I heard on the news about California public schools getting rid of sports from their schools, I think due to budget problems. I predict more schools will have to do this.

I also predict a lot of people who bought homes in the last few years with the low interest rates will lose them within 10 years bec they bought homes beyond their means.

I think Michael Jackson will be convicted of child abuse.

Does anyone else have any predictions about the future they'd like to share?

By Dana on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 08:57 pm:

I definitely believe many people will be losing their homes. Upkeep on a home is so expensive. It is already happening in several states.

Other than that, I really have no ideas.

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 09:00 pm:

That's why we bought a small house 7-1/2 years ago!

By Fionadeassis on Sunday, March 21, 2004 - 11:54 pm:

Please don't scare me on the house buying thing seeing as we just bought our first house 3 weeks ago. The mortgage will be about $100 more than the rent we pay right now. Would you call that way beyond our means? Now I am freaked out a bit!

fiona

By Ladypeacek on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 04:16 am:

Well with my dh in the military we have decided to wait on house buying for as long as we can. I do predict that alot of ugly is coming though. I think with the aids crisis seeming to get out of control that people who are parents of young children now will have a tough time keeping our children from being exposed! I heard that in 20 years 1 in 3 adults that are children now will have aids. Well since i have 4 kids ( 2 of my own and 2 step), that scares the mess out of me! One of my mothers best friends had aids. he was so wonderful to our family. He contracted it many years ago when it first became known. It was so sad to see his struggles. Everytime he came to visit he seemed worse though he tried to hide it. I can't imagine one of my children going through that!

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 06:10 am:

Kenna, I suspect that the "1 in 3 adults" number includes everyone in the world, including South Africa and Asia, where AIDS is truly rampant.

By Bea on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 05:04 pm:

I understand that fear Kenna, I can remember giving my sons a talk about AIDS when we lived in the DC suburbs. At that time one in five prostitutes in DC were infected. I tried to warn them that all it took was for one member of their social group to try a DC hooker and then sleep with a school mate. They could all become infected. I doubted that I could keep them celibate until marriage, but I sure wanted them to know and practice safe sex, if they were going to be sexually active.

I won't label this a prediction, but rather a fear that this country is a civilization in the process of self destructing, much like the Greeks, the Romans and others throughout history.

By Bobbie on Monday, March 22, 2004 - 09:28 pm:

A lot of the houses in our area are being taken back by the banks. People buy them not looking at the big picture. They just jump in with both feet.

And I agree about the self destruction.. Have major concerns about the kids that are being brought up being in control one day.

By Mommmie on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 10:11 am:

Re: the house buying thing, this is what I see in the people I know in real life who bought houses since the interest rates went way down:

-the families live paycheck to paycheck before they bought
-they put nothing down on the house
-they put nothing down on the house bec they have no savings
-they spend more than they planned on
-they charged top of the line appliances for their starter home
-they charged entire rooms of furniture, but they don't have enough cash to pay to have the backyard sodded bec the builder only included the front yard
-they have no money for plumbing repairs and other upkeep (and things go wrong from the beginning)
-they charged lawn equipment and all kinds of other fun stuff at Home Depot

and then what happens...

one of them loses their job, the mom gets a very strong pull to be a SAHM and quit her job, someone gets sick, there's another unexpected pregnancy, the marriage crumbles due to money arguments, etc. Something happens and there's no savings and HUGE bills.

By Momoffour on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 11:37 am:

We bought our home last year and we didn't get the interest rate that everyone is talking about ours is on the higher side do to our credit. We didn't have to put alot of money down. the owner paid all closing costs. Which helped out us alot. WE didn't go hawg wild and buy all new stuff for our new home. We are doing that during tax time We are also a one family income I am a sahm and was before we bought our home. as for the future I see my family still living in our home. I do not envy my kids having to grow up during these times but we take it as it comes.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 - 02:34 pm:

No new furniture for me when we moved. We have extra couches in our house because my parents moved to a house with a smaller living room! LOL! Otherwise, I have had the same couches that I bought when I was single, back in 1984! Ugh! I hate them, too. I'm so ready to see different furniture. DH would have never let me buy top-of-the-line appliances, either. They are way too expensive.

By Momaroze on Wednesday, April 14, 2004 - 10:42 am:

We have our own home too. We bought cheap. Less than renting that is for sure. It is almost payed off. We moved to the country....got away from the city where it is safer to raise children. I don't have a very good outlook on living in big city centres. I like the fact we can have animals and be self sufficient. We have our own water well...and lots of acreage. I feel secure here. As far as the future goes....it does not look very pretty to me. Even alot of the kids these days seem heartless and enjoy inflicting pain on others...I don't know what is going to happen...Boy I must be Pms ing today! LOL.