July 14, 2011

How Has The Economy Effected You?

July 14, 2011

Well, the fed`s took over and changed my bride`s job from government contractor to civil service. That resulted in a pay cut of about $5000/year. All the benefits are still pretty much the same though with just some minor tweaks. I have been using the VA`s Voc Rehab program to go to school and graduated this Spring. While my direct school stuff remained covered some of the smaller benefits went away.

Like everyone else we have been seeing our grocery bills grow. I have had to adjust the budget a few times, but nothing as bad as what is heading our way.

I did get the family bikes so we can work on cutting our fuel use over the summer.

July 14, 2011

Hmmmm.
Down to one income.
Cutting out some of the "nice-to-haves"
I got less money, yet everything is more expensive.
Grocery shopping at a bargain place and buying bare minimum meals.
Only buying fuel on paydays and then not driving as much so it stretches to the next one.
Less RV trips so the 5th wheel sits more.
Household projects are on hold.

OTOH, my wife and I have gotten closer because we are walking through this together. We`re talking more (even if it is on how we better spend what money we have) We`ve rediscovered the `cheap date` where you don`t spend a lot, but still have a great time. (Mall walking, park strolls, cooking dinner together @ home, then go somewhere, dug out some `forgotten` gift cards to restaurants or movie theaters that save us out-of-pocket money).

July 14, 2011

Lost my job,
lost my house!. Other then that, everything is just wonderful............NOT.

July 14, 2011

Much the same as SuperCrutyPS as far as spending goes. After my Dad died in `08 I took over his company and now have 2 full time jobs and another business which requires little to no effort.

Fortunately I started planning for this after the election in `04

RiverRat

July 15, 2011

we have been very lucky as the only way we have been affected is a higher cost of living.

I am one of the few "lucky" ones who is still steaming along steadily.

July 15, 2011

Lots of stress, a promotion, more travel and two pay raises. I think much of the country is doing likewise, but humans are bred to focus on the negative as a survival tactic.

After all, please remember that 91% of Americans are working. But you never hear the EMPLOYMENT rate, as bad news always leads.

July 15, 2011

Well, I`m now making 1/2 what I was in early 2008 (which wasn`t exactly F-U money). This is after I spent almost a year commuting on weekends 200 miles because we couldn`t afford to live except with relatives. I slept on my mom`s couch during the week, and for a year and a half, my family of four slept in one bedroom of a single-wide mobile home. We didn`t radically overspend during the good times, either. We lost our house (several, but that`s a much longer story), a lot of self respect, and just about everything tangible aside from our car and personal belongings.

And that 9.whatever percent unemployment figure doesn`t count people who are underemployed, making much less than they used to, or have just flat given up looking for work. Nobody I know is doing better than they were 3 years ago.

July 17, 2011

I feel for families like Phil and Mort who have lost everything and yet hold their heads up.

and get back to the grind stone trying to make a better life for them and their families

you may think you lost some self respect there Mort, Phil, but in the end I have more respect for you guys who are still going out there and making it work.

and not giving up when you as if you are down and out.

keep fighting the good fight! my prayers with with guys and gals like you who have not given up!

July 18, 2011

I have to count my blessings because I made a lot of smart choices a long, long time ago. I retired out of the military in 09 (I know, not the best time to be doing that), but I knew being involved in the industry that I was, the options were pretty open and I was open to where I would live (was looking at anywhere from Illinois west to Nevada and from the Canadian border to the top of Texas (draw a straight line across). I still ended up finding a job in Maryland (go figure). But, I am making pretty good money doing what I did in the military.

I have to admit that I have cut back on my spending some, but then, I am focused on buying a house and need to get a bunch of credit cards paid off (had way too much outstanding credit). But, I have a bigger picture in mind. It has made me hold off on getting a new vehicle (did get a car for the better mileage back in 08, so, Nukie hasn`t seen as much of the road as normal). I also haven`t been doing car mods like I was for awhile.

I am thankful I made big sacrifices earlier in life as I am very fortunate now. Nothing like spending 80 hours a week in school for 2 years straight.

Chris "Thermo" Coleman, Nukie the radiaoctive 97 Ford X, and K`Re Ann the 03 Jag X