Hard Times? Credit Crunch? How do you cope with hard times?
By recycledgoth
@recycledgoth (9894)
February 12, 2010 4:37am CST
These days the credit crunch is biting harder than ever, and there is never enough money available to pay the bills.
So how do you cope with hard times?
Do you try to find extra work, evening or weekend work,
Do you pawn or sell your possessions in order to pay the bills?
Can you manage or are you sinking?
3 people like this
7 responses
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
13 Feb 10
i'm juggling like a mother.
you do what it takes,y'know.if there's stuff i don't need,i sell it..it's just taking up space anyway.extra work when i can find it.
it's the utilities that are killing..you try to save,they vote themselves an increase.you can't win for losing.
you do what it takes,y'know.if there's stuff i don't need,i sell it..it's just taking up space anyway.extra work when i can find it.
it's the utilities that are killing..you try to save,they vote themselves an increase.you can't win for losing.@recycledgoth (9894)
•
13 Feb 10
Hi Scarlet, yes the utilities are the worst. I'm sitting here with a fleece blanket over my legs and feet, trying to save money by not having the heating on. I reckon I'll be trying to sell more stuff soon too, *sigh* we just have to manage the best we can don't we
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
13 Feb 10
yup.
of course i have many thermal BTU's at night (big tabby units) that help keep me warm
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
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13 Feb 10
Hello sweetie, real life and all that, had me in hiding for a while :-)
1 person likes this
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
12 Feb 10
I have saved a lot of money by not using the car as much, I use it twice a week and that's it, I walk instead now or put off trips that I need the car that aren't truly essential, petrol is so damn expensive and I have noticed a big change in my finances not having to fork out as much for the car. I am a frugal person anyhow so find I can just about keep my head above water, there seems no end of this damn credit crunch and I can't see the government especially in my country doing much about it, by they still spend spend spend! I relate them to the ostrich, they sink their heads in the sand and hope the recession goes away!
2 people like this
@recycledgoth (9894)
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13 Feb 10
Hi Wolfie :-) I wish I could use the car less but I have difficulties walking so it's essential. It bugs me when I see the obscene salaries being given to the *fat cats* of industry while the rest of us have to pay.
@danishcanadian (28953)
• Canada
13 Feb 10
My husband and I are both on low incomes, and used to it. We don't need a lot to live on. We are able to get what we need, and save a few bucks on the side. it's nice to be used to a lower income, so things are not only pretty good, they can't get much worse.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
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13 Feb 10
I can understand that hun, I'm used to being on a low income but prices have rocketed, and the income hasn't. I can only hope things improve for everyone soon
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
15 Feb 10
We are OK right now, but for Christmas we spent a bit more than we wanted to and for the first time in years we were not able to pay our credit card off in full which makes me very uncomfortable because once that happens things can quickly spiral out of control. I have tried to pare down on food expenses this month so that we can pay the credit card off at the end of the month. I am trying to use things that we already have in the house rather than going shopping to buy new food. I am trying to stretch things out to feed us for the whole month so I can save money and use it towards the credit card bill. I am also trying to do more online writing so that I can hopefully earn a little more this month to help with the bill too. I am uncomfortable with debt and try to stay out of it as much as possible.
1 person likes this
@recycledgoth (9894)
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15 Feb 10
Christmas was quite expensive for us too, and our central heating boiler packed up just as the really bad weather hit. I hope things get better for you soon
@Tallygirl09 (1380)
• United States
12 Feb 10
Indeed I think most people are finding it harder than ever to stay ahead of the bills. Made lots of small changes, don't go to movies or out to dinner nearly as much as in the past. Use grocery coupons which saves about $80 a month so I consider that money earned.
Basically I am planning out things more than ever before and scaling back in many ways. I have alot of clothes and have weeded out the ones that I don't wear anymore. Some went to consignment cause they are in excellent condition, others went to charity to hopefully help someone else!
2 people like this
@recycledgoth (9894)
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13 Feb 10
Coupons help a lot, we don't go anywhere near fast food outlets anymore either and evenings out are a thing of the past.
@sukumar794 (5040)
• Thiruvananthapuram, India
12 Feb 10
Hard to sort out solutions for pressing problems most of us make a living in tune with all hardships faced.
1 person likes this
