How is the economy affecting you?

[StL FinFan]

I have one friend who had to give up her home after being unable to sell it.
My place of employment has laid off seven people, almost half the support staff.

[CF DolFan]

My wife's office is closing down next month.  Half her friends are working for half of what they used to make and the other half have been looking for jobs for months.

We lost 20% of the work force in my division and look to lose more soon. 

I have a very limited amount of disposable income and that usually comes from money needed to go elsewhere. 

Bottom line ... we are hurting in the CF house!!!!  

[Defense54]

Fortunately I have alot of Job security in my business...........but I'm really worried about my future and retirement savings.

[Jim Gray]

I've had to cut back on the number of diamond studded canes I'm buying.

Seriously, I'm getting ready to sell my house, and I'm worried about the housing market.  Austin is in better shape than most, with the number 2 housing market in the US.  But there are so many houses on the market here, and every day I see another "for sales" sign going up in my neighborhood. 

I'm selling my house because it's too big now that the kids are gone.  I just can't justify the property taxes and utilities.  I have 2 kids in college and need the money to pay for that.

I'm sorry to hear that the CF house is feeling the pinch.  I'm afraid things are going to get worse before they get better.  I hope they don't get too much worse.

[TonyB0D]

I'm still ballin suckas!!

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Ms Tommy has had to lay off over 200 people at her job (she's an HR Generalist for a timeshare company).  And they're planning to lay off more. 
My new job is growing because I'm now working in pharmeceuticals, and people will always need medicine. 

As for us personally, we're ready to weather the storm should this economy go into another 1930's era depression.  My 401k is diversified, so it won't be completely depleted.  Ms Tommy and I own our condo and it's just us.  We have some equity in the condo, but not as much as we once did.  We own both our cars outright.  We shop carefully at the supermarket, pack leftovers in tupperware for lunch at work and keep the unnecessary driving and eating out to a minimum.   
 

[Buddhagirl]

I'm buying a condo. First time in years I can afford anything around here.

[Brian Fein]

I didn't over-buy, I am still in decent shape, but 400+ people got laid off from my job, and 100+ more left on their own as a result.  Other than that, my retirement investments have lost a ton of money, over $55k YTD, and I don't know how I'm gonna get that back.

[SportsChick]

for me, it's been highly noticeable. I work for a mom and pop. no raises or cost of living increases and what little wiggle room I had is gone with higher food, electric and gas prices. And to make things worse, here come the holidays and my huge rash of birthday time.

[StL FinFan]

^ We are all going to have to cut back on holiday gifts, I would think.

[SportsChick]

I'm lucky in that I'm very crafty, so homemade stuff is on my agenda this year.

[bsfins]

It's odd..my job is 50/50 the next 6 months. We have plenty of Clients,but less and less of them are paying.Gas today is less than $3 a gallon...So I've gotten a little relief recently...

My utility bill is gonna be a nightmare this year,(I'm praying for a mild winter) They lowered our electric rate,and Natural gas rate (which they've been over charging us for....) just so they can raise it back up...next month...

I've had a hell of a time finding a second job,to pay off my Mom's medical bills.....

[AZ Fins Fan 55]

I have lost a ton of money in my 401K. We were looking to buy another house but as it stands now we will probably not be able to sell ours so we are just going to wait it out. Outside of that we are managing ok.

[jtex316]

.Gas today is less than $3 a gallon...So I've gotten a little relief recently...

Shit - where is this under $3 Gas station?

[bsfins]

It's 2.94 a gallon here...in alot of stations...
http://www.missourigasprices.com/index.aspx?s=Y&fuel=A&area=Springfield&tme_limit=24

The gas station by my house was that way when I went to work....