Since The Economy's Downturn, How Have U Sustained Yourself?

My family and I have pooled together. I have been trying to get published, doing odd jobs, and signed up with every temp agercy, taking classes. Doing everything I can think of. Cut cost were I can. We do a lot of stuff ourselves instead of hire. It is so hard to keep your spirts up, its not just the earning power, I got lay off twice. I know other people in the same boat. It bad enough to go through a layoff once but the second ( in some cases third ) times are worse. I and several others worked so hard not to be in this situation so unnerving to have all your plans undone so easily. I'm working on trying to find a way out and not get caught up again.

I have a fulltime job and I make it a point that my spending is always within my means. I don't use credit card if I know I cannot pay it in full come it's due date. I also try to augment my earnnings with extra income on the net.

Well, I'm one of the many that lost my job. I've been trying to keep my bills down and trying to spend as little as possible. Now that I have more time, I can post on MyLot, so I've been doing that, too. Even though it doesn't get me much. At least it's something and something is better than nothing. Right?

I have sustained myself by digging a hole. Shortly after my unemployment ran out, I decided to become a college student (at the ripe age of forty). Since then I have survived with the occasionally temp job, by taking out student loans, the once-in-a-blue-moon check from my freelance writing. Basically, it feels like I am selling my soul to remain in the game.

I have been laid off for almost a year now. thankfully I can still draw my unemployment check, without that I don't know what I would do. I draw just enough to get by, nothing extra. So far this year I have not turned on my air conditioner,not matter how hot it has gotten. I bought some fans and put them in the windows. I try not to buy anything that I don't need and that I can do without. I try to pay my bills and do my food shopping all in the same trip, I hardly ever eat out anymore and I cut my cable down to the lowest prized one they is offered.

Well, my husband and I aren't doing things to make extra money as much as we are doing things to help stretch the money we do have. My husband rides his bike to work 3 or 4 days a week and has figured out that he is able to save approximately $50/week in fuel costs doing that (plus he is reaping the added benefit of exercise!). Since it can add quite a bit to our gas bill, we are also not turning on the central air conditioning in our house unless it is absolutely necessary - so far, we have saved $30/month not turning it on as frequently as we had been. Also, we used to eat out a lot more than we do now. These days, we only eat out a couple times a month. We started letting our two children assist us with meal planning and preparation and have found that they don't ask for take-out nearly as often as they did. We had nice family dinners at home for both Mother's and Father's Days and both times, the whole family agreed that we had better food for a much better price than if we had gone out. So, anyway, those are just a few things that we are doing to weather the "poor economy" storm......

Hi there, My main thing is eating at home more. I try not to buy anything that I just don't need and stick with coupons. I try to watch about leaving lights on, etc. That's about it. I still have a decent job but I always feel like I could be canned any day. It's very nerve racking. I'm always looking for ways to earn online and a member of a very few select sites. Thanks and good luck!

The economy downturn hits the whole globe, and the most affected are the poor countries, and most especially my countrymen who work abroad. Well I guess I'm still lucky I'm not one of the victims of downsizing. I still have my job, but still my earnings are just not enough. So to cope up with the economic crisis I do the following to earns some cash; I sometimes get some cash helping out my father-in-law managing his farm. But the money is only there when it's harvest time. It's seasonal so cash won't be always there. So I have to think of something else, so sometimes, I refer some suppliers to the company that I work for and I get a fairly decent commission from them. And now, I'm trying to do online freelance job. I'm just starting out with it so am still not earning a lot. But I hope in time, as I build my reputation, projects would come in as well as the cash. I agree with taripres, "there's much more to live for". And there's a lot to do to cope up with the global economic crisis. And so for those who's about to give up in life, read this discussion, and you might get something to be of help.

great post, as for me I am currently unemployed by choice I guess you can say, I work in health care and took a much needed hiatus, I will go back soon, tired of being broke other than that I have done a lot of other things in my time, you are so right that just because you are not working does not mean you can't accomplish other things for the time being, I have done that and I am proud of myself, any who look forward to your reply and will try to keep this things going.