Who else stays up worrying about the economy?

[magic mouse]

First, I know I am lucky that me and my husband have jobs still............ Just got a letter from my employer that basically says you are lucky you still have your jobs: don't expect raises, bonuses, and they took some of our paid holiday away! ALSO more changes may come later.....................What? They keep adding more work and expecting more hours! Not sleeping much at night now because I worry! Thank goodness I have the DIS to escape too! I wonder how many of you are worrying too?

 

[yoopermom]

This is my last week of work before my layoff starts. DH just barely survived a huge cut at his factory job, but they will still have rolling plant closures. So,yes, I worry. But I try to focus on the positives, what we do have (each other, our house, our health) and what we don't have (huge debt, health issues). It's tough somedays, though! Hugs to you and yours
Terri

 

[magic mouse]

Same to your family That is great advice to focus on the positve! We still have jobs, a home, health, and really no debt.

 

[happygirl]

Hugs and prayers to all going through layoffs or trying to find a job.

 

[kelleigh1]

I think my jobs are relatively secure. Thankfully, I have these 2 jobs, since hubby was laid off on 12/31. He has been temping and collecting unemployment, so at the moment, we're surviving. And I'm able to save at least part of my 2nd paycheck for our rainy day fund.

It's a very scary time, but I try not to think about the "what if". I'm already stressted enough working the 2 jobs and not getting to see him while trying to maintain the house and remembering to pay the bills on time, so I can't get myself all worked up over what might happen. I have to live in the now.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Some days its good and some days its bad. We are no where near out of the woods yet. We may lose our home and finding a job is quite difficult. I got laid off in November 2008.

I know you may really dislike your job right now, but I would give anything to have a job. I wish you and your family the best and know that you are not alone and not the only one not sleeping at night.

 

[ragdoll]

OP, I sure can relate! When I do fall asleep I feel like I am waking up to a real life nightmare when I wake up. I absolutely cannot believe what is happening to our country! I am especially scared for my adult children and my grandchildren. Their future looks bleak.

 

[Colleen27]

Oh yeah, I'm there. About half our good/repeat customers work for one of the Big 3 or their suppliers. I don't know if we'll have a business left when this is all over, between the crappy housing market making people reluctant to make home improvements and so many people in our area losing their jobs or living in fear of losing them.

I'm grateful DH has a skill that can't be outsourced, but I'm fearful that as this all shakes out, there won't be enough homeowners left to support our business. On our block alone, we have 3 houses still occupied and 4 empty in various stages of the foreclosure process.

I'm terrified that the safe, small town we moved to because it was a good place for kids is going to turn into a slum as these houses sit empty or are bought at rock-bottom prices by absentee landlords.

I know I should be more optimistic. We're in a relatively secure position, in that we don't have a mortgage on our home so foreclosure isn't a worry. I'm branching out into doing some things for extra cash that had previously been hobbies (you wouldn't believe the interest in learning to grow produce right now!), and if I can detach from my fear, I know we'll come out okay. But it is still so scary to see what is happening around me, and it is the source of no small amount of anxiety.

 

[cteddiesgirl]

I worry too.

I'll be out of work probably by the end of next week and who knows when I'll have more.

My dad is now only working when work is available. There wasn't any yesterday, but just a small job today.

So neither of us knows what's going to happen. Luckily he's drawing on his SS so he'll have something coming in. But it's really not enough.

 

[luvmy3jewels]

You can add me to the stressed list! I've been worried for several months now about my job and my dh's job. I thought we were both in careers that were stable and never imagined that either of our employers would resort to lay offs. Right now (if I'm lucky) I'm looking at a 4.5% pay cut for next year. I'm just thankful my name isn't on the list to be let go (for now). My dh works for the state and we are waiting for the budget to be completed. He could very easily be laid off if the cuts go deep enough.

The thought that is most stressful to me is if dh (or I) am laid off, how are we going to find another job in this current climate? I doubt we could sell our house if we needed to move to find a job somewhere else. It's a catch-22 scenerio for us.

I have a disaster plan for our budget ready, and I've been trying to sock as much money as possible away in savings, but the reality is if we both end up laid off we will probably lose our house and our credit will be destroyed. I think we can make things work if one of us loses our job, but it won't be easy. I probably won't sleep well until the economy picks up significantly. Hopefully we are beginning to see the turn around!

 

[Buckalew11]

I'm really trying not to worry. I am a good worrier so it is hard not to do what I am so good at.

DH's job was going to be cut in Sept. He decided to find something now instead of when they get rid of 40 FF and 40 people are looking for the same jobs. He's found a job that is about 2/3 of his other salary and we're deep into building a house. Ugh.

He's also getting his nursing degree so when he is done with that things may look up. I'm thinking of getting some type of job to supplement because I do not want to add more clients or more hours to my regular job. I've been at it for 26 years and am ready to slow done (physically) not speed up! I'm really ready for retirement and the Keys.

So, yeah, I'm trying hard to keep the worry under control and watch every penny. Lucky for us we never did spend what he made so that is helpful in times like these.

 

[C.Ann]

Rather than worrying (which I had down to a science in the past - LOL), it's better to do something constructive with your energy.. Do whatever you can to prepare for the possibilities ahead and then set the crystal ball aside..

Worrying won't change anything - preparing (the best you can) will..

Hope all works out well for you and your family - as well as others who have posted here who feel the same..

 

[Stitchfans]

I try real hard not to. I feel bad DH is the only one working right now.

 

[PatsMom]

I don't stay awake worrying about the economy. I am so fortunate that I am still working and DH is retired so his social security and pension are reliable income streams. Neither *****on is from a company in financial trouble and they are well below the PBGC limits of coverage anyhow. But my income is certainly down this year since a good portion of it is tied to the stock market. We're funding my 401(k) but a a lower limit than we'd like. And we will not be able to help DD with college quite as much as we had planned. I just don't feel good about spending down our cash savings on college tuition right now just in case my job does evaporate like so many others in the financial world have.

To everyone already out of work - best of luck to you. I hope things get better for you soon!

 

[NY Disney fan]

At my place of employment they got rid of napkins, soap and paper towels in the pantry. At first I complained and then thought, "Oh yeah, I still have a job!".

 

[disykat]

No. I feel so sad for the people who do though. I'm not sure if I'll have my part time job next year, but we'll live without it. Never say never, but DH's job is pretty secure.

Around here, most of the people I know are affected by things like designated "furlow days," no COL living raises, losing new and/or part time employees, and those kinds of cuts. We're starting to see layoffs, but nothing like you might see in the "Rust belt."

Living in Washington state, I remember the "last person to leave Seattle please turn off the lights" days - so, for our area, this doesn't seem bad comparatively.

I do have some angst over my retirement and college investments though!

 

[yoopermom]

One thing I'm really working on is seeing how my time on unemployment can be constructive, even if I'm not employed. As someone said, I can garden, and many people are crazy for those skills and the produce; I can sew, and the local seamstress has more work than she can handle and may outsource the simpler things to me; I can clean/organize with the best of them, and the people who are still working may appreciate help in that area, etc, etc. After my last go-around with the insurance company, DH said I should go into advocating for others with similar paperwork nightmares.

So think what your skills set is "outside of the box", and you might be surprised. I'm so grateful for these basic skills that my parents/grandparents taught me (even though I whined at the time!).

Terri

 

[sbell111]

We are expecting a baby, so I wasn't very happy when I opened the local paper last week to learn that state government (my employer) was going to go through another round of job cuts. It shouldn't directly affect me, but who knows.

This is on top of not getting a raise for the last two years. (This year's raise already being reported to be zero percent and next year's isn't looking good.) Also, it seems like each year we pay more and more for insurance.

I can't say that I have stayed up worring about the economy, but I definitely have spent some serious time stressing over our finances.