How are you coping with Michigan's failing economy?

Sorry I haven't been back here in a while, thank you for your helpful response! Yes, there are areas where cost of living is a little lower than average in the state and there are many ways to make cuts - take jobs that require less travel time and gas, etc. We eat a lot of venison - thanks to our neighbor. Luckily my oldest is a cook so he can make it taste just like beef steaks, LOL. Raising meat and poultry (for meat or eggs), I have found, is much more expensive than just buying it by the quarter or half...unless you also are growing their feed and have the equipment to harvest it.

I do not raise livestock anymore, but I used to raise chickens, ducks and geese. In addition to the feed we bought for them, they loved be turned loose to feed from the yard, or to be given a few leftover veggies from supper. Venison is one of my favorite meals, and although my boys are not much for hunting, my dad or my brother help me out with some venison when I start running low. My boys like to fish though, and will go every chance they get. I have my gardens where I grow my vegetables and berries, and my fruit trees. I love my fresh vegetables, and if we have more than we can eat, they are usually frozen for later use. Last year I planted a strawberry patch too, so this year I should have a nice crop of strawberries in June. I also planted a long row of raspberries along my fence so I should have some berries there this year too. I generally get a nice crop of apples too. All of these things may not be enough to feed my family, but they sure help us to get through the hard times, and I am afraid there will be many more hard times coming with the gas prices jumping as much as they have over the past couple of days.

Very well said! Last time I checked there were 600,000 people registered for and seeking work through the Michigan unemployment office, with only 20,000 jobs listed available (mostly sales and military). I also work online and have supported my family that way since 2003 after losing two jobs within two years way back when...both auto related. I worked in a transmission shop diagnosing, tearing down, cleaning parts, and assisting in rebuilding transmissions, and also sold auto parts at another store. Both could not afford to pay workers anymore. That is when I decided to "design my own life" independent from traditional employers. I do not do a home business or "business opportunity" either. It isn't my thing, and I'm not good at that. I am not sure if I will be staying here, but if I leave it will not be due to the economy. That's a huge plus about working from home, I can move my job wherever I go! :)

Evan, good points...actually the realtors and closing agents I know around the state say that property is stagnant. The "movement" is happening mostly through foreclosures, not through sales. Here there are new customer service jobs coming in (via WalMart, Menards, Lowes, etc, etc) but the reality is, they do not pay enough to survive on - young people are not the ones getting the jobs (too many skilled workers are fighting for these minimal pay jobs) AND I don't think they will last since many consumers around here cannot afford much besides the most bare necessities, and even then it is a toss up between paying the gas company so you can cook and get showers, or paying for food...or between having car insurance versus paying your mortgage/rent payment.