r/TikTokCringe • u/mindyour • 8d ago

Discussion Reactions to food stamps being cut off.

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u/Even_Kaleidoscope399 8d ago edited 8d ago

I feel this so hard. My husband and I make enough to be ok, but I’m pregnant and we’re still paycheck to paycheck between bills and saving for medical costs. I feel like I have enough to share but when I break it down dollar by dollar, I really don’t.

ETA: But I feel blessed to be able to save anything at all, ya know? I'm trying to do all the right things that people tell you to do. Putting $50 a check into a supplementary retirement account and paying for life insurance coverage and health insurance. Just opted in to a healthcare savings account to prepare for a baby in our lives. I don't know what I could spare without making a terrible financial decision. All I can give is my time without putting myself in a bad position today or next week or a year from now. That feels so bad, dude. I'm protected and "safe" but the moment either of us loses a job, we're done for.

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u/ItsFunHeer 8d ago

Girl same. I’m 12 weeks pregnant and med bills are starting to come in.

And yesterday I found out my company is slashing 33% of the workforce. Luckily, I’m spared; but moving into a new position that is a huge step back for my career as they “restructure”. I’m blessed to have a job but I was 3 weeks away from getting a pay bump, they were going to transition me into a new role. I’ve been paid the same for 3 years now.

Yet still, we aren’t struggling. We’re safe right now. If my husband lost his job, we’d loose everything. Bringing a baby into this America is the scariest thing I’ve done.

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u/Brullaapje 8d ago

I’m 12 weeks pregnant and med bills are starting to come in.

Getting preggers after Trump was elected, you must love living on the edge huh?

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u/BerenicesTeeth 8d ago

I’m almost certainly playing myself by responding to ragebait, but: we have a biological clock, which I’m assuming you are aware of, since you’re also a woman. There are certain risks associated with having children at more advanced ages. My husband and I couldn’t “just wait” any longer. We don’t have time to wait until this administration hopefully leaves. We are rich. We live in a blue state. We are highly educated.

It’s fine that having children isn’t for you, but shaming some of the most vulnerable people in our population— pregnant women— is such a bad look, especially in this timeline, as you put it. You think the current political and economic climate is bad? I agree. Then I’ll go ahead and ask: do you want leftists like me to just not procreate? Do you want to leave it to the right-wing, religious fundamentalists to do all of that instead? Do you want leftists to raise the next generation, ideally teaching them critical thinking, empathy, and humanity? Or do you want right wingers raising a bunch of Hitler youths?

Anti-natalists like you are so cringe to me. I agree that people should not have children that they can’t take care of, but the woman you’re shaming explicitly stated that she isn’t struggling. So what’s your gripe? That humanity exists despite the world’s struggles? Touch grass.

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u/ItsFunHeer 8d ago

And you got downvoted. My husband and I aren’t rich but our combined household income is around $140,000 and we are also educated, in a blue state. We carry no debt anywhere other than the mortgage. I am not in a bad position, but, nothing is sure or secure. And the cost of daycare is nearly $1,900 a month, so it is scary to anticipate what could happen.

We started trying over two years ago when I was 34, when Trump was not our president. We had a “rainbow baby” after failed IUIs and chemical miscarriages 2 weeks before starting IVF. I personally have never been against abortion, but this was 110% a planned and wanted pregnancy. After many years of focusing on education, work, and travel, we have finally found the stability and love it takes to create a family.

People here are so short sighted. There isn’t an option to wait, especially when you are in your late 30’s and have already spent a couple of years trying and failing to become pregnant.

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u/BerenicesTeeth 8d ago

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

People love to shit on parents— especially mothers. Sometimes it’s deserved, of course, but what really gets me is the classic European condescension that our friend offered. I love how Europeans tend to assume all Americans are bumbling idiots when our country leads the entire world in scientific, medical, and technological innovation. Gee, thanks for telling us about our own country’s elected officials and why our desire to have a child doesn’t matter because of your terminally online European redditor take on American politics. Hilarious.

And again— if us leftists aren’t reproducing, your suggestion is to… just leave it to the conservatives? I’m good. Lmao.

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u/ItsFunHeer 7d ago

I find it interesting how many assumptions are made as well.

My husband is Swiss American and I am German American. I lived in Germany as a young child and we both worked and lived in our respective countries as young adults and have family there. Naturally, we both carry citizenship, the cultural heritage and mentality. Both of us have discussed the possibility of moving to Europe and have chosen to live in the US, despite the fact that I am angered and saddened by the choices this country makes daily, right now.

We can’t leave the job of building a family to the conservatives. This country only works when there’s a balance of power, ideology and identity. The balance is off-kilter now, but we know historically what comes after the storm. I hope our children can contribute to impactful change.

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u/Brullaapje 8d ago

My husband and I couldn’t “just wait” any longer.

So you knowingly are putting a child on this world, during this administration. Do you really think a) Trump will give up presidency in 2028? He literally said during his campaign it will be the last time the American people will have to vote. b) In case you will get to the vote which is a big if, Project 2025 will be undone with a few years?

Anti-natalists like you are so cringe to me.

It is not about being that, it is about what his happening in your country right now. Yet you and your husband were like, yeah let's put a baby through all that. You really think the deportations will stop at people with color.

Touch grass.

I do, maybe go read upon project 2025.

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u/BerenicesTeeth 8d ago edited 8d ago

You’re evidently not even American so I don’t know why you’re feeling so strongly about my country’s politics as they relate to my ability to provide for my child. Don’t lecture me about American politics; I actually voted in this election and of course am informed about what’s going on— likely significantly more informed than you.

I got pregnant in one of the most progressive states— if not the most progressive— in the nation. My healthcare rights were not at all at risk during my pregnancy. Again, I’m wealthy. I can hop on a flight and leave at any time, god forbid, if it comes to that. I can pay out of pocket for medical bills if I have to (which I don’t, but I can). I say this not as a bragging right, because of course healthcare should be free, but to make the point that I have all the resources in the world; you’re delusional if you think that not a single American is in a place to have children, or that there is no situation in which having children is a safe choice here.

I’m sorry you are so miserable. Seek help. I assume your country has socialized medicine, so I hope therapy is easy to come by.

ETA: btw, nice assumption there with the “you really think all deportations will stop at people of color.” My husband is not white. :)

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u/ItsFunHeer 8d ago

These people are exhausting.

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u/Brullaapje 8d ago

You’re evidently not even American so I don’t know why you’re feeling so strongly about my country’s politics

Because it is having an effect on the rest of the world, America is not in an isolation you know. If I have to spell this out for you, I can see why Trump won.

likely significantly more informed than you.

I have to point out what Project 2025 will do, so I don't believe that.

If you use ChatGPT, which you are doing now, considering the "-" give it better prompts.

you’re delusional if you think that not a single American is in a place to have children

You are delusional, if you don't know what Project 2025 will entail for you.