Is there anything encouraging about the economy right now? Very scared...

[macimom]

Maybe I've been reading too much and thinking too much, but I'm pretty scared about the future. I hear people saying that the whole American financial system is in ruins and everything is about to collapse and we will be left with nothing. Ok, that pretty much freaks me out. We definitely don't have much to fall back on...DH has a good job for now, but we have plenty of debt and scrape by each month on his one income. I'm a SAHM and would love to find a way to contribute financially, but not sure what to do or how to manage it with three kids and homeschooling. I'm so scared that if all this is true, DH will lose his job and we will be in the streets. I feel like I should be stockpiling food and hiding out in a bunker. There's no possible way for us to get rid of our debt anytime soon and I guess I'm just really afraid for my kids. I feel so badly for others who are going through layoffs, etc. It just seems so bad right now and seems to be getting worse by the day. I guess I'm hoping someone has something encouraging to offer or some words of wisdom...thank you!!!!

[Tradd]

Here's an idea...

Stop paying so much attention to the news! Seriously...I was reading all sorts of stuff last night, but then I realized it wasn't doing me any good (I'm naturally a worry-wort). So, aside from my usual radio listening (mostly NPR), I'm not seeking any other info out, aside from what I might read here or on a simple living forum I frequent.

'Nuff said.

[StormySar]

I think if anything, for my family anyway, it's making us realise what we can and can't do without, and whatever we can't do without I am figuring out how to make it or do it myself so we don't need to pay for it.

There will always be things we can't easily make - milk and eggs, flour and sugar, things like that... Living without heat (in the winter) or electricity and water at any point of the year is frightening to me, but I guess we'd get through it. I'd have to hurry up and can all the meat that is sitting in our freezers and figure something out for everything else. Living without tv and computer aren't what worry me - but living without a fridge/freezer is worrysome for me. I hope things never get to the point that we loose our basic utilities and are unable to purchase basic necessities.

The pp has some great advice though... dont give yourself the chance to get worried. if you ARE worried, figure out what your biggest fears are and face them. what woudl happen if your worst fears came true? Start making a plan now so you can maybe feel a little more prepared?

[DaytonsMom]

this thread came at a great time for me. i've been stressing about this sooo much today!! We have been stock piling on dry goods. so i feel a little better in that regard. but it is still very troubling! The more beans, rice, and canned food i buy though, i feel a little better! =)

[robertandenith]

I feel the same way, and I can't pile so much dry food because we eat a lot of raw foods and we live in an apt so we cannot grow our own. The economy is bad everywhere. In my country, gas cost more than here in the US and they make in a month what we make in a week, salary speaking. So yeah, I am worried for my family here in the US and my family in Panama.

I am a SAHM too and been thinking of helping dh from home, probably sitting a preschooler while I take care of my kids or sewing and selling. I started making my own detergent and things like that. I drive less and consume less (great if I want to keep myself in shape lol). And we just had the electric company walk through our home to check for irregularities and make sure our bill is as low as can be. I don't use the dishwasher and I make sure the water heater is at 100 degrees. I wish my dh will drop the cable tv or get just the basic cable, but he can't live without espn one of these days I will just drop it without telling him! We are paying $98 as opposed to $15 basic! ugh!!! :

[MilkTrance]

I guess changing your views on what makes life worth living is what will help.

I'm not saying that I have any idea how to do that, but theoretically, that will help any person suffering emotionally from this economic change.

Change can be very scary but no matter what I believe it is God's plan. I have experienced traumatic changes before (like the death of my mother) and I was scared. But you do get through these huge changes.

[cappuccinosmom]

I guess changing your views on what makes life worth living is what will help.

I agree.

Sure, there are some things to worry about. Dh's family is in Ethiopia and are suffering because of drought and also the insane inflation. We are thankful we are here in the States, flawed as this country may be, so that we can send money home. And prices here have gone up, and yes, that's miserable for most of us.

However, I'm not convinced the world as we know it is going to end soon, and I refuse to live my life in despair of what *might* happen. So, we watch and wait and in the meantime, we deal with changes as they come.

[mar123]

If you go back 30 years and look at news reports, they were even more dire than they are today. The economy, like the weather is cyclical. Things go up and down then back up again. Many of these things are corrections, plain and simple. Take care of your house, your debts, etc. Don't worry about the things you can't change. Change what you can. This country has been through far worse and come out on top.

[lucyem]

Originally Posted by mar123

If you go back 30 years and look at news reports, they were even more dire than they are today. The economy, like the weather is cyclical. Things go up and down then back up again. Many of these things are corrections, plain and simple. Take care of your house, your debts, etc. Don't worry about the things you can't change. Change what you can. This country has been through far worse and come out on top.

I agree. I also believe in positive thinking. The more freaked out people get the worse things sound and the more we create what we fear. Relax, make sure you stay on top of your own situation, but think positive.

[slsurface]

Fear is driving this...

Right now the financial crisis is fear driven. Some examples: last week an email went out at my work that gas was going to go up to $5/gal due to the hurricane. So like idiots, everyone panicked and drove straight to the gas stations. There was a run on gas, the gas stations ran out of fuel, then the prices soared! It was a self-fulfilling prophecy. Likewise, people are panicking about their stocks, particularly in the banking industry. They pull their money out, banks report record losses and stocks plummet, more people panic and before you know it the banks are declaring bankruptcy and need to be bailed out using taxpayer dollars. So we are robbing working-class people to keep wealthy investors afloat.

It’s like a house of cards…the same thing is happening all over the world, because Asian investors see US investors freak and they follow suit. When the market is supported by investments, then everything becomes very fragile. If people (investors) would just keep a level head, none of this would be happening. : That is not to say that there are not some critical economic problems in the US - job losses and unemployment are chief among them. The market crisis is just a symptom of the larger problem with the system.

I could say lots more on the subject, but it would start getting political and angry…so I’ll stop.

[gentlemango]

I'm scared too. I don't know how we're going to afford heating oil this year. Our state has already said that they will only be able to supply 25% of the people who qualify for heating oil assistance because they're already stretched too thin.

We might have to drain our house and live in front of a wood stove. Winter without water is going to suck.

[spring978]

Very worried. However because I am aware I have the ability to prep and that makes me feel better.

We live in an area with a cold winter so I have winter prep that some wouldnt need.

We all have long johns now and a sleeping bag plus an extra blanket for each bed. I have one small fire safe space heater and have started to make window quilts.

We have pulled 2 months of emergency money from the bank filled the tank on both rigs even though we only drive the van on weekends.

I made a list of things we use weekly and currently I am working on a 90 day supply of things like soap condoms tp vinager pet food,tea herbs and tylenol
We have also paid off all but 1 credit card.

Dh and I are planning a huge yard sale this month and that money will either buy more food and daily comforts or be used to purchase a used wood stove for our garage.

Also we have a plan B and C if things get really bad. Like move in with family or have a family member move in with us.