>I think you absolutely right - in my opininon - the main proble in the US is luck of time. I was living in Saint Louis in 2000 and my hostfamily showed me, how can American people relax without money :)

Alot of people in this country (US) live above their means. They don't ask 'how much' they ask 'how much a month'?. If they can fit all their payments in the budget then they can buy more and make 'payments'.

Alot of people have two car payments that are way to high. In my area there is a middle class 'hood were a nice 3bed/2bath 1500sq ft house goes for about $80k-$100k. If you drive around this area you will see people with two 30k SUV's in the drive. 60k worth of cars and an 80k house?

People also have to have it new and now. How many people after the last car payment (or even before) is made run out an buy a new car? They put nothing down and get a 5 year loan. I almost died doing a 4 year on the van my family just bought. But, the plan is to keep in 7+ years before getting a new one. My car has a 3 year on it, and I will keep it at least 7. The car before this one I have for 7.5 years and it had a 3 year loan on it. So, I drove for 4.5 years without a car payment. That money went to other debts.

My goal is to have my mortgage payed of in 5 years, 7 years after I bought it. Do I sacrafice, sure... I don't have a 56inch wide screen TV, or a Lexus. I could if I wanted, but I want to be debt free and have money in the bank (and gold in the matress :).

Americans say they have no 'time' yet they seems to find time to watch dozens of hours of TV a week. We say we have no money yet people spend $5-10 per day eating lunch out.

'Nuff said.

BOb