Are You Struggling Now Making Ends Meet?

I think that we are struggling right now, but only because of Christmas. We say every year we will be more prepared for it when it comes around, but we never are. We spend about 1200 dollars on our two kids and then we have our parents and nephews. I bet we spend close to 2500 dollars on present or more. We spend 500 a piece on each other this year. So I say that we have been doing good, but I am scrimping now because of Christmas.

yes, it seems like i never have enough money for the things i need let alone for the things i want to have. what is really frustrating, my husband works for the state in a really secured position and makes a decent amount of money. i, on the other hand, work for a full time postion and hold down two part time positions as well. then i have two teenagers in the house as well. one girl and one boy...they are always needing and wanting something. i'm really hooping that this new president will be able to do more than what the other president did. i'm getting real tired of working 3 jobs and not making more money than my husband who holds only one job.

I was struggling to make ends meet in the recession long before it got this bad. Though my working from home income has been much reduced it was a trickle from the start. My boyfriend on the other hand works 6 days a week usually and for the entire month of December he only worked 5 days, and work is still sparse. He works in the construction industry. I am also currently engaged in earning an online degree so money or no money my life pretty much revolves around this box on my desk at home. God has fortunately blessed us and we have been able to keep the bills paid and the wolves away from the door but were it not by the grace of God we wouldn't have made it through that long slow period. They say there is much more to come before it's going to get any better. That is kind of a scary thought isn't it?

I love this discussion you have begun, it is a shame the way this country has been managed for the last eight years. As far as you can see - there are so many Americans hurting financially, it has taken everything for me and my wife to keep it together. Times will get better, but it will take some time and hard smart work on President Obama's part. Indeed this change is exactly what we need to get moving and producing in America today.

Yes it is all tough at the moment and looks to get tougher! I only help that the government and banks help people rather than watch them loose everything.

We are definitely struggling. My husband's overtime was completely cut out about 6 months ago. That is a huge, huge chunk of pay we are missing every month. (He's had consistent overtime for the past 11 years of his job.) I started workiing part time to help with the bills, but with the holidays over, my hours have been cut to a few a week. We have always lived frugally, but are now really trying to make every dollar stretch. Our utilities have skyrocketed this year. Nothing has changed in our home, but the companies have raised rates at least 1/3! We are waiting for our income tax return to hopefully pay off some bills and be a cushion.

i am not exactly struggling but do feel the pinch of economic crises.i am trying to save by not using the cellphone very often ,by limiting extravagent use of the groceries,etc.

Yes, we are totally struggling, only since December. Many of our friends have been complaining about work and bills and higher prices of everything, it was never an issue, then all of a sudden, my S/O has just worked only about 3 weeks in the last 2 and a half months. I haven't worked in exactly 1 year almost to the day. There is absolutely no jobs in the paper where I live either, I'm a computer tech and graphic artist, the only jobs are medical and this one REALLY LOUSY company here in Tahoe that no one wants to work for (I got fired from there 6 yrs ago because I was pregnant). So our economy really sucks here in Tahoe right now. I am on unemployment right now, when it's over I will file an extension if I haven't found work. I took a test and got a job with the U.S. Census Bureau (it's only like $14.00 an hour though), but it doesn't even start until May, I think.

Hey Tina, you bring up an excellent point here, whether you have realized it or not. The economy is a mess everywhere, and us in the US have been sitting back, wringing our hands wondering if Obama will effect a good change for us and the economy. The truth of the matter is nothing will be better if we don't get off our bums and work what is there!!! Obama can roll out every program imaginable for us to have a better economy, for us to earn more, but if we don't take action within ourselves to make changes in our own lives, it will be for nothing. I am affecting change by pouring myself into learning internet marketing techniques of every kind, in order to teach others. I feel that I will gain riches, and not just monetary riches, if I am to pass the knowledge I acquire to others that desire the same knowledge.

I wouldn't say that we are struggling, but we have cut back on things we were use to. Like getting takeout many nights a week, on the weekends getting donuts or McD's for breakfast, just things like that. My husbands job is up in the air. He works for a grocery store and since Nov, 2 of the stores have closed in our area, so it is getting close for him to be the low man on the pole. We are waiting to see what happens, not jumping to get out, but just hoping that his job lasts at least a couple more years. Right now to make a little extra money, my husband took a pizza delivery job once a week. He brings home an extra $50 for 3 hours gone in the evening. It isn't much, but we just save it, so it is adding up nicely.

We are dfinitely struggling. I still don't know where the money for our electric bill is gonna come from later this month.

I have always struggled and so I am pretty used to that part in it. Still, with 3 of my 4 kids out and on their own now, I would have expected things to be a bit easier by now. They are not. We still just get by. I try to worry too much about it. I am lucky in that I do have a jobe and I know that many do not even have that. I really worry about the elderly and handicapped. They get so little to live on as it is, I don't know how they could possibly cut back more and still survive.

Hi Krause! I have done as much cutting as I possibly can! I am disabled now and I have a roomate! If I didn't I would lose my apartment that I have lived in alone for 28 years! It is really scary. I am getting temporary help, but that isn't nearly enough to pay all the bills and I don't know what I am going to do! I am trying to find ways to make some extra money by working on the Internet because that's the only thing that I can do. I have no other choice but to work from home! I am hoping that things will change for the good soon, but it isn't going to happen so quickly. So I am just going to keep praying and hope that I can continue to find a way to make ends meet!

I am definitely struggling now with the way the economy is. I had to take a paycut at work and then take a second weekend job plus writing online to try to make ends meet. It has been a struggle this year. I might have to either walk away from my house or sell it if I can. Bank of America says it will be 90-120 days before they will let me know if they can modify my loan to make it more affordable to me. It would be in their best interest to do it too.

My current job could end anytime if the economy continues to fail. However I do have an alternative position to fall back on. I am always strapped for cash. However I am determined for 2009 to be a better year and I will do whatever it takes to make some extra cash and pay off all of my small debt in 2009. I will become virtually debt free this year regardless of how hard I have to work to do so. I am determined and that is what it will take to get it done.

We are, but alot are worse off than what we are. I am hopping things change soon so things won't get alot worse. We have started staying home more and more. We don't eat out too often and are stocking up on things just in case.

Since hubby was diagnosed with cancer in October, our budget had been drastically reduced. He makes less than 1/2 on disability from the union than he did at his job. His job has laid off more than 1/2 of it's workforce since October as well. We are uncertain if he will have a job to return to when and if the time comes. We worry about the bills constantly and more bills keep piling up, especially medical bills. I hope that Obama will be able to stabilize the economy, but I know in my heart that we are in for a long and bumpy ride to say the least. I think all Americans should be tightening their belts and getting ready to weather the worst of the storm, because it has not yet passed. We are not prepared for the future, personally or as a nation, in my opinion. Blessings.

My family has mostly dealt with struggling with financial things such as how much are we going to have to buy groceries for this week or are we going to be able to pay the rent at the beginning of next month? It's been on and off then on again until last summer when a friend and I opened up a daycare and I was able to pull in an extra $1200-$1400 a month so our family didn't have to really worry about having food on the table and a roof over our heads. Also I had another part time nights job and hubby was working fulltime as well. In November, my hubby got laid off and we closed the daycare due to my business partner being very moody and me not knowing what day she was going to want this daycare business or not so it was really hard. It's been very difficult since November and all that. My hubby has applied back in November for Employment Insurance for lay-off and still hasn't gotten a check from them and it's Janruary now. We still don't know the story on that one. But... It looks like things are looking up now with my part time nights job because a couple days ago I was offered a full time position and plus I believe our raises kicked in so it increased to over $2.00 on what I'm making now. I feel like things are going to work out for the better now and things happen for a reason. Have a great night

Dearest KrauseHome, We like you are struggling...the biggest problem we are having at moment is our debt. I have been concentrating on keeping afloat since the Bushes went into office. We have been living paycheck to paycheck forever it seems. I am not complaining just saying it's been a long hard ride. We are seriously in hope that our new president will do good for us in the future. We can all really use it. I know there are many out there that are in worse shape than us and are looking forward to better times to come. It won't happen over night the hardships are long from over but at least there is hope...heh?? I have hope for all there are that need it...Mamablaze!!

i dont live in the us i live in the uk and things here are just as bad every time you read the newspaper or put on the news there are more losses in jobs and the financial sector. my job is always safe i am stay at home mum although i am trying to get my own business off the ground right now it seems impossible, as my husband is a driving instructor and therefor self employed and in these growing times of financial strains things like learning to drive are not at the top of most peoples priorities, and if he doesn't work there is no money come the end of the week so each week i feel that the trips to the supermarket have to be cut you are trying to stretch that £1 into £2 with the increase in bills etc and the amount of money we all have going down. good luck to anyone in the same situation and all the best lee