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-   -   Vivir al día (https://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=12047)

Vivir al día


ROBINDESBOIS November 26, 2011 06:13 PM

Vivir al día
 
How do we say this expression in English?
It means that people like spending all the money they earn, not saving anything.

AngelicaDeAlquezar November 26, 2011 06:16 PM

In Mexico it means that one earns so little money that one cannot actually save anything for the future. :)

Glen November 26, 2011 06:21 PM

To live "from day to day" is what I have heard

ROBINDESBOIS November 26, 2011 06:29 PM

what about live from paycheck to paycheck

Glen November 26, 2011 06:36 PM

Sure, that works, but only if one has a paying job - which is sadly not the case these days for many people. Another option could be "to live from hand to mouth" since that implies having only enough for the moment.

Perikles November 27, 2011 03:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen (Post 118978)
. Another option could be "to live from hand to mouth" since that implies having only enough for the moment.

Yes, that's the expression given by my dictionary, and widely used at least in the UK.

Awaken November 28, 2011 09:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS (Post 118977)
what about live from paycheck to paycheck

This is the most common phrase. Even though not everyone gets a paycheck, it still is the most common way in the US to express the idea that they spend everything they make.

You could say "living day to day" as well. This is even more severe. It is really a hierarchy.

Living month to month.
Living paycheck to paycheck.
Living day to day.

pjt33 November 28, 2011 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awaken (Post 119018)
You could say "living day to day" as well. This is even more severe. It is really a hierarchy.

I think "living day to day" risks being understood as fighting severe depression or drug withdrawal.

Rusty November 28, 2011 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS (Post 118973)
How do we say this expression in English?
It means that people like spending all the money they earn, not saving anything.

The definition here isn't the same as the meaning of the Spanish saying.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen (Post 118978)
Sure, that works, but only if one has a paying job - which is sadly not the case these days for many people. Another option could be "to live from hand to mouth" since that implies having only enough for the moment.

I agree that this is a good equivalent of the saying.

Don José November 28, 2011 01:55 PM

Quote:

It means that people like spending all the money they earn, not saving anything.
Quote:

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar (Post 118975)
In Mexico it means that one earns so little money that one cannot actually save anything for the future. :)

I think both meanings are used in Spain.

Rusty November 28, 2011 02:22 PM

If both meanings are used in Spain, then two different English equivalents are needed.

For the first meaning, written by the OP, we have:
live for today - live in the present
live for the moment - live in the moment - live in the now
live like there's no tomorrow - live today as if it were your last

For the second meaning, all the comments already given suffice.

Awaken November 29, 2011 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjt33 (Post 119025)
I think "living day to day" risks being understood as fighting severe depression or drug withdrawal.

That's true. It isn't as clear as paycheck to paycheck, since day to day could be in regards to many other things such as an illness or depression as you mentioned.


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