of life." (Their vehicles cost almost as much as their homes.)

Lest you think Frugal Dad is mean-spirited, he says, "At various points in my life I have probably been a member of each of the above classes, which inherently qualifies me to make fun of them."

Published April 22, 2008