A bright side to this recession???

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2008
A bright side to this recession???
14
Sat, 10-31-2009 - 1:55pm

I thought this was an interesting article/survey:


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091030/lf_nm_life/us_money_survey


I can't say I'm thrilled with this economy, but I do know that once I escape the jaws of debt, I intend to never return.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Sat, 10-31-2009 - 3:28pm

I am a little sad it has come to this honestly. When a friend of mine comes to me and says "I can't afford to make my minimum payments" it is not a good day. I know a few are not far off a statement like that.If one of them lost their jobs it would be tough. I would love to think this recession has dealt some hard lessons. However ripping the band aide off is not going to fix this problem. As soon as they get a little reprieve they will go back to spending. It would take something pretty drastic such as someone showing up at their house and taking away all their stuff or kicking them out of their homes to make a difference. I honestly don't know what it would take for that happen nor do I intend to find out. Soon and not in the far off distance my bf and I could survive with one income. That is the goal.

People today live way out side their means, they don't even know what their means are most of the time I would guess. People hear and learn what they want to. The fact they are overspending, can't buy something when they want to and are destroying their children's futures is not what they want to hear so they tune it out.

I have had 4 people's bank cards(debit card, I live in Canada) declined today at my store. Maybe it is sinking in, maybe. I just seriously doubt it.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2008
Sat, 10-31-2009 - 5:39pm

You made some interesting points.

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Sun, 11-01-2009 - 8:00am

I think it is a good thing. People are waking up and...hopefully...reconsidering their wants vs. needs. It's mostly Americans who have gone overboard in consumption, so on a global scale we are once again consuming more than anyone else. What gives us the right to be so greedy?

Anyway, for myself this has been good. We are finding that we aren't terribly affected by the economy. We've lived frugally for many years and only in the past 10 years have found decent jobs and started saving for retirement. People we know who have had great jobs for 20+ years but didn't do a great job of saving are really at a loss of what to do next. They've never sold all of their possessions and moved across the country (or out of the country) for a job that may or may not work out. We've done that several times and know that we have many options if things go belly-up where we are now.

The best thing to happen on the home front is the outrageous rates from credit cards. It's finally sinking in with DH that credit cards are not a life line. They have got to go and cannot be used for any reason. I'm so happy he "gets it".

Dee



iVillage Member
Registered: 04-08-2008
Sun, 11-01-2009 - 4:43pm

I have worked hard and saved my whole life. With an income of less than 40K, I just bought a $400K home with 55% down payment. I did this by myself (before DH). My DH lost his job 6 mos ago and can't find a new one. We have been living off my single income. It has taken SACRIFICE! I ride a bicycle 20 miles per day (and I'm 2.5 mos pregnant) to save the $7 bus fare. People used to call me "nuts" and think I was extreme. Everyone thinks I'm a doom dayer or something bc I'll talk about previous global recessions and how we should prepare.

I am not saying, "I told you so" to these ppl. But we have to make sure we are covered in case of emergencies - that is just common sense. But somehow in our time of endless credit, it has become seemingly unnecessary to the majority.

In the last 5 months, I have had sooooo many people come to me for advice. I am astonished at their lack of BASIC household accounting knowledge! It takes me many back and forth conversations to help them. But this is new. I have never had ppl asking me for help before. I sincerely believe that whatever happens in the economy, what they have learned from this time will stay with them. They can't just "forget" the basics again???!?

Stay on track and good luck everyone.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2008
Sun, 11-01-2009 - 5:38pm

I'm in awe that you saved and put 55% down on your home!

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-24-2007
Sun, 11-01-2009 - 7:18pm

"My purpose of posting the article/survey was really to get personal perspective...do YOU think YOU'LL return

Kate


empty purse

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-29-2008
Sun, 11-01-2009 - 7:55pm

YES KATE!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-14-2008
Sun, 11-01-2009 - 9:00pm
My DH and I have not personally been affected by the recession. Although we realize that nothing is guarenteed we have not been worried that we will loose our jobs. In the past year we have both gotten pretty significant raises. We know we are very lucky.
We have lots of friends who are truly struggling. We know that if we hadn't made changes we were at risk of this too, if something should happen. So, we really are focusing on making it so that we can live on one income should one of be out of work, even for an extended amount of time. We are getting closer to that goal.
Once we get the money save for our car we will be working on having 8 months of an emergency fund.
Never say never, but I believe that DH and I will not go back in debt. We have had our living room done for almost a year. But, we still have not bought furniture because we have not had cash for it. We have not even discussed using our line of credit or using a buy now pay later plan.
Also, we have always had a dream of taking a Carribean trip yearly. But, we are talking about not traveling this winter so that we can focus on some home improvements. We are worried that if we don't do that we will be too tempted to use credit. We will compromise and do a few mini trips with the kids, as long as we have cash of course.





iVillage Member
Registered: 01-23-2007
Mon, 11-02-2009 - 8:17am
Agreed. We need to get back to that spend-as-you-go mentality rather than charging everything. I used to love layaway and am happy to see it's back too :)
Dee


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-10-2003
Mon, 11-02-2009 - 8:42am
I agree. BF and I are about as secure as secure can be in our jobs. I've gotten one promotion during the recession and am looking forward to another "mini" promotion in a few months (fingers crossed). However, looking around and seeing how quickly it can change makes me realize I need to get my butt in gear NOW. BF and Sis live with me and pay rent. Sis probably won't for much longer (she's 23 and getting ready to break out on her own I think). BF is applying for jobs that at minimum require him to move for training for 4 months and potentially have us living apart for a year or two. So I am trying my best to get it together so that if these things happen in the next 6 months, I am prepared for the loss of income!

Bex -


"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift -thats why its called the present."


Bex -

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