How Have the Current Economic Conidtions Affected YOU?

[Divinus Arma]

I know many who have seen their savings diminished greatly, though they were heavily invested in financials and internationals.

Although minor, I am trying to sell a car and I can't even get a bite, even though I priced it $2,000 under Blue Book. Not a single call in two months.

But I still have a good job and access to credit, so no issues for me otherwise, thank God.



But aside from your savings, have you been unable to gain credit? Lost your job? Lose customers?Anything unique or extraordinary? Anything minor?

[HoreTore]

Lost a job. I was supposed to be working in the car industry now, but because of the credit crisis the guy who wanted to hire me first lost his will to take up loans to expand his business, and then he lost his customers as well, so no job for me...

[Lord Winter]

Well everything's been kind of abstracted, I havn't seen any imediate effects but I did lose a fair bit out my college savings.

[Fragony]

not affected at all

[rory_20_uk]

Shares screwed. But a paper loss as I've no need to sell.

Pseudo government job, so no problems there

Food slightly cheaper, as are other purchases.

[CountArach]

My Dad's been shifted around the company to a new job (His previous one was made redundant about a week ago). He has I think 4 weeks left for his new boss to get his job confirmed and he seems very optimistic about his chances.

I work in a Kmart (Discount Department store for those who do not know) and I can safely say that I have been surprised at how few people there have been shopping lately. The exception was this weekend, because our government gave massive handouts to young families and pensioners last week and as such people decided to spend it. So I guess this crisis has made me work harder...

[Hooahguy]

my part time job told me they arent playing me anymore as well as reduced my hours, but thats not so bad, because now i have more time for BF2142 and guitar.

otherwise no.
my dad, on the other hand, even though he doesnt make much money as a tenured professor, he can never be fired and always has his job.

[JR-]

my contract as a 3D artist/business systems support may not be renewed after january.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Dad's shares are in the pit but my mom has been moved to a higher pay grade.

So nothing really.

[Tristuskhan]

Very bad wood sales = more work, paid less

[Sigurd]

I am working in IT maintenance and are as such not affected. I feel more sorry for those in development and external consultants.

The problem we have back here is the great cost of capital. Too high interests are still crippling the loan marked.
Everything is expensive and even with my salary I am not able to save anything. Luckily I have some buffer money tucked away in banks with high deposit interests.

Hopefully the money marked will be better and the interest a bit lower.
Right now I am still paying nearly 6 percent interest on my loans which is double of what I did when taking them.
With only one salary you can say we run a tight budget.
One more year and wifey will be able to contribute in a secure job as a pharmaceutical chemist (too few of them to go around here).

[Jolt]

I'm poor college student, with a 5-year old unemployed father and a mother who gets one third of the salary of an already bad salary cut due to debts to the fiscal system. Thankfully, all good (Not worser) so far.

[TinCow]

It has actually benefitted me. My investments have taken a nosedive, but I'm not retiring for another 30 years, so that's not an issue at all. At the same time, interest rates came down, allowing me to get a great mortgage for my first home, and prices of all kinds are at absolute rock-bottom levels. I've bought a ton of furniture and other household goods lately to stock the new home and have always got shockingly good deals on everything. As I see it, if your job is secure and you're not retiring soon, this is a great time to buy some big ticket items that you've held off on.

[PBI]

I'm a postgraduate student and my girlfriend is a nurse, so for us the economic crisis has so far mostly meant very cheap Christmas shopping and the opportunity to laugh at all the lazy so-and-sos we knew at university who all got plush jobs in investment banking and are now being fired.

I am, however, a little concerned about what my employment prospects will look like when I graduate in two years time.

[seireikhaan]

Depends on what happens to my student loans.

As for parents, they didn't really have a lot in the way of savings anyways. Plus, my dad is such a workaholic I don't think he'll retire from work until he physically can't do ANYTHING.

[Kralizec]

Not affected in the slightest.

Neither are my parents- my dad works as a psychologist and my mom's a teacher.

I think an uncle of mine lost some money on stocks, but that's about it.

[Vladimir]

I've benefited. Lower gas prices help. The fact that I'm just started saving for retirement via my job means cheap stock prices. When I retire the Dow Jones will be at 20,000 and I'll be happy. I have a good credit rating so loans aren't a problem. Decreasing housing prices means I'll be able to afford a home soon. Etc, etc...

So yea, more "crisis" the better.

Edit: I do enjoy these perceived and contrived crises. Hopefully (but doubtfully) we'll develop a competitive auto industry out of it.

[Spino]

I am very fortunate, not affected in the slightest. I have a decent job with one of the few media companies that is weathering this recession quite well, my monthly expenditures are under control, most of my money is liquid and I have zero debt hanging over my head (my credit rating is fantastic).

[Goofball]

My personal financial situation has not been affected. However, as a commercial loan officer for a major bank, I have seen my job become more... interesting? Shall I say?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

No, not at all really.

[Mangudai]

I'm poor college student, with a 5-year old unemployed father and a mother who gets one third of the salary of an already bad salary cut due to debts to the fiscal system. Thankfully, all good (Not worser) so far.

Whoa your father is 5-years old. He must be one of those who hits puberty early. Tell him not to feel bad, I was unemployed when I was 5 years old too.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Besides putting off my retirement plans, eligible this coming January, and the 25% loss in value of my investments at the moment... I'm doing fine compared to many. My job is basically "recession proof" as I work in a State Prison. My wife also works for the State Health Dept. and just received a management promotion. However, two of my sisters have lost their jobs and a third one has just moved to Florida to remain employed. There are no good paying jobs, unless one works for state or federal government, in my part of the country (western NY) any more. My children will probably have to pursue employment elsewhere, one already has, when the time comes. We'll probably move in the future ourselves to be nearer our family, and get out of this high tax State. They don't call it the Empire Vampire State for nothing.

[Wasp]

No, even though I'm a bit of a freelancer, I've had more work than ever due to the season.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Attenborough DVD box from Amazon.fr: EUR 276,99, or 379,51 US $

The exact same Attenborough DVD box from Amazon.co.uk: £102.18, or 156.335 US $.



It's going to be a great Christmas!

[drone]

My 401(k) has taken a hit, but I'm 30 years from retirement so I'm not that worried (I'm buying cheap now!). Aside from my house (which I fortunately bought before things got too crazy), I have no debt. My job is fairly secure, and the DC area has been doing pretty well compared to other regions of the US. I have a fair amount of savings, and things are pretty cheap right now, so I can actually afford some luxuries if I so desire.

My car is my biggest worry, it's 13 years old and I intend to drive it until it becomes undependable, but that is an expense I expect to pay soon. Fortunately, I have a feeling that car salesmen will be throwing themselves at my feet when the time comes...

[Papewaio]

Borders has the Life Collection for $199 Aus or $97 EUR, 133 USD

Got Life on Earth for my 7th birthday, will be getting this for Xmas.

Edit looks like the Australian version is a cutdown set (15 DVDs vs 24), but with Life in Cold Blood

http://shop.abc.net.au/browse/produc...hop_Xmas_Lasoo

Oh, my economic situation... been looking for a new job lately. Not for money but for challenges and learning opportunities. Wife is getting more and more work. So with cheaper petrol, less mortgage to pay and generally more income it looks quite rosy here in Aus.

[JR-]

regardless of problems mentioned above, i do now have a stack of awesome games i'm waiting to play given the glut of excellent titles in the last few months, not to mention the many i await in the early new year.

free time might rock!

[Husar]

Attenborough DVD box from Amazon.fr: EUR 276,99, or 379,51 US $

The exact same Attenborough DVD box from Amazon.co.uk: £102.18, or 156.335 US $.



It's going to be a great Christmas!

Oh yes, I got my Little Big Planet from the UK for 30EUR including shipping!
Not sure I've lost or gained anything, so far everything seems as usual.

[Lemur]

Big losses in ye olde 401(k), but then I'm not about to cash out, so all of that should correct itself over time. Much more troubling is the situation with my dear mum, who wants to retire right about now but is freaked out because her retirement savings have been decimated.

This is a great time to be putting money into the market, and a horrible time to be taking money out. Just statin' the obvious.

[Tribesman]

I havn't bought a new car this year , one dealer is doing a 3 for the price of 2 offer but I don't want 3 new cars , so its a case of wait for the new year and see what sort of deals they offer then .
Workwise some people are really cutting their own throats with prices , but sod it if the muppets want to work for peanuts let them have it , the more of them idiots that are already up to their necks in debt the better as I can just clean up when they inevitably go to the wall .