In what ways has the failing economy impacted you personally?

well. i had my hours cut in half so i had to move departments to full time and its overnight as to where my old job was day. so my sleeping schedule and personal life have taken quite a blow.

I got laid off.

So far, so good here. But I don’t think my daughter will be able to find work after she finishes grad school this summer. I’m addressing the possibility of having to pick up her student loan payments for her.

@Kiev749 Bummer, but I’m glad you are getting your hours at least.

@aprilsimnel I hate that for you! Are you having luck finding anything else?

@AlfredaPrufrock Another girlfriend of mine had to move back in with her parents after losing her job and they are in your same situation.

I was laid off and now find myself gardening and raising chickens to supplement the food.

Half of my husband’s department have been told they will be laid off in the next 90 days. We do not know which half he is in.

@crisedwards Good thing you have those skills!

@Marina Sending happy thoughts your way.

Essie, are you making out okay?

@AlfredaPrufrock I have been lucky enough to move back in with my mom and her husband until I get back on my feet. I did lose my apartment and would’ve lost my car if my ex-husband and mom hadn’t made a couple of payments for me. I have quite a few debts to take care of, and it’s slow going right now, but I’ll get there one day :)

It’s pissed me off a great deal.

@Marina: We were in the same exact boat- my husband didn’t wait around to find out. He starts a new job at the end of this month.

I hope things turn right for you soon, essie!

@AlfredaPrufrock Thanks, I know they will. I’m eternally optimistic. And sending happy thoughts your daughter’s (and your) way as well!

Thanks for the support essieness and ubersiren. He is looking, but it’s a tough market.

Thanks for your well-wishes, @essieness! I see I may have to suck it up and look for an administrative assistant job for the time being, I guess. I don’t know. I don’t want to be a secretary again, but if that’s what’s available… As long as I realize that it’s in my power not to stay there forever, I’ll be able to live with it.

My dream is to have a production company in the UK where I’d showrun TV programs and produce my own screenplays. It’s not a long-range goal yet as I’m still nervous and unsure about how I’d make plans to start such a venture when I’m absolutely skint now.

My career outlook has decreased… but luckily its in the healthfield so its not so bad. btw I will be becoming a Respiratory Therapist.

@melonsforeal The health care industry is definitely where the money is right now. My mom is a nurse AND a physical therapist and she has to turn down work because there is so much out there!

I am having a little crisis of conscious. I had planned to retire in 2 years, but 2 great teachers in my dept have been pink slipped. I could leave this year at $400/mo less than in 2011. I would if I thought it would save one of their jobs. However a more senior teacher from another school may be qualified and get the job. I don’t necessarily want to retire now because of some things I want to wrap up, but it feels a little selfish to stay on.

Galilogirl I understand. I am on the other side I am on school board in a community I will not name. I have had to lay off a hundred or so teachers, clerks and others. It hurts a lot, especially when you know what people are facing in terms of finding other work. I wish you well, your decision is not easy.

Well, my dad was laid off which means he can’t pay as much child support, and my mom had cut backs in her disability payments and in her food stamps. Looks like it might be back to collecting cans on the side of the road again…::sigh::

There are severe budget restraints at work, so it’s impossible to buy new software licenses, and this in turn is affecting the work we produce. So my company is affected.

Myself personally, I have not been affected. My job is secure (got in right before the shit hit the fan) and my partner is at school for woodworking which will likely be a stable trade in the new economy.

My husband was laid off in October. We were then only bring in $150 every other week. It was extremely scary, and stressful. I cried a lot. He got a job within two weeks, but you know, it takes time to get paid. But, we worked through it, and made sure we always had food on the table for our son.

We’ve hunkered down, watch our spending, buy less (no new computers even though we desperately need them). We do things ourselves instead of hiring people. Things like that.

I was stuck with a crushing sub-prime loan, they adjusted us to 9.5% and for eighteen months I was going negative, barely keeping my head above water-sucking money out of my retirement account to pay for the illigitimate ABS mortgage loan. I begged, talked to lawyers everything to get them to modify and all they would say was your wife needs to make more money, or we can drop if back to 8.25 for $1500.00. Also, as inopportune as could be. living outside city limits: our water well blew, than my refrig kicks the bucket-3K.
I was relying on bonuses that never materialized and was stupid in originally thinking I would get a better loan later.
We were 60 days late, and I heard of a woman at the mortgage company that was working with people, so I asked my wife to call her office about sending doc’s, this was my third and last attempt and I was expecting to walk from the contract, or my house, with a son graduating in June- very pleasant.
Anyway, I don’t know what she said, but I sense she gave them her emotional wrath. Later she told me she never sent my docs; they recapitalized the loan, without doc’s, and brought the loan down to what it should be-Hallelujah!!
Every day I am grateful to still have a job.