What do you REALLY think will happen.....

**rowdy35** · 02-08-2009, 09:01 PM

for me and my husband, we have been in a financial storm for 23 months now. we moved from one state to another and bought a house close to husband's family without doing the proper research. It's been a really rotten 23 months for us financially.

personally i believe that things are going to get better in 2009/ I know I'm the oddball out here but I'm choosing to believe this for my own sanity because it's been such a serious struggle for us and I really want to believe that things are going to get much better.

I realize that it really depends on what type of job you are in and what part of the country that you live in too. We are both really hard workers and there are plenty of things we are qualified to do. The only scare we really have is that we might get sick/disabled/ or experience death due to accident or unexpected illness. Of course i always think of the worst case scenario as I have seen so many people die unexpectedly due to accidents.

We could always take minimum wage jobs and still be able to make ends meet. We would have to rent out the rooms in our house for extra money or sell our house if some extreme thing happened. I always have a back up plan for my back up plan though.

I am sure hoping that things get better for all of us this year.

**lovestoread** · 02-09-2009, 08:17 AM

Thank you to all who have posted in this thread....I really appreciate everyones' opinions, because I think if everyone all thought the same way, what a scary road we would have ahead of us....not that we don't have that scary road ahead, but it makes me feel so much better to know that there are others out there that can identify with me, and that we can help each other out just by letting each other know where we stand....To be there for each other, maybe not physically, but emotionally and to have this support...I come here every day sometimes several times a day, and you don't know how much all of these discussions have helped me...I hope and pray that things will be getting better soon, but know that with all of you, there are brighter days ahead.......

Thanks again,

Sheri

**Thevail** · 02-10-2009, 03:28 PM

#1) I don't think we'll start to see much in the way of upturn in the economy until 3rd quarter 2009..maybe as long as 1st quarter 2010.

The stimulus package passed today and will probably be law within two weeks tops. BUT..there is a lag time while monies are disbursed to various states and various agencies within those states. Then finally sent out to bid and engineering. Then once the companies have their bids accepted and get the work they'll start hiring. So that's going to take some time.

#2) people are scared (we all are!) and so many people are doing exactly what we're all doing and saving money..that's a great idea for the individual, but a terrible thing for the economy. I'm saving money by not eating at YOUR restaurant. And you're saving money by not buying a new dress at MY store. So the problem gets kinda ugly...and personal.

Some ideas

#3) Credit is going to be a real bugger to get for a long time if you're an average person. Clear up your debt, and keep those lines of credit open. You may NEED them..for things you actually NEED like food or to stay in your home at some point. Debt is bad..starving and homelessness are FAR worse.

#4) Pay ahead on your basic bills like power bills phone bills etc. Yes, you'll lose access to that money and it will be riding as a credit on your bill (hopefully for months), but sometimes having an extra month to pay a bill without falling behind can be a real godsend.

#5) Obviously stock up on basics, not just foodstuffs (we're all pretty aware of that stuff on this board) but also..find your shampoo on sale add a coupon or two and buy a years worth. Do you buy razors? Get a years worth while they are on sale. Stock up on laundry detergent, soap,coffee, the sort of stuff that you're not going to live without but can save you $$ over the long run by freeing up cash in the months to come.Don't forget things you won't need til summer. Swimsuits and sunblock are pretty cheap right now.

#6) It's all pretty bad right now, but it COULD get a lot worse. Do your part to help stave that off for as long as possible! Buy an extra bag of rice and donate it to the food bank in your area. Knit, sew, or clean out a closet and donate some things to your local mission, church, or wherever..those places are seeing increased demand already. There but for the grace of god go I. Any one of us could suddenly find ourselves with a relative needing one of those places.

Hunker down, and hold on mi amigos, we're smart enough to survive this.

On a happier note..Unemployment in the Great Depression was 25%...That means that 75% of people STAYED EMPLOYED even during the Great Depression.

**mommy4ever** · 02-10-2009, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by Thevail

On a happier note..Unemployment in the Great Depression was 25%...That means that 75% of people STAYED EMPLOYED even during the Great Depression.

Thanks for pointing that out!! I never looked at it that way. I am still anxious of dh falling into the ranks of unemployed, but my province is at 6.2% unemployed meaning 93.8% ARE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED!

That's not that bad!