We must all live within our means

Thank you Connie Pohlman of Deer Park for saying exactly what I had been thinking regarding the "Poverty in the Suburbs" story.

I too am trying to muster my sympathy for Trayce Davis, the high school dropout who moved to the suburbs to "get some help." Huh?? What sort of "help" did she expect? To quote Ms. Pohlman, "God helps those who help themselves."

My husband and I both have a college degree, marketable skills, and solid work experience, yet just like Ms. Davis we have to live within our means and truthfully, sometimes that hurts.

In today's unstable economy, Davis should feel fortunate to land a part-time job at minimum wage, given her lack of a high school diploma. I commend her live-in boyfriend for seeking employment using their home computer, yet given their income, maybe using the local library's computer network would be more economically sensible.

Ms. Davis agonizes over having to make a choice between which bill to pay --electric or cable. Cable service may seem like a necessity, but it's not, especially when money is tight. Davis states that she pays about $750 a month for rent and points out that "nothing is included." That's fairly typical in the private sector rental market, Ms. Davis.

Davis needs to understand that all of us must live with the consequences of our actions and decisions, whether that be dropping out of high school or allocation of our income. I have done without and I have faced limited opportunities, so I am not totally void of sympathy. I can't help but think, however, that Davis has in some way contributed to her difficulties through her own attitudes and actions.

Valerie Goranson Libertyville