Economy Question

[RNmomnFL]

The past two years have been difficult for us. Lots of living paycheck to paycheck which hasn't been comfortable. DH was laid off from his employer just before Christmas in '07 (warehouse manager for large plumbing/sewer supplier at that time) and I had to change to a full-time RN position with benefits until he was re-employed five months later. Now I work two jobs & he has a long commute to his employer. We are recovering but there still seems to be no extra money. It doesn't help that we bought a new place in 2006 which increased our mortgage by three times what it was previously. But we needed to move to a bigger home due to all the kids we have & unfortunately bought in when the market was a seller's. So we're recovering slowly. But with no savings to speak of, some credit card debt & a not-cheap mortgage we've got a way to go. My biggest concern is that my oldest graduates from college this summer & I don't think he'll be able to get a job. Oh why couldn't I convince him to study for an occupation?

 

[sandycheat]

My dh is an engineer and the company is doing ok...please keep wiping (His company makes Toliet paper). I owned my own bakery but closed it at Christmas because buisness was horrible -we live where the poverty levels were high before the recession..now its just not pretty. Weird because our town has a new post office, library, and police station/courthouse.. But the lines at the soup kitchen are astronomical and FISH reguarly runs out of food.

I'm now working part time. I have plans to go to seminary in the fall but only if I can squirrel enough money away... I figure God asked me to go so..he'll provide

 

[LONE-STAR]

My dh is an engineer and the company is doing ok...please keep wiping (His company makes Toliet paper). provide

If he makes Charmin tell him Thank you. That thick stuff clogs up more sewer lines in old houses.

 

[Tigger0624]

It's been a rollercoaster for us the past year... We initialted the moved from NJ to FL because DH was offered a higher position with the company, better salary, better benefits the whoe package- just had to move to Jacksonville. So within the snap of a month, we found a house, packed up our lived in NJ (only place either of us had ever lived) and headed south with our boys.

I had gotten a full time office job with a roofing company, we had a beautiful house in a great subdivision and started a small bakery business out of the house mostly for friends and family... then we found out that DH's transfer was being delayed indefinitly- while I am already settled in the new house 1000 miles away with the kids.

For 2 months, he commuted between NJ and FL so he could still spend some time with the kids. I would pick the boys up from school on a Friday afternoon, drive the 15 hours up to NJ with the dog- pick Matt up from work and drive the 15 hours stright back- getting home Sunday Afternoon. The he would fly back to NJ every Wed morning on the first flight out and go straight to work for the rest of the week...

That all changed one weekend he was visiting- I was in a accident where I injured my back severly and lost all feeling/use of my legs. So he had to take emergency family leave... i lost my job at the roofing company and the bills just kept piling up....

Very long story short- we managed to get through, moved into a smaller house where we are pulling strings to live on just his income for right now until I either get the surgery on my back or get the disability approved...

We try to keep things down to necessity and not so much niceity- but come tax return time- that goes out the door

Luckily his company seems very stable- they are even hiring... he didnt get as much of a yearly raise or bonus as we would have hoped, but its much better than not getting anything at all...

Sorry for the novel... I tend to ramble...

 

[Tiggntaz]

It's been a rollercoaster for us the past year... We initialted the moved from NJ to FL because DH was offered a higher position with the company, better salary, better benefits the whoe package- just had to move to Jacksonville. So within the snap of a month, we found a house, packed up our lived in NJ (only place either of us had ever lived) and headed south with our boys.

I had gotten a full time office job with a roofing company, we had a beautiful house in a great subdivision and started a small bakery business out of the house mostly for friends and family... then we found out that DH's transfer was being delayed indefinitly- while I am already settled in the new house 1000 miles away with the kids.

For 2 months, he commuted between NJ and FL so he could still spend some time with the kids. I would pick the boys up from school on a Friday afternoon, drive the 15 hours up to NJ with the dog- pick Matt up from work and drive the 15 hours stright back- getting home Sunday Afternoon. The he would fly back to NJ every Wed morning on the first flight out and go straight to work for the rest of the week...

That all changed one weekend he was visiting- I was in a accident where I injured my back severly and lost all feeling/use of my legs. So he had to take emergency family leave... i lost my job at the roofing company and the bills just kept piling up....

Very long story short- we managed to get through, moved into a smaller house where we are pulling strings to live on just his income for right now until I either get the surgery on my back or get the disability approved...

We try to keep things down to necessity and not so much niceity- but come tax return time- that goes out the door

Luckily his company seems very stable- they are even hiring... he didnt get as much of a yearly raise or bonus as we would have hoped, but its much better than not getting anything at all...

Sorry for the novel... I tend to ramble...

143 Tiggy

 

[Minnie&Mickey]

Business is good for me. I work in a liquor store. When the economy is good people drink to celebrate. When the economy stinks people drink away their sorrows. So no matter what we stay busy.

My husband and I own a liquor store and the economy has effected us a little differently. While people do tend to drink their sorrows away, if they don't have the money, they do one of three things around here...

1. either they buy the same liquor that they loved before, but in a smaller bottle,
2. they buy a cheaper brand of liquor
3. they just shove the bottle down their pants or shove it in their purse, and try to steal it.

We had to hire extra help just to watch the floor for theft. It is amazing (and a little scary) how many people my husband catches stealing every week. To make matters worse, the liquor store that is closest to us was robbed back in January, so they are closing early every night. This has brought us a lot more customers, but it makes me more fearful of getting robbed.

I work for the school system, so my job is fairly secure right now, but there has been discussion of furloughs. My youngest daughter only has one more year of college, and works as a nanny when she gets out of her classes, so she has been lucky. My oldest daughter is married and works in the medical field and although there have been some cutbacks at the hospital she works at, she has been fine.

It's kind of scary and makes me very hesitant to make any major purchases, but my husband says we are still going to go through with purchasing an RV.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

My dh is an engineer and the company is doing ok...please keep wiping (His company makes Toliet paper). )

Way cool ! Now THATS what I call job security !

 

[DaveInTN]

Even though the broader economy entered recession later, the commercial credit markets seized up in early August 2007. I work for a commercial lender, and it was as if a switch was flipped that day. For five years we were going full speed, doing real estate and asset based deals as quickly as we could. Then one day we couldn't do anything. It literally stopped overnight. A year and a half later we are beginning to move again, but it's been a bit frightening. We've downsized and lost some good people, but since my focus is on loans to healthcare providers (mostly hospitals and nursing homes), I've survived so far. Unfortunately a large portion of my compensation during the "good" years was in stock, and our stock price has literally dropped 97% since 2007! But I consider myself young at 41, and we just needed to get used to the new reality that those "paper profits" are gone.

I must have faith that God has brought us all into this for a reason. My wife and I have talked a lot about what's truly important. As we have lived in fear that my job would disappear, we've remained focused on each other, our kids and our families. As long as we have those, and can remain healthy, they can take everything else. If I do lose my job, we might lose the house, and need to sell the cars and (gulp!) even the RV....but nothing that's truly important can be taken due to lack of money. I pray everyday that those things are protected, not the material items that we can someday replace.

 

[ram101]

I guess I am lucky... Business is up for me and the others at work. I have a pretty secure job and since my seniority is pretty high it would take a lot to get me out!! DW is pretty secure in the dental field as well. DD21 graduates with a 4yr degree (in 3yrs) and has already been excepted to her masters program (wants to be a shrink) so none of the kids or close family are hurting. My father did loose a big chunk of CHANGE in the stock market but not big enough to hurt him (woulda killed me). Our neighbor drives truck and was laid off several months ago when the gas rates killed his business. His wife is a nurse so she is not loosing out much!

 

[PolynesianPixie]

My dh is an engineer and the company is doing ok...please keep wiping (His company makes Toliet paper). I owned my own bakery but closed it at Christmas because buisness was horrible -we live where the poverty levels were high before the recession..now its just not pretty. Weird because our town has a new post office, library, and police station/courthouse.. But the lines at the soup kitchen are astronomical and FISH reguarly runs out of food.

I'm now working part time. I have plans to go to seminary in the fall but only if I can squirrel enough money away... I figure God asked me to go so..he'll provide

If he makes Charmin tell him Thank you. That thick stuff clogs up more sewer lines in old houses.

Way to work together!

 

[LarryJ]

I'm obviously in the minority here, being retired, home paid for since I retired almost 20yrs. ago, no debts and all our "nest egg" is in credit union federally insured CDs except for a couple of thousand $ in some utility stocks. Medical costs a total of $460/year for the two of us and my military retirement pay is good and in fact when the economy tanks I get higher pay raises each year with this past Jan being the highest COLA since 1990.

Since 1970 we have always kept the credit card debit low and only financed the home and cars and didn't have to take out any loans for the son's college costs most of which was paid for by scholarships. Since 1990 we have paid cash for everything except the wife's car which was a business deduction when she was working.

I feel for those still working and trying to make ends meet in these troubling times which I fear we haven't seen the worst yet.

Larry

 

[RNmomnFL]

I must have faith that God has brought us all into this for a reason. My wife and I have talked a lot about what's truly important. As we have lived in fear that my job would disappear, we've remained focused on each other, our kids and our families. As long as we have those, and can remain healthy, they can take everything else. If I do lose my job, we might lose the house, and need to sell the cars and (gulp!) even the RV....but nothing that's truly important can be taken due to lack of money. I pray everyday that those things are protected, not the material items that we can someday replace.

ITA! It's hard not to be concerned (read depressed) over the terrible economic news that is a daily occurance, but if my family is together & well, than that's really the only important thing.
Take tonight, hubby came home totally exhausted from a long day & was rather irate as his truck is acting up again (more $$) and he has that daily commute to look forward to tomorrow, the silver lining...the repair shop was open 'til 8, we were able to drop off his vehicle & with no school for the kids & somehow no work for me (what are the odds?) he can drive my suburban tomorrow. I kept saying "let it go". We struggle to stay positive.

 

[keylime359]

DH and I are lucky we are both realtors and we are busy. The difference is we have to do twice as many deals to stay the same because the homes are worth half what they were. We had retail stores on Sanibel Island as well but closed them because the tourism was too iffy. I am just so thankful we did not get caught up in the whole flipping of houses. The Ft.Myers/ Cape Coral housing market is one of the worst in Florida. I work with people everyday doing short sales and it is sad to see people forced out of their home.

 

[fldisneyfamily]

I am not a small business owner, however I work in public safety (motorcycle cop) and I can tell you it's hard for me to write as many tickets, which is good for you all!! I just don't have the heart anymore to write tickets to people just trying to make ends meet and has a car filled with kids and groceries. Don't get me wrong, I still write tickets, but now it's mostly for the very serious violations and criminal violations. We no longer get overtime and we scramble for the extra duty details, however I have my family and all is good!! Not all of us oinkers are bad, some of us have compassion.

 

[Born 2 Fish]

I am not a small business owner, however I work in public safety (motorcycle cop) and I can tell you it's hard for me to write as many tickets, which is good for you all!! I just don't have the heart anymore to write a tickets to people just trying to make ends meet and has a car filled with kids and groceries. Don't get me wrong, I still write tickets, but now it's mostly for the very serious violations and criminal violations. We no longer get overtime and we scramble for the extra duty details, however I have my family and all is good!! Not all of us oinkers are bad, some of us have compassion.

Oinkers ???? Ooohh!! I get it !

You need to be post'n on the "Win a piggy for your siggy" thread !

I'ts hard to imagine that a law enforcement would have a slow down, but thank you for your service,,,


and thanks for the light'n up on the ticket writing.

 

[Shan-man]

The one good thing that's happened for me due to this economy is Disney stock tanked a couple of weeks ago after announcing poor earnings and I bought in low. It's up about 16% already, and I'm sure further recovery is ahead. I just wish my other funds weren't in the tank so I could sell them and put more in DIS stock. It's a good time to buy... a tough time, but a mighty good time.

 

[ram101]

I am not a small business owner, however I work in public safety (motorcycle cop) and I can tell you it's hard for me to write as many tickets, which is good for you all!! I just don't have the heart anymore to write tickets to people just trying to make ends meet and has a car filled with kids and groceries. Don't get me wrong, I still write tickets, but now it's mostly for the very serious violations and criminal violations. We no longer get overtime and we scramble for the extra duty details, however I have my family and all is good!! Not all of us oinkers are bad, some of us have compassion.

Ah you motorcops are all softies!!!
Heck if I stop ya your getting one for each step I take up to your car!!
Ok so I am kidding.... I dont ride a bike but have tried to limit the amount I write and if I do... I try to go with no points violations since that kills the driver on insurance rates worse then the fine does!!

Good to see more P I Gs on here... I don't feel so alone now!

Welcome Brother in Blue

 

[des1954]

Thanks to all who serve as policemen

There's not enough money in it for what you have to do!!

A friend of ours (FHP) was killed in the line of duty in 1987 when conducting a routine traffic stop. He pulled a guy on I-75 for having a tail light out. He picked the wrong guy to pull. The guy was a drug runner, wrestled the service weapon from Jeff & shot him in the face. The guy tried to hide out in the salt marsh behind our neighborhood (Bradenton, Fl). There were cops swarming everywhere and I guarantee you this....if it weren't for the news media being there as thick as flies, the guy would have never made it out of the marsh alive. Instead, he was arrested, put on a loooong and costly trial, and is now sitting on death row in Starke making all kinds of appeals. It would have been better for Jeff's family and the good citizens of Florida if the other cops could have shot him on sight and left his body to rot in the salt marsh.

 

[4mickey2]

a little over 9 months ago the company i work for had over 800 employees. as of the beginning of february we were around 500. thinking about it, i believe it is about every month and a half something has happened (lay offs, firings, etc) since fall.

i work for a printing company and our main customers are automotive (i've probably printed a lot of your dashes, radio faceplates, & shifter appliques). we also do appliance (washer/dryer appliques) and electronics (microwave appliques, harley stickers, etc). but, the auto market is the big one for us. our hours on press a day is usually about 1700-1900 and we are down to 900 as of yesterday.

we went from running 16-20. we are sending presses to our mexico plant and our plants up here (5 total) are combining into 2 plants. thursday we ran a total of 7 presses. friday we shut all the presses down and cleaned for 8 hours on all three shifts.

we don't doubt something more will be coming. the company just can't keep going like this. unfortunately, we don't hear any more rumors because all those people have been let go.

i've been there 20 yrs and we have never been like this. we are normally working saturdays (some sundays) and used to have about 10 people on a 12 hr shift. running 24/7 wasn't uncommon for us. just in time is how we do orders and now they are getting calls from costomers stating they don't need this yet.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Here's an idea. It's only 50 degrees today in the Valley, but I got the scooter out, adjusted the brakes, put air in the tires, gassed it up, checked the lights, cleaned the windshield (and the visor on my helmet) and went out for a ride. It took about 30 seconds for that frown to turn upside down. I recommend a motorscooter for all who are depressed with the economic situation. Not only is it cheap to operate (100mpg and only 75 bucks a year for full coverage insurance), but it's a blast to ride around on. A trip to the mall in my car costs about a buck fifty. On the scooter - less than 25 cents. With the difference, you can buy a cup of coffee. So park that gas guzzler in the driveway, drop the insurance on it for the summer, get yourself a scoot and pocket the savings.