July 3, 2008
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What has been the impact of the recent Economic Downturn on you?
What has been the impact of the recent Economic Downturn on you or
your friends? What do you think the primary causes of the downturn are?
What are you doing to cope?
Being that we are a one income household of 5, I already have to make sure to be frugal with money. With prices going up (including gas) I am having to be even more frugal.My husband has been cut back to 4 day work weeks, only 40 hours a week, when he used to get 60 hours a week. So with less money coming in and stuff costing more, we have to be careful. (We are thankful he has a job though as some employees were laid off)
We shop first at a discount / bent and dent grocery store for our stuff. Anything that is necessary that can’t be gotten there is then gotten at wise where I am a wise club member.
I also love freecycle to watch for clothes for us and other things we may want/need.
Also our local Goodwill is really good. I have been told it is not that way in many areas, so I guess it is one of the blessings of living in an area with many Amish/Mennonites (our Goodwill even has a capedress section).
What are you doing?
Comments (7)
You sound like you are among those already badly affected by the current recession. Your solutions to enforced frugality will become more and more prevalent, probably with more competition for scarcer resources. Hopefully we won’t sink as low as happened in the “Great Depression of 1929-39″ but it could happen.
I’ve linked you
My wife grew up in Western PA and attended a Mennonite College (Juniata). The Amish are a pretty good example of how to live a pretty rich life with minimum energy use and I suspect will be a good example of how to decrease our over-dependance on oil and other fuel-based energy sources.
One hopeful thought: As I remember depression times ( I was born in 1930), people seemed to help each other more and were more friendly – after all, most of us were all in the same boat
Hi Kristen
I have commented here before and thought that I would jump in on this, even though I am sure to be challenged. There are six in my family and 5 at home, as my oldest is off working to save for college. I am amazed at how the media is spinning the recession and what not. Yes times are a bit more expensive now, but we as Americans have NO CLUE as to the reality of hard times. My husband had an accident and we live on less than 25,000 a year. Yes, we do and it is fine. You see in America we are very wealthy. We actually bought a run down farm, and are making a run at self sufficiency, as we can do All things through Him…which strengthen us.
I write often of low cost tips, making it from scratch and well curbing ones expenses and actually discerning what are needs and wants. Having the internet, tv, cars, food in the pantry, more than one outfit, medications when sick, telephone and days to have off and to hike or picnic show us just how out of touch we are. Times are not tight, but actually just more difficult for us to relax, and play. You see I am sure your children like mine have toys, warm blankets, numerous outfits, three meals a day, and snacks…yes gas is pricey, but in reality gas is a tax coup and the local state and federal governments tax gas like crazy…the rich oil barrens as the media portrays them had 9% in profits last year…all the while Planned parenthood(a federally funded program…to kill) had 11% profits last year. So the media is spinning the crisis. If we stopped killing over a million babies a year…well you see where I am going.
I know that you have shared that you live in the country…so you could get a few hens to have eggs and then meat. Perhaps many should realize that we all can grow vegetables in a bucket on the porch(one tomato plant provides numerous tomatoes)…we need to realize that our crisis and fear of recession is here because we the consumer refuse to stop spending. We must stop credit cards. We must only buy what we can pay cash for and use everything that we have until is of no use.
And praise God that your husband is willing to work…many husbands expect the wife to get a job.You are obedient to the Lord’s desire for the family…and 40 hours is enough.
Well I have rambled enough…I so enjoy that you always make me think.
Take care
Jennifer
Jennifer’s comment is pretty indicative of those of us who have learned frugality or were brought up in straightened circumstances. After a while frugal decisions become habits. A good place to start is to think “Measure the pleasure” before purchasing anything. Most of us do spend a lot of money on trivia or things we could well do without.
e.g.: A friend of mine who has declared personal bankruptcy (He is an accountant!) because of over-extended credit debt; still has two cable boxes a boat and three cars and a lot of “stuff” (His a family where he and his wife work and have three small children.) He worries because he can’t keep his head above water. I think he’s fairly typical.I don’t think most of us are hurting very much yet, but I suspect you are going to have a lot of company before this recession is over and that our lifestyles will have changed.
It does pay to be frugal. I find that I am certainly being more careful about how many trips I make in the car.
Thanks so much for the add!!! I can totally relate, and I suspect when all is said and done this is going to be far more than a recession. We are a one income family of seven (home schooling with four sons and a daughter) and I have seen my hours greatly reduced also, to where the OT just isn’t there. We are seriously considering leaving the area. We do have chickens, and recently bought more, and we are doing all we can to keep going. The thing I try to remember is that God is still God, good times or bad, and He is more than able to take care of our needs. He has more than demonstrated that time and time again. You know, I used to wonder why we weren’t specifically mentioned in prophecy. I don’t really wonder anymore. These are truly exciting times. MARANATHA!!!
God bless you and yours!!! ><> Robert
In tough times family and friends seem to become more important – sometimes crucial. This is a problem here in the US where so many of us move away from our “home base” so frequently and find linking up with a security net very difficult. Sometimes our church, or if we live in a small community, the community itself will take up the slack. Does anyone have an example of where this has happened?
What part do you think the internet will play if this recession deepens more?