Casualities of the economy

[enjoy the ride]

I keep thinking aobut you all with this situation.
I was talking to my vet on Thursday- bring a couple of my goats to get their rabies shots paid for by the gift certificate I won in their baby picture contest. He said that In October his practice simply fell off to nothing- people simply did not want to spend money. But he also said it had picked up a bit in the last week.
I know that when the stock market did a nose dive, the media was carping their usual chicken-little news and the election was pending, I got really nervous and I pulled in my spending drastically.
With all the hype for the last few months, I had also purchased a lot of things like hay and wood pellets and even food to store up earlier than I normally wood, so my spending right now is very minimal. I think this is true for many others too,
With the election over and gas dropping, I believe that things will start to pick up and a demand for employees will increase through the winter. I do hope that it does happen this way. I have been actually planning on doing some Christmas shopping right after I pay this years property taxes. A couple of weeks ago, I would not have even thought of doing this. If people feel more confident, maybe things will head more back to normal.

 

[FarmerChick]

I agree ETR

on the news the anchorman was describing the vicious circle that we snowball into.

prices rise

scary times

people stop spending money and BOOM, create worse hard times actually!

so anchorman was saying get out and spend something to keep the circle turning, but he said the catch 22 is alot of people don't have extra money for retail items, they need to pay the mortage first, etc. etc.

so it is rough. when to let the purse strings loose vs. being careful with what money we have?

oh well just rambling....but from what I see around here people are still not spending much.

at wally world the other day I had to drop off pics to be developed and the parking lot was full, but no one had carts, they bought all in their hands. Usually people are loaded down with a cart full.....not lately!

 

[Homesteadmom]

I am making most of my kids Christmas gifts this yr, but those I am buying I will ue our extra money we get from the gin in Dec.

 

[curly_kate]

I'm a teacher, but can't find a job in my area to save my life. It's very true about people w/degrees not being able to find work. If I didn't have student loans to pay off, I'd have been much better able to find a job out here (course, it probably would have been in the casino). Luckily, my dh & I are working like mad to pay off our debt, so I might not have to commute 75 miles every day to my crappy job.

 

[FarmerChick]

that is a big key Curly
get out of that debt and when more financially free, the world is a better place for you...LOL...you can choose easier options in life. makes a huge difference....as our debt went down, the relief is unreal. I only have a little more left and freedom is near! I can't wait....sure can't come fast enough getting stuff paid off...LOL

 

[scrambledmess]

My uncle just lost his job (tool and dye engineer) last week. He took the job 4 years ago and put his old house on the market then (Michigan). It still hasn't sold. So now he has two house payments and no job. My aunt hasn't been able to find work either. She is a medical secretary. My BIL lost his job several months ago due to lack of work (factory, luxery boat builder). My other BIL hasn't worked in almost a year (construction). My SIL is threatened to lose her job (rad tech) as the hospital just let go of her radiologist. My other BIL may lose his job, as well (manager aluminum plant). A friend mine lost his job in hospitality. My DH's work (telecom) has already started layoffs. So far they have let 80 go and are expecting to do another round of layoffs on the 20th.

I really think the next couple of years aren't going to be overly joyful for many people

 

[Homesteadmom]

I agree, it is only going to get worse for a lot of people. And I think we will be seeing more people growing gardens & preserving food more out of neccassity(sp?) than desire. And I also think the lines at the food banks will just get worse & worse. We have a whole bunch of cotton tail rabbits & quail around here, but I know if times get really bad they will disappear real fast! I keep telling my ds#1 to bring his pellet gun out & get the quail & we will put them in the freezer. Think I would put a padlock on my chicken pen then too to help keep my hens safe(hey I need the eggs to feed my kids thank you).
I also think there will be more families sharing homes again like they used to a long ime ago to help keep a roof over their heads & share the bill paying. I know we have decided if it becomes really bad we will take our classrm & move it to the family rm & rent our the 4th bedrm if need be to help some one out & elp to pay our bills too. Although it would have to be someone we know we can trust wholeheartedly to be around my kids. And they would have to help out in the garden & everything too.

 

[FarmerChick]

yes the hard hit times are still coming. so many businesses are trying to stay open, but some eventually must lay off and close still. Homeowners are struggling, but for how long before they lose their homes.

bad times are certainly still coming. just cause gas prices dropped a bit, sure don't mean all is well. It isn't out there. I am not fooled one bit.