What is your personal economy like?

United States
November 13, 2008 9:53pm CST
November 13, 2008 Despite what the federal government is doing with your tax dollars, you have a personal economy, how to do run it? Are you flapping in the wind and hoping someone will rescue you or are you diligent about your finances and sleep well at night knowing you’re not part of the problem.
6 people like this
21 responses
@Arkie69 (2156)
• United States
14 Nov 08
My personal economy is on auto pilot.There are things I must do if I am going to eat and have a roof over my head. I do them and then I go on about my business. I am forced to live withing my means. I don't borrow any money or pay any loans I have gotten in the past. If I can't pay cash for it I don't buy it. The only real problem I am having is the fact that prices are increasing faster than my retirement income. I can't make very many more adjustments until I start getting behind in something. I still have the TV cable, my internet connection, my smoking and a few food items I could give up if I'm forced to. This isn't anything new to me. I was born in the late 30's on a farm so I know what hard times are. I also know exactly what I have to do to get through them. I would say I am actually being effected a lot less than most by this economy problem.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Nov 08
We could all learn something from you, thank you.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
14 Nov 08
Our bills are paid first before anything else. We have no credit cards,loans,mortgages, and not behind on any bills. We only get when we can never borrow that is how we are surviving. Especially when a buck doesn't get you far nowadays. I can't alone control what others who are higher ups do with my tax dollars. There is always the need for more money then we have so We sleep but we also toss and turn wondering where the money we need is coming from and if my husband can get enough work to pay this and that..
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Thanks I'll do what I can.
• United States
15 Nov 08
You're doing great, keep your head up or on the pillow.
1 person likes this
@Ithink (9980)
• United States
15 Nov 08
We are holding our own, all bills are paid, even the credit card bills (which by the way we so regret now, you live and learn) and mortgage. We have so far managed to keep everything on as in all utilities and such. We have so far kept our heads above water and are working on staying that way. I just hate living from check to check thou with 5 kids it makes it really rough. We are fighters thou and will pull thru.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Nov 08
Keep on keeping on.
@thedaddym (1731)
• United States
15 Nov 08
I guess you could say that I can sleep well at night knowing that I am not part of the problem. We bought a house we could easily afford, and have never missed a mortgage payment. We have done everything right. I can also say however, I am frustrated and angry that now I will have to pay and I am losing thousands of dollars on my investments because people were not being careful about the houses they were buying, and because the banks allowed people who could not afford to buy these homes were allowed to do so. Now people like me who have done everything right are losing all of our assets right along with the people who did things wrong in the first place. Now they are talking about giving these people a 30% reduction in their mortgage amount. Where is my reduction? Oh that's right I did everything right, I only deserve to lose my money. I'm sorry I am just really angry about this whole thing.
• United States
15 Nov 08
You have a right to be, it would tick me off too. Just remember that you can hold your head high knowing that you won't be holding your hand out begging. I know that might not seem like much but I'll bet there are a ton of people who are on the up and up but never get recognized, its called character, many people don't have it.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
14 Nov 08
I have always been diligent with my finances so I can sleep well at night. I think we should always be responsible with our own finances. We should know how to handle money. We need to know how to save for the rainy days and live in accordance with our budget.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Nov 08
I completely agree.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
14 Nov 08
Well we live on a budget and I'm pretty frugal. We have bad months during the winter usually because currently my husband is the only paid employee in the family and he works on total commission. So when sales tank we can make it but it's hard. We have savings and that helps us through the rough times, we also do not keep credit cards because it would be way to easy to run them up during bad times.
1 person likes this
• United States
15 Nov 08
I'm sure being on commission is hard, I've been there too.
@GardenGerty (161010)
• United States
14 Nov 08
I am doing okay. We do not overspend. No longer use credit cards. Pay our bills. Yup, must be okay.
• United States
14 Nov 08
I applaude you.
@1grnthmb (2055)
• United States
15 Nov 08
Our personal econmy is run by what things cost and what we can afford. We have cut out all the extras like eating out and going to the movies. We have cut out our membership to book clubs and gaming sites that entertained us. All so we have money to buy food and pay our normal bills. It has been a struggle but we have gotten through it. We have not waited for the government to help us out. We have done what we could in order to help ourselves.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
14 Nov 08
I put twenty percent away for savings. I always pay off my credit cards. Our house is paid for, and my husband makes sure that our bills are paid and if we get a big purchase, it is paid off without interest. So we are not the cause of the present financial crisis. Someone else is. It's their fault.
• United States
14 Nov 08
I agree.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
15 Nov 08
I'm trying to take charge (as much as I can anyways) and am careful to be meticulous about my financial actions. I don't want to be just another victim, and my personal economy's meant to inspire and free me...instead of trap me. We'll see where I end up, but so far things're more decent for me than they have been in years.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
16 Nov 08
I have always be diligent with my own finances. I own my house. It's not fancy but it's paid for. I keep up on my bills and have extra money for things I want. I have never been one to overspend out of my budget..and I have been a good saver. So sometimes actually it's hard for me to understand people in a crunch! Anyway...it's pretty okay where I am at.
1 person likes this
@bjcyrix (6901)
• Philippines
17 Nov 08
Im kinda avoiding doing things about it but yeah I do think about my finances. It would be easier if Ill just ask some for my parents but for me that would be too much. They've taken care of me and sent me to school and everything. The least I can do is not ask for more when I at least have enough. The problem is still looming over me and would likely happen in a few days to another week at most. That would determine whether I really have enough or I would be swimming in debt for the new year.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
14 Nov 08
i don't want anyone to have to look after me.i'm managing to keep my head above water. i spend very carefully & have always had to so it's not much different than i have ever lived.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Nov 08
Thank you. I hope to find other people who have personal responsibility as a virtue.
• Jamaica
17 Nov 08
November 17 Paying my bills on time, spending and investing wisely. I am down to 2 credit cards and my goal is to pay it off at the end of the month then that's it. I will be left with one. In Jamaica when the US has money problems we are impacted so it suits me to be a good money manager
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
14 Nov 08
I am not very much experienced in personal economy or the process to run it. I have invested very small part. but all in secure deposits, not in any stocks.
1 person likes this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
14 Nov 08
Right now, i'm still doing fine inspite with the economic recession now.. I'm someone whom dun spend much, and dun spend on unneccesary items, as well as branded stuffs.. SO, it's not a recession for me at all, as i'm used to a simple life, and i dun have any credit cards too, thus i'm debtless ^_^ All in all, i'm still the same as b4, or even better than b4 if i were to compare myself to others ^_^ haha
@ellie333 (21016)
14 Nov 08
Hi Gitfiddleplayer, I always know to the nearest pound how much is in all mu accounts, I am very organised and have direct debits set up for all the regular bills to come out the day my wages go in. I have another account set aside for childcare money during the holidays, car tax and what I call irregular bills and then I have a weekly set amount I use for everyday living for bread and milk and topping up on fuel as I will fill tank on payday also. I don't sleep well at the moment but that is my crazy puppy keeping me awake rather than worry over finances. I am not rich but am not in debt either as I refuse to have credit of any sort and live on my income only so have no real worries. A little extra would be good for luxury but I juggle the finances quite well and do allow an occasional treat for myself too. Huggles. Ellie :D
1 person likes this
@gemini_rose (16264)
14 Nov 08
We personally are OK, we made a lot of changes to the way we run our finances at the beginning of the year so we are standing on pretty firm ground financially. Although I still make cuts if I can, as I am determined to do even better no matter what my Country is throwing at me. Our only real worry just now is the redundancies being made at my hubbys place of work, they have just announced a third lot of redundancies to be made just before christmas, so some of us are not going to be getting a nice christmas present this year.
1 person likes this
@walijo2008 (4644)
• United States
14 Nov 08
We're doing pretty good right now, we're very diligent with our finances, and we're blessed, that we're not in any kind of debt. I know thats not true for a lot of people, and I sure do hope the economy gets better soon.
1 person likes this
@guybrush (4658)
• Australia
14 Nov 08
Our personal economy is fine. My husband and I are in our early 50s, and didn't grow up with credit cards - so we always believed in saving for things, or waiting until we could afford them. We don't have a mortgage anymore and don't owe anything on credit - so the only expensive part is helping our son out with his car expenses, fines and bits and pieces!
1 person likes this