If you are immune to this failing economy, please let me know.

I'm not exactly immune, but I am kinda unaware of it. I'm in college right now so all I do is study, and my parents haven't exactly conveyed to me any sense of foreboding. As such I'm just here happily going on with my life, more or less oblivious to the issues of the banks and housing and all. Plus my dad is an engineer, which is a relatively stable job no matter what because engineers are one of those professions that is always needed, like doctors and teachers.

Well I am not immune, you can add to your list, unemployed. I was laid off of my job three months ago, yes, three months ago, and have not been lucky enough to find something else. I am collecting unemployment, but it is 40% less than what I was bringing home. I know many people will say, well at least you are getting something. In my case something is almost nothing. I get two checks a month, one of the checks does not even cover my rent. I have to spread the second check to cover utilities, other bills, food, gas plus some of it has to cover the rent which the first check doesn't. Forget about health care, I have none. I am petrified about next month's rent, it's like, do I eat or use the money for food for gas, or use the money for food and gas for rent? It is not easy, and I try not to think about it, because I would lose my mind if I did. At this point I see it as it is what it is. I too, wonder about those who are immune to the economy. They are the ones who look at us that are struggling and say, well get a job. When thousands of people are trying to get the same job as you, your chances are not that great.

We aren't immune but I know my folks are. They don't have a lot of bills, recently paid off their "new" house (they lost their original home in Katrina and moved into this place in 2007). My Dad is retired, my mom has worked in 30+ years, and they live off of the social security, his pension and whatever other investments they have. I am hoping we will be more immune soon. My husband is mulling over going into the military again. Even though it probably won't happen until after Christmas, at least it is one guaranteed pay check. I am working and I have a set job for as long as I want it but I am working for a very new company and not making much right now.

Oh my, not just depressing but scary. I really hope we don't go into another depression. Well unfortunately I don't think I'm immune to today's economic crisis. Unless there are some millionaires on MyLot I doubt that anyone will be immune. I really wish I was though lol.

Immune, no I'm relatively fortunate, in the sense that I wasat least ABLE to get a payment arrangement/ plan put into place last year when I fell behind on this place I "rent to own" from all my creditors, lol. Of course, I'm not sure how I wouldn't fall behind given the fact that over the last decade my income has not risen at ALL and the cost of living has been rising at an overwhelming rate and pace. Isn't that the story everywhere across America. Heading for a recession, uh don't look now the banks and insurers are going under from all the GREED at the top and the income shelters for the wealthy few have left the rest of us holding the bag, we've done it for as long as we can, and now the bottom is giving out too. The cost of groceries is outrageous. AND they aren't even GOOD groceries. We have only ONE grocery store in the area where I live. I just bought a five pound bag of spuds for 4.99 and HALF of them weren't edible. That's why I prefer, when possible to buy from the farmer's directly, but this week that wasn't possible. I try to budget, get deals, look for sales and bargains, to make ends meet. And I also am doing stuff like this in hopes of making a little extra since the income isn't going up otherwise. I am an in-home care provider so my income isn't even considered to be income, and my work isn't considered work, either. Ten years ago the rate was better than what most people I know were making, I made more than most of the supervisors and caseworkers did, of course it is a 24 and 7 undertaking. Don't get me wrong I LOVE the work I do and it is definitely NOT all about the money, however, we all need money in this sort of a society to sustain anything at all. SO, that said, it is pretty outrageous that the "non profit agency" I "contract" with has gotten itself a fifty percent raise in THEIR rate and the people doing the ACTUAL work, driving, attending meetings, fixing meals, finding activities, recreational clubs, paperwork, reports, and so on and so forth, have gotten ZILCH, nothing, not even a gas allowance even though many of us are required to drive literally hundreds of miles weekly. Do I feel exploited? Yes, just a little bit. Ten years ago I could fill my tank for a fraction of what it costs now, today the car insurance, house insurance, repairs and maintenance just for the car alone, has become very exorbitant and takes a big chunk of change to manage. I think the LEAST they could do is help to defray some of those costs, over a ten year period. Meanwhile, more and more can't afford to continue, and so what does the agency do? Offers NEW home providers, 1000.00 to sign on, rather than trying to help the people who have been here with them for years. LOL I must have needed to blow off some steam! I just worry about the bills because they grow and the income hasn't. I also lost a part time job I had for about a year, over this past Summer which was a big help in terms of making ends meet.

Everyone is affected when the country's economy dips. The thing is, people are more focus of what other countries are doing that they don't even care to help their own country. The reason why one's country's economy fails because of its own people too. If the people stop being a countrymen, then, expect failures from the government. People stop spending. Government has no revenues because they can't collect taxes. It's a domino effect. But unfortunately, there are corrupt government officials. One reason why people don't trust the government. Corruption is also a reason of a failing economy.