I forsee it will go from bad to worse...

[rachelMcK]

..they just announced today that they will be closing the GM plant in my city. That is a huge part of the cities economy. My husband and I work in retail and we'll definetly be feeling the crunch since most people who shop at our stores are (were) GM employees. My husband will be affected directly. He works in a high-end plumbing store, most of what he sells is for renovations etc. No one will be doing renovations now. He's currently searching for a plumber to apprentice with so he can finish his hours. My hours have already been cut at work. I went from having 25 hours a week, to 8 and now this week I don't work at all. So I'm trying as much as I can to get frugal. Its just so frustrating because this all goes back to oil. The oil is so expensive but its not the CEO's or government hurting. Its the everyday person. I mean, this week, we have $24 left for 2 weeks after the bills. Good thing I did a massive grocery shop just before, but its only gonna get worse, for everyone...

Ugh. Sorry, I needed to vent.

[JustMegan79]

I feel your pain. The rent is due on Thursday or we incur a 30% late fee and we dont have it yet. Dh is a student full time, works on Sat and Sun am's cleaning rental condos, and works at night as a bouncer at a beach bar (this job he just started), I work 4 nights a week at a Pier restaurant and work the Sat and Sun am's with him.

But....this is our downtime, at the end of this week it should pick up but the beginning of May was the Harley Bike Rally here so it was ok and busy, then we had black bike week which is crime ridden and brings no business to the restaurants, and then we have the 3 weeks in between before our tourist "season" starts. Last week I made 210 dollars ALL WEEK.

We can only hope it picks up in this service economy town, however gas is so high not alot of tourists are cutting back and I dont forsee a very good summer. Its unfortunate but I have reached the point of "I dont care" because what else can I do? Between us we have 4 jobs and they all pay crap, its expensive to drive and to live and everyone is in the same boat and I am tired of having panic attacks about it.

All I can say to all of us is good luck.

[Momto2Boyz]

I hope things work out for you guys! We've been through tough times this year, so I totally understand your frustration and your need to vent!

It's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but usually it's there lurking in the dark somewhere. Dh lost his job in January, he'd been with the company for almost 7 years, and it was the worst job he'd ever had. Crappy pay, lay-offs, no benefits...etc. Well, lo and behold, if he hadn't been laid off, he wouldn't have been searching for a job when he got called for an interview he'd applied for 2 years earlier!

Hopefully, your DH can get his apprenticeship and finish his hours, there will always be a need for plumbers! So, hopefully, just maybe, it'll turn out to be a good thing for you guys in the long run!

[Cricket1]

I'm sorry that this is happening to your city. I wish you the best of luck.

[Dancing Lotus]

I am so sorry , I know it's been very hard on a lot of us.

I too just kinda got to a point where I didn't really have any feeling one way or the other. I can't do anything about it so I just accept it.

I hope this summer is better then you think it will be.

[COUNTRYBUMPKIN]

HUGS to all of you More and more people are struggling just to get by with the basics. Business closings. job layoffs, rising prices on everything.......it is all taking a toll on us. I alway's say that everything in our lives happens for a reason and will only make us stronger in the long run. It's a real blessing to have a place like The Village to come to for support.

The Coopersville GM plant closed last year and it has been a struggle for area businesses as well. Just hang in there and all will work out!

[Budgetmom]

I'm so sorry. It is really hard right now. I'm stressing out today b/c we also have less than $100 in our checking account to make it through to DH's next paycheck on the 13th.

I had really been tightening the belt lately and was doing so good. Our Air Conditioner went out a couple of weeks ago, but we had just been opening windows instead. Well, it has been getting really hot (about 90) and sticky around here and we got a coupon in the mail for 10% off air conditioning service from someone we had fix it years ago, so we went ahead and scheduled him to come out this morning. It was supposed to be a $75 repair. It ended up being a bigger problem and was $250. There goes all my hard work saving.

Sorry for the long story, just wanted to let you know that you are not alone.

[mombottoo]

Sorry things are looking so bleak in your area. Michigan has been losing production jobs left & right and I feel so bad for all of those who have been affected.

[C@rol]

I am so sorry about all this. I heard about the 4 GM plants closing this morning and my first thought was "all those people, omg". You are so right. Gas prices are affecting every single thing every where.

We were talking to our contractor last night and the stories he was telling us about prices, foreclosures and friends losing their job...it's just heart breaking.

I pray that things get better for you and your family. Hang in there.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

I feel your pain! The new construction business here in south Florida came to a slamming halt in November of last year. We've seen dozens of new resturants canceled on the drawing board.
Both DH and I have have gotten part time inventory jobs with a friend. But I don't know how much longer that will last as it requires driving alot and the pay isn't keeping up with the raising gas prices.
Wellcraft has announced it is closing the plant here in town which won't help things. With more folks staying home and not taking vacations I don't see things getting better here.
I noticed last weekend more and more yard sales and gargage sales here in town. More folks selling off cars. and other toys trying to make ends meet.

Like Betty Davis once said, "Hold on Tight its going to be a Bummpy ride."

Laurie in Bradenton

[MirandaK]

*HUGS* to all...

My parents live in Warren, Ohio which is right near the Lordstown plant. When I saw the headline for GM plant closures, my stomach dropped because I know what that would do to the economy at home. They were fortunate...Lordstown is staying open and getting a new car in 2010. Still, when Lordstown goes on strike, everyone suffers...I cannot imagine facing a closure.

You'll be in my thoughs, Rachel.

[momishem]

You are not alone! My husband's plant is shutting down next spring and he is already layed off. He has been since March 1st! Times are tough here! We have been ok so far because of our tax refund, tax stimulus and him working odd jobs along with unemployment. I know it wrong to accept money when he is drawing unemployment, but lets face it, it doesn't pay the bills. I am off for the summer and I also work a part time job. Thank goodness my kids are old enough to stay by themselves for a while each day. No child care costs for us and oldest daughter is babysitting and paying her own way for the things that she wants to do, like King's Island tomorrow.

But, we will make it!

[jamie79]

[forHISglory]

I'm so sorry to hear all this. I'm not surprised, but still sorry that the economy has come to this. Yes, it all relates to oil, and the little guy is being squeezed out of existence. Sure wish I could give you all a big ole hug!

[TheRootedNomad]

We have a Ford plant here that is down to working every other week so that there isn't unemployment. They did massive buyouts about a year back. LOTS of people work/worked there and it is definately effecting the local economy. Even the people who took the buyouts are in really bad shape because there simply aren't/weren't the replacement jobs to get. I figure they'll close the doors on the plant soon and the other car plant in the are is starting major cutbacks as well.