How are you coping with the recession?

1. 60

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   Have you had to make adjustments - share your money saving advice.

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Betty Reidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Unfortunately, I ended up spending more money.  The recession seemed to correspond with an increase in crime in my neighborhood, so I moved to a safer, but more expensive neighborhood.  I was planning to get a second job to cover the increased expenses, but that hasn't gone so well.

      replyreport
   2. 61

      Moon Goddess1854posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I've become sharper on bargain and learned to appreciate my mother's skills in hunting for bargains. I'm not ashamed to say that I actually patronize goodwill stores and thrift shops.
      
      

      replyreport
   3. 0

      Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Ive always been poor, its all the same to me
      I drive less

      replyreport
   4. 67

      Cathi Suttonposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I am planting a HUGE garden to feed the fam, and to also sell veggies at the local farmers market.  Because everyone needs good, healthy, nourshing food.  Even in times of enconomic hardships.

      replyreport
2. 60

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   Betty Reid - I hear your pain - many here in Ireland have suffered similar and indeed worse pain - repossessions are taking place every day - today the Irish Times reports that in our small country there are 345,000 home lying empty - the most important thing to do is realise that you are in difficulty - talk with your banker or financier - make adjustments - the banks and lending houses gain nothing from repossession so believe it or not they want you to keep your house - talk to them and try and work out a new plan that helps in your new circumsatnces - please God - all works out for you

   replyreport
   1. 60

      Betty Reidposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the advice.  Not much to do except keep trying.  I guess I'm lucky I rent, so maybe I can find a better balance between safety and savings when my lease ends in July.

      replyreport
3. 67

   AnythingArtzyposted 14 years ago

   Gee Irish Ive always been in a recession lol  so I've learned to cut corners and improvise. I guess the best advice to anybody would be to really take a look at what you can live without.
   theres no shame in gettin rid of a new car and downsizing to a used one for less or no payments, cancelling those subscriptions and go to the library where most give magazines away for free. Cancel the cable or satelite for a while and spend more time with the family doin other things that cast very little or no money. Limit the kids temporarily to one after school activity to save gas and money ont fees etc. Gettin out from under payments of any kind will make it much more stress free than trying to keep up when the money has decreased. go with the flow and remember sometimes change can be very good.

   replyreport
4. 60

   Alotaposted 14 years ago

   In the evenings I work as an escort to make extra money - there is no sex involved - just escorting older men to benifit gigs and things, its fun.

   replyreport
   1. 68

      waynetposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      That's great, but what if you run out of petrol...er..being an escort?

      replyreport
5. 60

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   I never thought about working as an escort to make extra money - I wonder would I make much

   replyreport
6. 60

   theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

   waynet - I like that and Escort - great fuel consumption

   replyreport
7. 70

   Paradise7posted 14 years ago

   I'm self-employed now, due to the recession.  I'm a lot happier, working from home.  I found a niche of sorts and it seems to suit me.
   
   The only thing that really scares me a little bit is that I have no medical insurance, and my savings are nothing great.  I struggled for many years.

   replyreport
8. 68

   Tenerife Islanderposted 14 years ago

   Badly because I have lost my sources of income and am having to find new ones which is why I am working on putting up new hubs.

   replyreport
9. 70

   Paradise7posted 14 years ago

   I really do save money on things like dry-cleaning, paying for parking, things like that...It's the little expenses that are continuous that nickel and dime us to death.
   
   I don't buy lunch anymore.  I don't bring cakes and cards and gifts to office parties.  My Christmas list is significantly shorter...
   
   I DO miss the people, but it's funny...people are expensive, really.

   replyreport
10. 60

    theirishobserver.posted 14 years ago

    justine76 - if it is poor materially you are - you certainly are not poor in personality and good writing

    replyreport
    1. 0

       Justine76posted 14 years agoin reply to this

       Oh thanks! I am not conerned in the least with material things, so I guess I shouldn't say poor, but...I am not wealthy? maybe?

       replyreport
11. 61

    charanjeet kaurposted 14 years ago

    The job market here was really affected, but we always are on the saving mode recession or no recession. Everyone in my family believes that "Money saved is money earned"; as a family we strike a perfect balance. It works fine for us as there are many dreams that need to be fulfilled prior to we start wasting money.
    
    Things always improve trust me Every cloud has a silver living. When the dream fulfills it will be surely be worth something.

    replyreport
12. 65

    TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years ago

    LMAO...I'm so poor the recession hasn't changed a thing!

    replyreport
13. 59

    kephriraposted 14 years ago

    I think the £ taking a nosedive saved me from too much suffering from the recession. A lot of the money I make online is in $, like my amazon earnings from HP, and its now $1.50 to a £ instead of $2 like it was before the recession, so my amazon sales and other stuff are all worth more then they used to be.

    replyreport
14. 0

    StormRyderposted 14 years ago

    I almost hate to say I am doing very,very well. The past 18-20 months I have received huge pay increases and the cost of living here is still pretty good. I consider myself really lucky!

    replyreport
    1. 65

       TheGlassSpiderposted 14 years agoin reply to this

       I’m glad somebody’s doing well. For all my joking about it, I haven’t missed being able to pay a bill or put food on the table…and I recently had to replace my roof and was able to do it. So, I don’t have money for any “extra” fun stuff…but in all reality I am doing much better than many other people out there, and I probably shouldn’t joke about it. I’m grateful to be surviving as well as I am.

       replyreport
15. 71

    Cagsilposted 14 years ago

    I'm coping. That's about it.

    replyreport
16. 63

    RKHenryposted 14 years ago

    Smokin' crack, and hustling women.

    replyreport
17. 69

    thisisoliposted 14 years ago

    The recession hit me hard, while the pound became weaker against the dollar, which helped, I have seen profits fall in a variety of ways, including my average earnings per click in Adsense, sales on my sites, and people willing to pay what I charge for writing/seo services.
    
    Needless to say I will be happy when things pick up again in a few years time!

    replyreport
18. 0

    Lecieposted 14 years ago

    the recession has been very hard on me. i already was barely getting through before the recession. now i'm stuck eating unhealthy foods like ramen noodles and cheap store brand bagels. i've put on alot of weight because of these unhealthy foods. i miss being able to afford apples, carrots, peaches and broccoli. i could go on forever with that list of food but it's making me miss them more.

    replyreport
19. 82

    Rafiniposted 14 years ago

    The recession caused me to fear losing my job and eventually I did, although it was not due to the recession. 
    
    Even though I don't have an income right now (still fighting for unemployment!) I am surviving almost as well as before thanks to significant life changes.  I now own my home (a mobile home) and pay less in lot rent than the cheapest apartment in town.  One of my son's has a part-time job (which he spends all of it LOL) and an insurance settlement in the bank (which I had to borrow some of to replace my transmission & brakes) and my other son receives a social security check every month (which covers the lot rent) from his now disabled father.  I get food stamps & medical assistance but can't get a monthly check due to the large amount of money my one son has in the bank.
    
    We have made some changes, but haven't had to make too many.  Changes such as: doing all my grocery shopping at the cash & carry store, doing all errands at the same time rather than not planning, making homemade pizza rather than ordering, not going out to eat.  It makes a difference! 

    replyreport