Have Current Events Changed Your Life?

**staceyy** · 03-09-2006, 12:27 AM

I was wondering if fairly recent current events such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina have had a lasting impact on how you now react to or view your present or future ? My job situation changed after 9/11 and as a result, I have not been as financially secure since. This resulted in me downsizing my lifestyle. I now no longer depend so much on consumerism to fund my lifestyle, I now do a lot more for myself and have stretched my creativity as a result.

I was so appalled at the treatment the poor and elderly received during the events of Hurricane Katrina that I am making it a point to do everything I can to not have to depend on anyone else for my survival.

Lastly, whats happening with social security and peoples pensions have taught me not to depend on them for our survival even though we as a society have paid into these funds for years with the belief that we would be taken care of in our old age. I think its cruel that the elderly are being taking advantage of because there is really no way for them to fight back. Once their money is taken away what can they do? They can't work, most of them are too old and how are they going to compete with the younger generation for jobs? Generally the best jobs they can get are minimum wage jobs.

I've wizened up as a result of all of this and now take saving and frugality much more seriously. I was wondering if anyone else has been affected to the point that it has changed their lives.

**danni** · 03-09-2006, 03:09 PM

A friend is getting closer to retirement and got a notice from the govt stating that his cpp would be $458 every 2 weeks. He still has a mortgage and 2 teenagers at home, that's not going to be anywhere near enough. Knowing that cpp is going to be barely there for us has encouraged us to save alot more. We just added $25/mth to each of our rrsps and next month will be raising dh's work rrsps.

**FrugalMomof3** · 03-09-2006, 03:21 PM

I totally agree, although I was not affected my the hurricanes, I can say that after the 9/11 attack alot of companies were affected including mine, because of this the company had to sell which made us all lose our jobs and collect unemployment.

Because of that I have learned to take cuts, do without and other ways to cut costs.

About SS, I think it's terrible that I've paid in for so many years but when it's time for me to retire I probably wont see a penny of it and what bothers me really the most is people wrongfully collecting SS disability benefits who really aren't disabled, they get over $650 a month (I know someone personally) and I've tried to contact the SS administration to investigate but nothing ever happened.

Why is it that many elderly people are losing benefits but those collecting them for a disability that really isn't a disability or have a "fake" disability are annually being reviewed and given more money added to their monthly benefits?

They even want to cut the measly $255 one time SS benefits! This is totally absurd and needs to be dealt with properly, some people depend on their checks every month and earned them since they have worked for it. Why is it that a person who can't read and write be able to get disability checks, like give me a break NOT ALL jobs require the ability to read and write, but here's what I am saying... how can a person with a reading and writing disability be able to drive a car? Again I am talking about someone I know personally. I think I will have to again put this in the SS administrations hands for them to look into.

Plain and simple... IT'S NOT FAIR!

**canadian gardener** · 03-09-2006, 03:22 PM

yes, it's a different world.

People that thought we frugalites and pantry queens were hoarders are now checking into our wisdom and realizing how much it makes sense.

**AmyBoz** · 03-17-2006, 03:02 PM

Almost losing my brother-in-law on 9/11 has made me make sure that I always tell my loved ones that I love them EVERY SINGLE TIME I see them. You never know when it may be your last, and I'd hate to regret not saying something to them.

Not financial in nature, but it has changed my life.