I have heard that alot of people lost their jobs in the New York area and I wonder how it is with the rest of the country.

If you want to go anonymous please feel free to do so at anytime.

By Vicki on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 08:42 am:

Honestly, I hear about how bad it is all the time, but I don't really see it around me. I don't personally know a single person who has lost their home or their job! Don't get me wrong, I know it exists, but it just isn't happening around me or my community I guess!

By Dawnk777 on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 09:29 am:

Well, I know people who have lost their jobs, since jobs have been disappearing for the last several years around here, and specifically, jobs were lost at the newspaper where my husband works, at the beginning of December. His wasn't one of them, though. We are doing a modest Christmas, but we pretty much do that every year, anyway.

We didn't take a vacation this past year, since DH didn't want to spend the money. It just seems that we work harder and get less for our money, as time goes by.

Gas prices went up, so everything else went up. Now that gas prices have dropped, has anything else gone down in price?

Even though fewer consumers are supposed to be out shopping for Christmas, etc, it sure didn't seem that way, when we were out shopping this weekend. The parking lots were jam-packed with cars.

My parents usually give us a nice-sized check at Christmas, in lieu of actual presents. The check is smaller than it used to be.

I think there are fewer Christmas lights out and that the Christmas tree lots seem to have a lot of trees left, with it being so close to Christmas.

By Emily7 on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 10:56 am:

It has affected my sisters family, they lost their business this week. I think the main reason is because of the car industry, their business was linked in a way.
So far it hasn't been to bad for my dh's job, although BNSF has said that they may have to lay people off.
I have a friend, in another state, that has lost 2 jobs because of closures as well.

By Rayelle on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 12:12 pm:

I don't see it here. I think it's because this town used to be a factory fueled economy and that died out here about twenty years ago. Basically there hasn't been much so there isn't much to lose. We have what we call the big three-the railroad, the paper mill and the prison. We lost a lot of small business retail places when walmart bought the mall. That's when dh's good commission job started to go south and we began trying to keep our head above water while going to school. Once we have degrees I doubt we will stay here but I just take it one day at a time. There are many stories that make it sound that our local powers that be want to keep this a sleepy small town.

Actually, I would have to say we are better off than this time last year. We both have jobs that aren't completely horrid, really we feel happy and settled for now. I hope that feeling continues.Last year at this time I had to take my mom up on her offer to help with Christmas presents for the kids. I didn't need that this year and we are almost done our livingroom remodel we have been wanting to do for so long. I was grateful for what I had last year believe me, but there has been a positive turn around for us lately after struggling and I am extra appreciative.

I do know a few people who have seen their retirement funds and college savings for their kids drop to about half of what they were. I can't imagine.

By Dramamamma on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 12:36 pm:

I have a friend who lost her job but I'm not sure it was so much the economy, I think it was more hurricane related.

Emily -- I hope your friend has fared well and has found another job (if this is someone that I might have known in the past).

By Breann on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 12:45 pm:

My DH's little brother is "laid off" right now. Hopefully things will pick up and he will have his job back soon.

By Mrs_B on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 01:05 pm:

I think I live in the safest area to live at in this time, a military base. We don't lose our homes and the men just don't lose their jobs. I really haven't seen much more because of the economy.

By Kaye on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 01:23 pm:

In houston we see it. The stores are less crowded this year, so shopping must be down. I personally know several people who have been laid off, engineers who are used to making 6 figures. We definitly feel it. The hurricane didn't make it any better, but all in all I think times are turning a little worse every day.

By Tink on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 02:59 pm:

We live right in the middle of the area hit hardest by the economy and the housing bust. I can list at least 20 people who've lost their jobs, homes or both in the last year or so. I'm so thankful that my dh works in the grocery business and as many of them are saying "No matter what, people have to eat". As a preschool teacher, my job is less stable but our school is seeing attendance numbers rising so I'm not too worried either. Stores are less busy, people are more careful about how they spend the income they are getting and are cutting corners anywhere they can.

By Reds9298 on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 03:14 pm:

My DH is also an engineer and luckily has a pretty stable job. BUT, lots of our other engineer friends have all lost their jobs and are unsuccessfully looking for work. We just moved from a major automotive town and tons and tons of people there have lost their jobs, their severance, their benefits, and their prospects since many of them had been at GM and Chrysler for many years making a crapload of $$(hourlies) with no education. Now they have no place to go to maintain their lifestyle.

My sister and her DH BOTH lost their jobs within the last month. For us the biggest thing has been 1)the hit to our retirement accounts and 2)just not overspending because who knows when we might unexpectedly need it in this economy. The market in our old town for homes was absolutley terrible. We took a huge loss on our home just to sell. In a town of around 50,000 people, there are currently 1500 homes on the market and more everyday with the people who are having to up and leave because they lost their jobs. No one to buy these homes.

So yes...the new town I'm in seems to be doing pretty well, but my former hometown (2 hrs. south)is going downhill fast. Primarily as a result of the automotive problems. It's all medical here, which seems pretty stable at the moment.

By Tarable on Monday, December 22, 2008 - 03:34 pm:

This is a very scary time right now for DH and I. We have all our eggs in one basket so to speak. We both work at the same small computer software company and it is getting hit really really hard right now. We can actually see layoffs coming and we are hoping that our seniority will but a big factor in keeping our jobs longer than others but DH is saying once the holidays are over he is going to start looking and seeing what is out there. If something happens to my job and not DHs we can still make it but it won't be easy or nice because I don't know that I could make what I do here at another job because what I do is so speicalized.

I am starting back to school in January and hopefully I will be able to continue even if I have to take out student loans to get the job done! I am going into nursing because there will be sick people for a while longer anyway (I don't see any miracle cure alls for the next 10 years or so)!

My parents are living off my mom's inheritance and it was invested and if things don't stop going down hill they are going to be hurting pretty bad. Well not so bad they won't be able to live they will just have to tighten their belts a lot!

By ~harlena on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 - 02:21 am:

I know a few people who've been laid off, thankfully I don't know anyone who is starving, or in danger of losing their homes, but I believe most people feel it is always a definite possibility.

I don't think it's impacted Christmas TOO much, especially if you have younger children, unfortunately, kids think that Santa is limitless, the economy doesn't affect him. Not that I agree, but even I could limit Christmas this year. I did wait for sales, but I do that every year. I did say no to some items, "Santa won't go against what the parents say", but I do that every year too.

What I've seen to be the biggest difference this year is that people are "making do" more, NOT getting a new car right now, or upgrading their computer, but "making do with what they have. Probably not a bad idea.

We are both in the healthcare field, even though I work from home, it's healthcare related .... hubby is one of the higher paid employees though, he's concerned they could pay someone else significantly less to do the same thing, although without the same contacts, etc ..... he is getting QUITE concerned.

Moving isn't an option for us, dh's mom is pretty ill and lives an hour away. His side is the only family our children have, I won't move them away from family voluntarily, it's too important to have in their lives.

At some point you have to realize as much as you try to look around and anticipate what's coming down the pike, it's not in our hands, we don't have control of the situation, and neither do our friends and neighbors. Work and figure out and try hard, etc .... but sometimes all you can do is to pray.