Handling the economy

United States
October 22, 2008 6:49pm CST
My family and I have found ourselves in a bind. We always seem to do that for some reason or other lol, but lately with the economy the way it is, we have found it rather rough to even make ends meat. I'll be quite frank, we are struggling. We are paying the bills as much as we can, yet there comes a point when there is no more money to pay with. What do we do then? We both have been doing everything we can just to try to make it, and yet, we still havn't. Sometimes it gets upsetting because I see some who have it so easy, and we don't. Not saying I'm jealous of them, just wondering....wondering how to become that way, and sometimes if i would even like to be like that. I don't know how but we always seem to make it through, and I guess this is just one of those times too, but sometimes I really wonder if I would be the same person if everything was just handed to me, like it is for some others. Do you think that you would be the person you are today if everything had just been laid out for you? If you didn't have to struggle for everything you have, and everything you want to keep? How do you handle the stress, and have the patience during these times? From --idealess in WV
5 people like this
11 responses
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I have been struggling also. I lost my job four months ago due to a layoff. I have always been the person who paid their bills way in advance. I had extra money for fun or clothing. Now like one of the other responders said, I barely have money to buy food. I am now not able to pay my bills, I am trying to make sure that my rent is paid, because without that I would surely be on the streets, and then it would be harder to get back on my feet. I am trying to find another job, but everything seems to be paying less than what I am getting on unemployment and that is not enough. Unemployment does not even cover my rent, and the rent went up this month. I know things will get better, and I am tring to get through this phase as smoothly as possible. I know my phone will be ringing off the hook with creditors. That's another thing that angers me, I have always paid my bills never been late, but miss one payment or do not pay the full amount and it seems all H*ll breaks lose. I'll pray for you, please pray for me, we will get through this. God bless,
2 people like this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
23 Oct 08
There is something you can do and that is get in contact with the debtors and let them know What is going on. Let them know that you acknowledge the debt but your not able to make payments at this time because of job loss but you will as soon as possable. Most should try to work with you. Also check out This web site to find out your rights. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre18.shtm
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
Yeah I guess its happening around the world. Well in you rcase I really do not know what the real situation in there. What kind of job you are doing and all that but I think it would be best that besides your real job you should be aware that there are other sources of income that you need to look for. I know it may be hard at the start but then you should be to survive financially.
@rsa101 (37968)
• Philippines
23 Oct 08
Well I would start looking for one offline not the online sites if you really want to make sure it is legit or not. Online earnings are not really reliable at the moment.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Oct 08
Thank you so much for your responce. I know that there are a lot of other ways to make money, however, I don't know which ones are legit, or which ones are complete scams. I always seem to find the scams before finding the legit ones. That's just the way it seems. I am hoping to find something that is completely legit, and pays like it is supposed to. Thanks so much for your responce.
2 people like this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I have not had anything handed to me....everything I have I have earned and yes...the journey has made me what I am today....and my children too. I was a single parent for 28 years now....and had very little child support. So I worked two jobs....bought my house which is now paid for...and I don't have to struggle for money. The kids learned how to work as a team and that gave them good work ethic which I think is sorely missing these days. Just my opinion.
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Oct 08
I think that a good work ethic is something that a lot of people need. Sometimes I see people that have things handed to them, and I know that they are very different from me, and sometimes I wish I had, but then other times, I am very happy that my life is the way it is, and i have worked for everything that I have because i think that I am a wonderful person, and know the value of the things that I have. If i would have never worked for anything in my life, then I would take much more than already for granted. Life is a gift, and I don't really know if I would notice the good as much as the bad, had I been given everything in life. Thanks so much for the responce, I really appreciate it. You keep going, you're are doing great!!
1 person likes this
@aprces (1082)
• China
23 Oct 08
do you envy somebody a bit who won't have trouble with that things you mentioned? i think you are live in america where is better than china,you have the ability to eat hamburger which has been called junk food in your country everyday in kfc,can you tell me how much is it in america? but in china kfc,a hamburger costs more than 10 yuan at least.turn it to usd,it's about 1.46 dollar one hamburger in china. although chinese economy increases rapidly these years,but admittedly,there is a truth is most of chinese people cannot afford one hamburger,so those national incomes won't be offered to our citizen,just satisfied the goverment just Individual viewpoint,but are you still sad when you read what i've said above?
1 person likes this
• United States
23 Oct 08
I'm not really sad about what you have said to be honest, because at least you are in the position that you know the cost of it. I have not had the luxury of being able to eat outside of the home in about 5 months now. Now yes I mean i do buy coca cola on car trips and things like that, but that has been put on holt also. People all over the world are broke, and are struggling. One example is that I am in school right now working on my degree. This election coming up on whether to raise taxes (McCain) on everyone, or raise taxes (Obama) on persons who make over 250,000 is very important to me, because if McCain wins, then my taxes for school is raised, meaning, my fed. financial aid is lowered, meaning, I won't be able to afford school. Yes i know there are McCain supporters and i am sorry for saying this but if you look at his bill, no matter what you can say, it's true the proof is in his bill that he is proposing. Many other people are facing foreclosures of their homes, the homes their famililies have lived in their entire lives. Many others can't afford food for their homes, not eating out, but food for their homes. It is getting really rough here, and I am thankful for everything that I have however the origional viewpoint was, if you saw someone that had everything given to them would you be envious, or do you think that it would change you as a person. And yes sometimes I do look at them and want someone to just give everything to me because it would make things so much easier, however, i have learned from well ...life that anything that is worth having is worth working hard to acquire. If I did get everything that I wanted easily then I would not value it as much as I do. Thanks for the responce, and I hope that things will become much better in your country.
1 person likes this
@cpersam (42)
• United States
23 Oct 08
You are not alone in this... I'm a freelance artist, since May my ebay sales have been practically zilch. I've tried getting a part-time receptionist job but no one is hiring part-time... I just can't go full time right now... 1. I've put so much work into my freelance art and abandoning it now would just throw away all of my hard work. 2. my cat was just diagnosed with kidney failure and is on treatments. It does seem like some people have it much easier than others. The best way I handle it is to just keep working away on my projects...
1 person likes this
@hildas (3031)
23 Oct 08
Life has it's ups and downs,we have a smooth ride then a bumpy one. I had to sell my car this week. The financial crisis has hit everyone hard, and I am sorry to say it, but I think the worst is still to come. Cut back on luxury's like candy and things. I put back a box of donnuts in the shop the other day, 'saying to myself I can live with out these'. If you do that with 5 or 6 items your saving money. I had it good for years and now I can barely buy food. It's a real eye opener for me, but I will manage better from now on.
• United States
23 Oct 08
Very true. A little bit goes a long way. My husband and i set down and figured out that if when we went on trips we just brought our drinks with us, then we would on average save 5,600 a year!!! And on top of that, it's just one bottle, on average we purchase about 2 bottles of Coca Cola a day while we're out, each. so times that 5600 by two and then another 2 and you have a rough estimate of what we'd save for one year, if we just brought our drinks with us. It's hard sometimes to go without the things that we have worked for, but right now it seems that that is what we are going to have to do. I am just hoping that it does not get as bad as the last economic depression, that's why i'm doing as much as I can right now to hang on. Hopefully, the economy will perk back up, and we won't have to worry, but I haven't seen any sure signs of it yet. Thank you for the great responce, and I'll be sure to keep an eye out for ones that you post.
1 person likes this
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
23 Oct 08
nothing is ever handed down to me... i always learn to struggle and earn for myself ever since i got married to my hubby... we start from a big 0 and even minus i can say because my hubby carried debts by that time... only by God's strength and His grace we can be in our position now and it makes us appreciate the things that we have even more... sometimes i know it is really hard and takes lots of patience... but we just have to do it... that's life... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
23 Oct 08
I'm not sure. I like to believe that I've always been me, but how I've evolved as a person...the events of my life have obviously contributed. I can't say whether I'd have developed similiarly had things gone much different. So I don't know. I don't regret how my life is gone -- not that it hasn't been referred to as pure hell, at times. Stress...stress is hard. For me, the key is remembering to take a step back and a deep breath. To engage in relaxing activities once the day is over -- if only to put excess energy (normally negative energy)...to use. Patience is something you have to learn. I try. That's all any of can do. How things go in life...well, some people just get the good side of the luck of the draw, and some of us get the bad end. It's how things go. I just sincerely believe that our own actions determine whether something will stay good or bad for ourselves and those we love, personally.
1 person likes this
@carolscash (9492)
• United States
24 Oct 08
I completely understand. We are struggling to and I just keep getting bills that I can't seem to pay. I am so tired of struggling,but I believe that it makes us who we are. I find that I am always having to come up with yet another creative way to pay something. Thankfully, I have no credit card debt or car payment but the other bills are just as bad. The cost of everything has gotten so out of control that someone needs to step in and take control of things. We don't need a CEO of a big company to do it either. We need an average person. I believe that Obama is our only chance for a future and we need someone who can really change the direction that our economy is going or people are going to be without work,homes, food, electric,heat,etc. It is sad that working families are struggling to feed their families.
• Australia
23 Oct 08
Personally I do not need much in life and what I do have I have worked hard for so I tend to look after what I have ,life is a challenge as is trying to stretch that doller and because it must be so we do it.It's wonderful that there are a lot of sites available to us of like minded people so we can all help one another through this time and get through it we will. Yes there is stress but there is always some-one out there worse of then us and I for one feel blessed to have what I do .
23 Oct 08
I am 59 now and My family and I have never had much money. My father had a heart attack when I was 8 and could not work so we did not have much money as a child. My husband had a accident and could not work and in those days women did not get equal pay so I did not earn a lot. This struggle meant that our children did not have a lot of things that some of their friends had but it made us all very close. I do not think it is good for rich parents to give their children everything that they want. They do not learn the value of simple things.