Do you know anyone who's had hard times due to the economy? share their stories.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
January 22, 2010 1:28pm CST
The stories I've heard from friends, co-workers and relatives seem endless.
I know of several people who are unemployed, under employed, and are on the cusp of loosing their homes.
A lady a couple weeks ago said her shop once employed several hundred people, now they have 35 people & fix the factory rejects from overseas for their company instead of making the product. She is waiting for them to close her work completly.
My hubby has a cousin whom from what I've been told is contimplaiting ending his life because he has no job, he can't sell his house, he can't make his house payment, his unemployment is running out, and his health is not the best. Hearing this makes me so sad that he feels so helpless and no one is comming to his rescue.
The father of one of my daughter's classmates... he's been unemployed for a year. He found work working part time a handfull of hours a week for a fraction of what he was making. Sadly, he's happy to have some sort of income. He was telling me about a many who used to design vehicles for a local company, now he works w/ this man side by side working part time at a job that is remedial for them.... because they have no other choices.
A know a lady who once worked as a paralegal. She lost her job because the lawyers are willing to do all the leg work themselves now instead of hire a paralegal. So now she's working a minimum wage job to help keep food on the table.
3 people like this
12 responses
@Bellerophon (539)
• United States
22 Jan 10
Yes I know someone, ME! My wife and I are both with disability and middle age, trying to live on social security. Im PO'd at the out of control price of food, the price of gas, and speaking of gas there is a blog in my profile about it called "do you buy gas". Did you know there is more oil right under our feet in the USA then all the oil countries put together? And Obama had said in his campaign that he was going to do something about the ridiculous price of gas. His words "there is no reason why a gallon of gas should cost more then 90 cents for regular." Yet here we are with the price once again getting close to $3 per gallon. Yet we are sitting on the biggest oil deposit in the world and we refuse to tap it. Read the blog and spread the word!
2 people like this
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
22 Jan 10
I'm in Canada and the cost of gas and food is outrageous here too! I don't know how people can assume that they can just jack up the price whenever they feel like it and everyone is just going to be okay with it! It really sucks when the cost of basic needs like food go up though because it's not like you can really do much about that! I'm going to go read your blog, it sounds interesting!
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
24 Jan 10
But sadly when gas goes down food prices stay up.
@Bellerophon (539)
• United States
23 Jan 10
If The US would tap that oil it would also help Canada and all our allies. And the retailers cant just up the price of food when ever they feel like it, they need a legi reason, and the cost of fuel for shipping is a legit reason. A store that sells (lets say milk) milk cant keep the price low if the trucking industry charges more for the cost of gas or fuel. You will see the price of food go up every time the price for gas goes up.
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
22 Jan 10
I have a personal story about the economy and how I have been in the deepest depression EVER to date due to it. I was working, but when I got pregnant with my daughter I couldn't do the night shift anymore and no other hours were available so I had to quit my job. We slowly adjusted and made it work, but then my husband lost his job in June and has been on unemployment ever since. We just had another daughter in October so we are now a 4 person household living off of one unemployed income. It's hell and I could sit here and whine and cry and complain about it all day, but I won't. 
2 people like this
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
31 Jan 10
All I can really say about my situation is that it sucks a$$! Our 2003 Ford Explorer needed to go in for repairs because a piston was apparently blown on it and 900 dollars (of money we DON'T have) later we are now scrounging even more! If we had any family close buy I would be begging them to let us move in until things got better but all of our family live far away! I stress daily and nightly about my kids, and their futures, if we are going to make rent, if we can get enough groceries and things for their needs (diapers, wipes, etc) and I HATE it! I can't sleep because all I do is worry and think, then think and worry some more. I am trying SO hard to keep positive but that can only get a person so much. Anyhoo, sorry for blubbering, hope you have a great week ahead. Thanks for making me cry again too! Just Kidding! @3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
25 Jan 10
Whine & Cry about it! That's what I'd like to see on this discussion board... not that anyone wants to be in these shoes ya know but somewhere to vent & share.
Sounds like my last job after I had my first child, I came back from maternity leave to meet my replacement. I was saving up so I could quit but they let me go before then. I've been home for 5yrs on one check then I had to go back part time last year (thankfully before the economy & stock market crashed). If I wouldn't have my lil 10 hr a week job we'd be on our way to living in the in-laws basement... not that it couldn't still happen the way things are going...
((hugs))
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
2 Feb 10
Not blubbering! Life isn't always what we hoped it would be. I hear ya on the bills & then unexpected expenses and the nights worrying. Our credit card trippled it's interest in Dec '08 and gave us the option to "opt out" wich was fine at the time then our interest stays super low & we save $140 a month in a minimum payment too. The thing too is it's a huge balance, and it expires in September. So then what?
I wish I could say I knew when things would turn around for everyone or when places that paid more than minimum wage were hiring. As I've seen a handful of people come in to my work wanting to apply when they are getting rid of holiday help slowly soooo..... I feel bad for them wanting to apply but most of us get next to no hours in the first place. But things are looking up for hubby's work as they are buying out a competidor so I hope that means if they can afford to acquire them that the'll be raises in his future.
All you can do is keep on truck'n. Do what you have to do to make that last penny stretch all the further. Apply for as much assistance as you can...
((hugs))
1 person likes this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
25 Jan 10
I'm glad your hubby has atleast found some odd jobs to help things out. It certainly is not easy out there & when your main income is gone we would in big trouble on this end too.
@ersmommy1 (12588)
• United States
23 Jan 10
My "Uncle" has had a difficult time. He works in the Hotel industry. He is a Banquet bartender. People are not throwing big hotel parties now as they did in the past. So he has started to loan himself out to other hotels through a temp agency. He is 55 years old. I don't know how much longer he can keep that up.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
24 Jan 10
It's hard out there for everyone who's older and is used to a decent wage........ I know of some folks who keep holding out for that job that's a perfect fit including the wages but that is not what's out there.
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
22 Jan 10
I'm not suffering as others have but I have a small income that depends on my ex husband. He was going through some bad times recently and I had to make quite a few adjustments to my already very conservative lifestyle. I wiped out my savings paying for an attorney when he sought to get the amount reduced. If anything bad happens, I haven't made up even 1/3 of what I had saved and things might get very dicey. I've been blessed in choosing a cheap house with a low payment and having very few wants and fewer needs.
A lot of people are having hard times. I feel very badly for them. If it gets worse, which I think it will, I may end up renting out my two spare bedrooms. I know I'm in a lot better shape than many people, though.
1 person likes this
@chulce (1537)
• United States
22 Jan 10
I have my own personal story actually. I owned my own tea and coffee shop. We opened it up about a year before the economy tanked. The coffees that I brought in to the U.S. were high ends I made sure I was able to find the best possible. And I made sure that my prices were reasonable. No $5.00 for a cup of coffee at my shop.... Try $1.50 the highest price that I had was $2.50 and that was for pure Jamacian Blue Mountain Coffee. Which is very expensive to buy.
Things seemed to be going very well until Wall Street hit rock bottom hard. A lot of my clients were quite wealthy and decided that luxury items like buying coffee from my shop just needed to go. Well, as they went so did other business and we ended up having to close our shop in May of 09. I was heart broken.
It took me over 4 months to find a job, my husband it took almost 9 months.
We are now slowly making a come back, but I have a ton of debt from the business that I have to now try and pay back on what little we are making. I am still trying to sell off equipment and stuff. It is horrible.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
24 Jan 10
I'm sorry to hear you had to close your shop. Be thankful you were able to find some sustainable work, many cannot. I hope things will be easier in the near future & perhaps another run @ your business when and if our economy gets stronger.
@cutepenguin (6431)
• Canada
23 Jan 10
I'm fortunate that I haven't lost my job, although my hours have slightly been cut. I'm self-employed though, so I can try to get more clients to fill the gaps.
It's hard times for everyone...we are skimping and being as frugal as possible, which can't be helping local businesses, but we just don't have money to spend.
Not a high percentage of people in my city have lost jobs or been laid off, but it's pretty hard for the people who have been laid off, because not very many companies are hiring.
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
24 Jan 10
my state's in the top 3 for worst right now,i know too many people.
my last 3 adopted cats are economy casualties.
the first two cats owners are coming back for 1 later-they moved to a cheaper state to get resettled and i don't blame them..there's no jobs here.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
1 Feb 10
3snugglebunnies hi my own story is bittersweet as it landed me here where I never would have gone,out of an apartment into a retirement center of 90 odd people of allages, just because my son lost his job, we ran out of money, we were evicted, we stayed with friends but they were only renters and c ould not keep us long, and finally in desperation my son worried for my welfare I was 82 decided I would have to come here as we cou ld neither of us just sleep on the street. now he is in gov. sponsored apt with three other men all of whom are out of work and really looking for jobs. if you are under the assumption as most Americans are that there are just oodles and ooodles of homeless shelters forget it, its not true. we had to find someplace to stay and for me at my age this place had to be it for now.I do not like being here,not because its not a nice place as it is, but because I like to be independent not coddled not waited on, not fed ,I like to cook and clean for myself. take my own medication on my own time, just be another senior citizen living in an apartment with my adult son again.he is still out of work, this worries me but I do keep happy as I have to, what else c an I do? my social security and SSI checks pay the rent and food,and leave me with a bit of money for my personal needs. see we did not have any relatives here to help us. and our friends also had their own problems too.
[
nother senior citizen living in an apartment with my adult son again.he is still out of work, this worries me but I do keep happy as I have to, what else c an I do? my social security and SSI checks pay the rent and food,and leave me with a bit of money for my personal needs. see we did not have any relatives here to help us. and our friends also had their own problems too.[
@carrine (2743)
• Philippines
23 Jan 10
i myself experiencing that economy crisis these days. my business is bankrupt, my farming is no good. i dont know what to do honestly. but what i did right now is im praying for the best for my family and for myself. i know God knows what i need to survive. i know He will give me wisdom to what step to start with and i can cope up from the financial drought.
@youngnelss (7)
• United States
22 Jan 10
My friends family was super rich - they lived in a million dollar house in cali, made $600,000+ per year income. Two investment properties. Now they lost all their houses, owe $500,000 to the IRS - are behind on their rent and the parents makes $50,000 a year combined! They have 3 kids - they lost two of their 3 cars and now the oldest kids cant drive anywhere, cant go to college and cant get jobs because all the jobs require you to have a car. Now the kids are desperately looking for minimum wage jobs just so their once rich family can stay afloat and not be homeless! We live in crazy times...
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
25 Jan 10
That's a definate reality check for them with things. Not that anyone wants to go thru such a change. But to go from as the addage goes "rags to riches" except in reverse and not ever living a "rag" lifestyle and sooo much debt must be hard. They may need a change of venue if there was something outside of cali w/ a job + cheaper living expenses.
