Recipient: Linda Sylvester Occupation: Administrative Assistant to President and CEO, Golden Apple Foundation for Excellence in Teaching Responded On: March 10, 2005 Bill Received At: Cafe Baci 20 North Michigan Avenue Chicago Originally Dropped At: Istanbul Market 2324 South Elmhurst Road Mount Prospect, Illinois On: January 23, 2005

 

Linda Sylvester's Comments

Does your generation view money differently than your parents' generation? If so, how?
Yes. My generation is more into investing. As to my mom’s generation, I don’t think they thought about investing. They thought about saving, but not investing.

In the United States, if people start out in a very low-paying job, can they still become quite wealthy if they work hard enough?
I’d have to say yes, they can become wealthy and in more ways than just finance. Knowledge. Self-value. Money is okay because it feeds us and it clothes us. But money can’t buy happiness, money can’t buy love.

In your household, how do you economize?
Primarily, looking for sales. Look for the value, but also look for the sales. Not having to pay full value of an item and can always wait for it. Never need it, like right now. If it’s too much, wait for it. Otherwise, I don’t need it.

What will you splurge on once in a while, as a treat?
Buy myself some nice shoes. That’s what I’ll splurge on. Got to keep the feet happy.

What is the worst thing you've ever had to do in your life to obtain money?
I would say having to apply for public assistance many years ago. It’s a humiliating experience. Because they tend to put you in a position where they’re doing you a favor. And that’s not the case. People need help. People ask for help, but to be put in a position where you are less than human, that was the worst. It was many years ago, but it was the worst.

Can you describe the sort of treatment that one encounters in that situation?
The type of treatment, number one, is the fact that they give everyone who’s coming in the same appointment time. For example, everybody has an 8:00 or 8:30 am appointment. Then you’re not seen until 11:30 am, pretty close to lunch time. 12:00 is when they’re all going to go to lunch. So you’re sitting, and you’re waiting, and you’re waiting, and you're waiting only to be spoken to for about maybe ten or fifteen minutes and then they go to lunch so you have to wait until they come back from lunch. Now it has changed some, I hope.

I also experienced it when I was out of work, having to apply for unemployment. Pretty much the same scenario. It’s unbelievable how someone on the other side of the line treats one who is in need of assistance.

If you had extra money, what's the most rewarding use you would make of it?
If I were to have that extra money I would make sure that every bill that I own, is paid. Every bill. As far as utilities, that’s a monthly thing. So you’re never ahead with utilities. Because you have that kind of money you can always make sure they’re paid, on time. But creditors, anything of that nature, I would make sure everyone is paid. There are no loose ends. So that I wouldn’t owe anyone, anything.