I agree Beev, I feel for this kids mother who is having to carry some of his load. The guy is 46 years old, started his business 10 years ago, his overhead should have been pretty low to start it since he clearly works out of home where he lives with Mommy. Where is all the money he earned from ages 22 till 36 years of age? He should expand and do weds and holiday family photos or get out of it all together and try working for UPS full time. I get the feeling this guy wants to sit in his bedroom all day and play on the computer and call it work. Even still, after all those years of marrage, where did all her money go and why is the home not fully or nearly paid for, did they live beyond their means? It sure seems she and her late husband were not all that good with finances in the first place. Many folks in her age group were responsible enough to purchase life insurance, what happened to that? So many questions the article just does not answer on how they got to this point.

Yeah, hard to believe this winner is not married.

Yeah, hard to believe this winner is not married.

Well now that's just totally out of line....oh, wait....

You asked if Mommy TUCKS him in at night. Oh....nevermind.

You morons are ASSuming that this guy isn't taking care of his elderly mother. Where the he// do you people get off? Please, get lives.

No kidding- he is helping his mother as much as she is helping him. What do you expect him to do? Move into his own place, with an even higher mortgage? which also cuts her monthly income in half? Not to mention, all the bills would be doubled. No wonder this country is in shambles- we have folks like you who are more concerned with "how it looks" to live with your parents than the fact that the costs are halved.... You probably voted for whomever looked prettiest too- nevermind the fact that the person you chose voted themselves raises, raised your taxes to cover it, cut theirs and their wealthy friends' taxes in half, and stole what is due to our seniors and military personnel.

I actually know someone that is in there 40s living with Mom and not working for like 20 years with no intention of working. I can't understand it.

Wow, you're presumptious. At least he's working, albeit part time, and not just living off of his mother's income. They're taking care of each other and I really don't think that's something to mock either of them about.

kevjohn-2741119

You morons are ASSuming that this guy isn't taking care of his elderly mother. Where the he// do you people get off? Please, get lives.

My exact thoughts too kev.

My daughter wants me to live with her when I get older. I'll probably have to because during a period of unemployment I had to dip into my retirement account to cover medical bills. My only hope is that I will pass-away before I become too much of a burden. Families are a team. We all work together for everyone's benefit. If I was fortunate enough to live with my child without being a burden, I would happily wash her laundry, clean her house and anything else I could do to make our life better.

His mother is 77 yrs old, Was married for 50yrs so likely a widow. I would hope that at that age and a widow one of my grown sons and his wife, they are all married at the moment, would share a home with me and not be so selfish as to throw me away like so many do their elderly these days. I am pretty sure I raised them well enough and certainly set the example as when my father died my mother came to live with me and my family not stuffed away in a "home" and forgotten.

I had my in-laws living with me for 6 months due to recession troubles! They saved money, I went deeper in the hole! Thank God thats over!

Then again, Americans have a different view of family. Most all other cultures value family more and have generations living under the same roof. It makes sense, if you can get along!

Here's another example of someone who is scraping by because they're refusing to look at other professions. He isn't even considering branching out in his photography. Seriously he has no other skills besides photographing empty rooms with sunlight and bounce or working for UPS?

Gee congrats on losing your parents bet they left you a house. In most parts of planet earth its more than okay to take care of your family. i guess you would have them plunge into poverty paying rent to some landlord.

I can't believe you people are ripping on this guy. I'm really glad you all are so well off, and perfect apparently. I'm sure his mom is grateful to have the company, the help and they both get the financial benefit. I would hope that when I'm a senior, my kids would be there to help me out too.

Hey all you jerk-offs laughing at the guy because he and his mom live in the same house, I was living "with my mom", too -- because SHE NEEDED ME THERE TO HELP PAY BILLS AND TAKE CARE OF THE HOUSE.

Just wait until it's YOUR turn....and YOUR kids decide that it's "just not right to live with mom and dad".

When times are tough, families move in together to save money. It is what our ancestors did, and I think it is what more people today should do. Good for him.

Scrimping? LMAO!! Whatever, they obviously eat VERY well, and scrimping looks like the only excercise they get.

Keep trying MSNBC...you may convince us yet as to why 50k is a sad state of affairs, but I don't think it will be very soon.

This article is proof as to why the stupid must stop breeding. I cannot believe that there are still fools in this country who make only $50K a year...I could blow through $50K in a day and not feel a thing.

What is comical is how msn in this story is trying to get us all to cry a river over $50,000 a year and then over on the photblog they have the story of the poor iraqi's making $8/day. To quote someone else.. "Stupid people are killing America"

haha i was just thinking the same thing. I love how they run these articles about people scraping by on 50 G's a year. I make quite a bit less than that so the sentiment is lost on me. Actually... i would say that i deserve some of their wealth.. hmm... /sarcasm

Agreed. My husband and I are both in graduate school and we make 13,000/year and we live just fine with budgeting. We refuse to take out loans for anything and we would never let out parents help us. Either we save up for something or we don't buy it. We stay in and cook our own meals. I can't believe that the news is making 50,000 seem like a pittance.

It really depends on where you live. I live in the DC Metro area and it's really hard to get by on $50k.

Agree with KW1223 - Try leaving in the DC Metro area (and not 50 miles away) on $50K a year. A modest apartment in the burbs is $1200-1500/month...

Trying to call them "the Median" is very disingenuous when a) its a 2 family household; b) they don't have the additional expenses that come with children; c) they live in Zion, IL which is a smallish town where the cost of living is not particularly high; and d) he appears to have a limited income by choice. There are families of 4 and more living on much less in areas where the COL is much higher. This is not one of MSNBC's prouder moments in journalism.

Many of those living on less are probably one parent families.

I moved from Pittsburgh to DC Metro Area. I could live on $50,000 in Pittsburgh but not in DC. It's all about where you live.

I wish the story took into account the cost of living in the area profiled, then you would get a better idea of what $50,000 buys.

I went back to grad school in my late 40's and it was the best decision ever made. To Mark...how old will you be in 4 years (or however it long it takes), if you don't get a degree.

I would LOVE to make $50,000. I make about a third less and am doing OK and I own a home. Not a McMansion, a modest house.

How can people not make it on $50,000, especially just two people? I don't have cable TV, I don't dine out a lot, have only one phone (got rid of home phone for cell, spend only $40/month, unlimited talk and text), drive an economical car, etc.

Sometimes you have to learn what you can live without. And, yes, my son just graduated HS last year, so kids are part of the mix.

I depends on where you live.... between my job and the child support, it is just over 50K, no credit card debt but 2 teenagers who need clothes, shoes, food, coats, school supplies....we only vacation with family members ( who pay the bulk of the expenses) and my kids are not into labels, they get their clothes from Target and Kohl's...

the point of the series of articles is what its like to live on that amount in various places around the country. THAT'S THE POINT

These fools should be ashamed of themselves...I think I spent $50K on my bathtub.

Impatient Girl: I agree. I am single with no dependents and earn considerably more than 50K. Yet, I really look forward to reading these stories. In fact, when I logged on I was very excited to see a new story was posted. I like the stories not simply because it shows just how "bless" and "fortunate" I am, but the stories actually humble me. I read these stories and they make me want to give and do more for those that are struggling. I actually donated more this season than previous seasons and I am please to say it had a lot to do with reading the stories in this series and the comments of viewers. Frankly, the stories gives me an insight into the lives of those that live on limited income. Had it not been for this series and the comments many of us would have no idea how families are living and coping during these economic times. The stories are also helpful in that they allow those living in that situation to understand that they are not alone.

MSNBC: Thanks for the stories and keep them coming. They are making a difference in my life and those to whom I share it with.

I am supporting myself with 2 children on my income of 25K (before taxes are taken out) there are many different variables that have not been reported, which is why things are unclear. For me, it would only be natural to have your parents live with you when they get older, for both their own health and benefit. Now forseeing the future, It looks like the patriotic thing do is to help out all of the past and current Politicians keep their income and health benefits, as well as do my part to help pay for any bailout I can support that put me in this deep hole in the first place

$50,000 has been the median household income for several years.

If we had 50000 a year coming in we could stop pinching pennies trying to make nickels. My husband and I have 24000 coming in a year and with that amount we have 4 kids( and all the stuff that comes with that) loan repayments and the regular bills, for someone whos complaining about having to get by on 50000 try getting by on half of that. NOW THAT SCRIMPING

sam, my opinion is that it is absolutely irresponsible of you to have four kids if you and your husband make so little money. Sound harsh? Sorry. I have ONE kid because we knew we couldn'tafford more. It's none of my business how many kids you have until you start taking my tax money to pay for them if your house of cards comes down and you need help.

Lizzie, how do you know that Sam and her husband didn't have kids before they live on reduced income? How do you know that they live in 24K a year because one of them lost their job?

Guess what? You don't know that. Try walking in someone else's shoes before you judge them.

That remark was not only something I agree with whole heartedly with it hits home on alot of levels. Some people start out just fine fiancially then something say cancer hits and it doesn't matter about all you HAD before even with children it still happened and for someone to call a mother irresponsible is the lowest a person can go not to mention hurtful. I made 95,000.00 a year until I was stricken with type II Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and after that I went from that huge amount to SSDI which is alot less and top that off with divorce a few years later repeated trips for further treatment and a crumbling piece of crap house and ex inlaws that hated me and I still raised my kids they're both graduated my son lives with me due to MS and we just bought a house cuz it's smaller and closer to where his doctor is.Thankyou for responding the way you did and god bless.

Good idea. Then he could have a bunch of education expenses (college isn't cheap, you know) and when he graduates he finds out he still can't make a better living. Like so many other new college graduates today.

That would make sense if there was not age discrimination. Unfortunately there is.

That's not true Dayna. Not everyone is irresponsible and living beyond their means getting into debt. Perhaps, he wanted to go beyond where his life was at and took a chance at starting his won business and it didn't pan out. That's what it sounds like to me.

Sometime just sometimes in order to move out of living from paycheck to paycheck and always struggling in life, people take chances that does cause them to pile up debt in hopes of bettering their lives. Not everyone wants to say they are in the same shape 5,10,15 yrs from now. Unfortunately, if it doesn't work out, you may end up in a worst situation.

He also said he had unexpected medical expenses, and that could be a big factor in his debt. I have a co-worker who just had to have surgery, and even with the company health insurance, she still had to pay $5,000 plus out of pocket for the operation. That is a good chunk of change, and definitely not something i could afford without going into debt.

Thank you! You are Exactly right, Most of these people must live in some kind of dreamland, That I can only Imagine.

Melanie: Your sentiments seems to be very popular. Perhaps TODAY can start a series on people making less than $50K. I, personally, would love to hear their stories.

Not only lost sight but blinded is more like it. They talk to people who say they're scrimping and scraping when there are those who are barely living not that I don't feel bad for a mother and her son and their "scrimping" but I literally know of families that never get the help they so badly need that don't have computers that can barely afford their rent or pay for food. MSNBC needs to get real and find THE REAL STORIES out there desperate people in ramshackle homes barely any food, furnishings let the those that have to live on $50,000.00 a year or more know it may be scraping by for them but look at the ones that aren't fortunate enough to even say they have an 1/8th of that amount; I know I used to be in a ramshackle house with wood heat and frozen pipes every year.

I was going to say! Its all relative to where you live- because 50k in the backwoods of TN is certainly different than the NY Tri-State area.

My Compliments Wolfe- can't be easy...

Wolfe - I feel your pain! I live in CT too! My son just turned in his last ever college term paper today! We live together in an apartment since I could no longer afford to keep my house of 21 years. It now is under deposit and hopefully will be sold as a short sale, rather than be foreclosed upon. I lost my job in 2007 due to illness, and although I have tried valiantly to re-enter the workforce multiple times since, my body keeps failing me. We survive on less than $25,000 a year. Our rent alone takes away half of that. Thankfully our heat is included, phew!! You get used to the decisions like: internet, yes; cable, no: Never, ever, enter a grocery store without coupons, AND not knowing the competitors' prices. It is the emergencies however that always make me feel kicked in the gut. No matter how careful I am there is just, sometimes, never enough. I sincerely hope your family of four fairs better than mine.

Mercy! To read this balanced, pragmatic view on The Vine needs to be recognised and appreciated.

The egalitarian view, being championed by those who are unhappy with their lives, has not (nor will not) exist in the human experience. As you correctly point out, Capitalism allows each one of us nothing more than the opportunity to succeed or fail. In this regard, all of the other "isms" fall short.

While you are at it don't expect to get a job with a law or nursing or teaching degree either even if you are young. Meanwhile the powers that be let in thousands of H1B visas to take those diminishing jobs after millions in wasted pell grants and support of universities.

Times aren't too tough if people still pay for TV, Internet, fancy cell phones (I'm starting to think of my $10 / month basic tracfone as a requirement)...

I noticed the cable comment...people assume these extras are standard now-a-days which is, in my humble opinion- part of the systemic problem. My parents got cable when I was a senior in high school (I'm 28). Now, I make a pretty good salary- but don't have cable as its not necessary to my exsistence...and not to sound snobby, but since I'm not at home watching TV- I spend a lot of time enjoying the city I live in and reading which isn't bad...

Priorities!

But I notice you're posting on the internet. You'll soon be getting a lot of flack from people complaining because you're "wasting" money on luxuries like internet connectivity (and probably cell service, too.)

These people don't understand (or care) that job-hunting these days requires both. hardly anybody takes walk-in employment applications these days. Even Target and Safeway won't even talk to you without an internet application being submitted first.

I hear you, I have one kid in daycare and one in school. I make half of that. Daycare and mortgage are our biggest expenses. I save a lot in food because my kids aren't picky. I can't remember the last time I got something that wasn't on sale. We live 5 minutes from the beach so our vacations are pretty much free.

You can get basic cable for less than 20 a month (you get a bunch of PBS & local channels..the ones that USED to be free) Also my cell phone is a basic phone plan, no text, no internet, I don't like talking on the phone much to begin with. My home line & internet combined (for school homework) is 35 a month.

I wonder sometimes if people are living within their means. Cable is not a necessity nor is a computer. I don't have cable and I don't have a computer. It helps me to think outside the box in finding things to do. There is alot if you use your imagination.Plus I have friends and family that I can visit to watch a favorite program or go online!Luckily I live in a beach resort area where there are tons of free concerts and activities. I think about every purchase I make and to tell the truth I really don't buy much that is new.I was raised well off by a mother and father who were brought up poor. So I was taught that even if you have money to make wise decisions! I thank my lucky stars that they didn't spoil me or I wouldn't know what to do right now!

He's the problem. He apparently only sees working in his chosen niche.

Its ridiculous.

Disability and an off the books job?

I believe that makes you a criminal and a liar.

Starve.

She didn't say she was getting disability, she said she was fighting to get it. They're cleaning houses; you have no idea what her disability is, so you don't know she's a criminal and a liar.

I believe that makes you a judgmental jerk.

Where I live, you are allowed to earn a little money and work when on disability. Infact they encourage it, so they have a life of sorts. Only if you earn over a certain amount do you get docked on your disability check.

Have you never seen a disabled person working before?

Not.

If she is cabable of cleaning houses, she is capable of cleaning houses.

She is a mooch and a liar

William, you're a judgmental ass. Social Security Disability (which is probably what she is fighting for, and different from SSI Disability, which is a welfare program) is dependant upon what YOU HAVE PAID INTO THE SYSTEM, if she is disabled and no longer able to work in her usual field of work, or can no longer work full time, she is eligible to receive some of those funds in most states. Given that she is in her early 50's, I would presume that she worked for 20+ years, and in those 20+ years, every paycheck included a deduction for Social Security. Those Social Security taxes go to both Disability and Retirement. Also, in most states, you can work part time and still receive disability, depending on what your disability is. If you make over x amount per month, they dock your check. Example: I have a friend who has Epilepsy, and as a result, some moderate brain damage. But she can work menial jobs. The state of California determined that she was permanently disabled as a teenager, so she receives Social Security Disability payments every month. She also has a part time job as a bag girl at a local grocery store, making minimum wage. If her earned income is over a certain amount, they start docking her disability check. If she earns more than the amount of her disability check, she doesn't get a check the following month. It's a good program. When she is well enough to work, she does. When she isn't, she knows she will still be able to make the rent.

Thank you for being one of the few people on here with some sense.

I agree with you. And yet we still have people here whining, "I have 6 kids and an invalid mother, and we're getting buy on $752 a year. Poor me."

By definition 50% of the population makes less than the median of $50,000 a year. This series is about how different families in different locations are living on that amount.

Not "Well they should auction off their kids and eat nothing but rice and beans." I don't remember any of the story subjects asking for sympathy.

He didn't say "poor me" but he's certainly implied it with the new car new computer, "pay the over the roof payments" comments.

Regardless of how much he makes or where he lives, he's living with the consequences of his choices. He's put all his eggs in the virtual tour basket and he's holding onto it with a death grip. He needs to wake up and look for FULL time employment doing something else if UPS wont hire him. As for that, I thought UPS was good about hiring from within...

How do you know they don't?

Your intelligence astounds me.

And in case you really need to ask: Yeah. That was sarcasm.

Not necessarily true, high calorie junk food is cheaper than fresh fruit and vegetables

So your solution is to bring all nations to starvation status?

So maybe they should shut off the cable and buy some fresh fruit and vegetables... Hey whadda you know!!! might have reduced those medical bills too!! More poor choices...

And have health insurance? I don't think so.