Seriously, I have little conception of how this would affect me personally. As long as I maintain my current job and salary, that is. Are prices for essentials (e.g., food) likely to rise or drop? What about entertainment costs?
Cut back on discretionary spending, quit drinking booze and buy my cats' food in bulk, wear a lot of sweaters, eat more vegetablarian fare, drive as little as possible, bike as much as is feasible, work out and invest in vitamins. Good thing I learned how to live on air.
Seriously, I have little conception of how this would affect me personally. As long as I maintain my current job and salary, that is. Are prices for essentials (e.g., food) likely to rise or drop? What about entertainment costs?
Don't know what your profession is, but if we are talking about a 'Great Depression', I don't think you can assume you will maintain your current job and salary. That is not an assumption anyone should make.
Most of the rest is ONLY consumer confidence. The economy must be bad because we keep getting told it is.
QUICK...send that man to Washington!
Good luck with your Mantra...but bare in mind, writing one based on facts is tough work.
Back on my planet where some of my dear friends have already lost their jobs due to the fallout and others who are being squeezed at the jobs they are holding onto by a thread, we're looking at things a bit differently. My parents are scared as they've been watching their retirment funds dwindle and thier healthcare plans keep getting chopped up...it ain't pretty. My income has been cut drastically so if the second shoe drops I hope I can keep my apartment and just break even for a few years. I have already been contacting people for side work in case things get worse.
A Japanese restaurant and a fairly busy bar across the street recently closed down. Very creepy...cus that never happens in my neighborhood.
Though I disagree with Steve (pawdrix) on one observation -- restaurants frequently fail in NYC -- it's true there are signs. Starbucks is closing many branches and one of the giant Barnes and Noble stores is standing empty.
Anyway, back to the original question. What can we do, but sing our troubles away?
Oh, I love my boss, and my boss loves me,
And that is the reason that I'm so hungry.
Hallelujah, I'm a bum
Hallelujah, bum again!
Hallelujah, give us a handout
To revive us again.
I'm living on retirement income: Soc. Sec., company pension, and private investments. My house is paid off, so I think most of the adjustments I'll have to make are in my discretionary spending (dining, entertainment, travel, hobbies, clothing, sports, etc.). I expect my income to drop significantly, but hope I will continue to have enough to meet my basic necessities.
I fully expect to either lose my job or have my hours / pay cut significantly. ( I work for a Title Company. No Loans = No Title work) We used to go out to eat alot, now we stay home alot. I can take a job that pays less but is closer to home to save on gas, and I can take in sewing on the side to make up the difference.
My mother works in one of the largest hospitals around here, she works Housekeeping and is one of the people that makes sure the previous person with TB has *completely* left the room before the next person lays down.
We had figured her job to be safe. People need health care, they need doctors and hospitals, and people to keep them disinfected and clean. So far housekeeping has laid off 11 people, about one-third of their housekeeping staff.
Those who are left are overworked beyond belief and rooms are getting a quick dust off instead of actually cleaned in most cases. My mother personally is looking at retiring, coming to realize that despite being able to keep working, that she just might not be able to keep up the pace and still do her job properly.
I'm not saying this is because of any of the economy, just stating that just because a position seems needed for something to function properly, doesn't mean they won't be cut in favor of things not functioning properly but still turning a profit.
In other news the hospital just paid over 1 million dollars as part of a beautification program to put satin edged bed dividers and hard-wood hand crafted window shades in every room. Hence why I said it isn't because of the economy that they are laying off people, but it makes a nice excuse doesn't it?
As for our plans for the next great depression? I think staying alive is as good a goal as any. How are we going to do it? I have not a clue. :)
Starbucks is closing many branches and one of the giant Barnes and Noble stores is standing empty.
Starbucks needs to close down some of its branches lol. There are soon going to be one of those per american... Beyond that?
I laugh at our sillyiness. We got this stimulus check thing and we were supposed to spend it right? I worked at a bank and of the ones I recieved to deposite from members all went into savings not checking... I was like.... "You know you're supposed to spend that right?" but no one ever did lol. That stimulus should have been given to us on like a card that had a 2 month expiration date or something. I happily spent mine on glass! I say divide the 700 billion to DPC members. Not a single person on here could resist the call of more gear! We would spend it!
Heh out stimulus went towards a new recliner for my dad, several books for my mom, and my tripod for me. Savings, pfffft! It is all funny money anyway. and I can use the tripod and a canvas as a little mini-tent/shelter when the time comes!
