What are you doing to cope with the Recession?

[Janice]

What changes have you made in your life to cope with today's economy? Our income is solid, and I'm grateful for that. There's no worry about job security. Still, we're eating out less. We used to eat out twice a week. Now it's once a month and take-out instead. We try and buy more store brands in the grocery store and CVS. We still buy a lot of food, but I plan shopping with the weekly circular and coupons. I was never much of a bargain hunter, but now it's a hobby with me.

My husband watches gas prices like the stock market, lol. I find myself taking it easy on things. For example, I love Tropicana orange juice. We still buy it, but at almost 5 bucks a jug, I'm not drinking it like water anymore. Desperate times call for desperate measures. This is making me a Desperate Housewife, lol.

[MickeyMac]

I try to spend less and have been trying to save a little, since I am now one of the unemployed. Other than that I dont really panic or worry about it. I'm not in denial or anything, its just worrying about these things only brings more stress.

[comedyfreak]

I'm trying to spend less and cut back on my driving. I've been making dinner a lot more now.

[catlover79]

I'm trying to save more money, and also not to take my job for granted.

[comedyfreak]

not to take my job for granted.

Amen to that one, it's hard to do. I have to remind myself I'm still employed and have to ignore the annoyances.

[ekkostar]

As much as I love to buy new releases, I've cut down on my CD purchases and I'm not planning to buy many new albums that come out this year and wait for the leaks that come out instead. Don't get me wrong, I love to go to the independent music shop and buy used music, but I think I'm going to hold off this year so I can use my money for other things while I'm at school (Buying lunch during the day is getting darn expensive!).

[MonarC]

Well since the dollar keeps droping in value everyday we bought some silver so that it will hold it's value. (Since we bought, it has already gone up in value) Also we are buying in bulk at the grocery store and plan on starting our own veggie garden this spring. I don't see things getting better anytime soon.

[Fleet]

Nothing.
Except for possibly buying a pinball machine! :)

[catlover79]

Amen to that one, it's hard to do. I have to remind myself I'm still employed and have to ignore the annoyances.
Exactly - hard as it to do sometimes.

[steevo]

I am, regretfully, one of the down-sized in this downturn. I have been getting a severence package, so I'm OK, but still being quite frugal.

I will be finished with career school in a few weeks so I will be looking for a job. It is not going to be an easy task in this environment, but I have faith that I will be provided for.

Keeping the faith. :)

[OH Nuts!]

Thankfully, my jobs relatively secure but these days you just never know.

I'm doing all the above basically: what goes on sale at the grocery store is generally what I buy - since I like it all I just let the specials decide. I eat out A LOT LESS (may 30% as much as I used too) & pick cheaper places than I used to go to. No more DVD purchases for me. Store brands and Target runs. And re the juice, I mix it 1 part juice to 2 parts seltzer - as its too sweet for me "striaght up"

[dawsongirl]

Worry more.

[OH Nuts!]

And I stopped buying coffee in the morning. I bring a jar of instant and make a cup at work. The place I used to go to get fresh coffee raised their prices to 85 cents a sm. cup 7 mo ago. And 2 wks ago they raised the price again - to 95 cents. When that happened I said "enough" (someone forgot to tell the store we're in a recession.) The instant isn't quite as good as fresh, but its good enough and A LOT cheaper.

[Doodyville10019]

I'm trying to save more money, and also not to take my job for granted.

So are we. My husband works in retail, and his hours have been cut in almost half. Since it's only the two of us, we only go out to eat once a month (if we're lucky), plus we only shop for groceries once a month. We both do a lot of brown bagging of lunches.

[PZelda]

My mom adapted a green way of living before it was trendy, back when my sibs and I were very young kids in the 80s. So she passed on her traditions to me while I was growing up, and I've adapted these. So I have not changed much about what I do in this time.

- Buy store brands.

- Watch for sales, and stock up on sale items.

- Use coupons.

- Don't eat out much.

- Prepare my own work lunches at home, instead of buying something laden with sodium and calories.

- I have been drinking coffee for nearly 20 years, and much prefer coffee at home to takeout coffee.

- Oh, and portion sizes. I cut down to make things last longer. :)

[Spiritinthesky]

Not going out as much, in fact, we've only been to the pub once this year so far! How sad is that?

[MickeyMac]

As much as I love to buy new releases, I've cut down on my CD purchases and I'm not planning to buy many new albums that come out this year and wait for the leaks that come out instead. Don't get me wrong, I love to go to the independent music shop and buy used music, but I think I'm going to hold off this year so I can use my money for other things while I'm at school (Buying lunch during the day is getting darn expensive!).



Thats a tough one for me. I so love music and love to go shopping for records. Its so much fun.

[catlover79]

I am helping to pay for things. I have helped to pay for the house and things we need for it.

I feel a little guilty for spending money on myself. I purchased a headboard, dresser and nightstand. I'm more likely to spend money on others than myself.
Don't feel guilty!! It's a good thing to splurge on yourself once in a while. :D

[treky]

I'm trying not to buy as much online, and when I do I look for bargains.

[Janice]

I am helping to pay for things. I have helped to pay for the house and things we need for it.

I feel a little guilty for spending money on myself. I purchased a headboard, dresser and nightstand. I'm more likely to spend money on others than myself.
That was extremely nice of you to help with the house. Don't feel guilty for spending money on yourself. You deserve it. You're always so generous to others. I hope you can post pictures of your new bedroom furniture when you can. :)

[Janice]

I'm doing more comparison shopping. Our toaster died, and I wanted a Kitchen Aid brand, so I went online and checked out several stores before finding the lowest priced one at Sears. Before, I just would have gone to Target because it's closer.

[PZelda]

You should check Target again sometime. When the presentation and reverse logistics teams put up new displays/change around shelving, display stuff gets clearanced, and if they're bringing in new stuff to sell, they also clearance already-packaged stuff that haven't been big sellers. They just did small kitchen appliances at mine not too long ago, and they've had a bunch of display toasters on clearance. No box and no manual, but it's still a toaster! :)

[Waterston_Fan]

I haven't really done anything to save and I still do the same things I did then and now.

I just feel like I have to keep spending to keep the economy going whether it's buying coffee frappacino every day that I like and stuff.

[Brad Russ]

I have made a few lifestyle changes during this recession. One of them has been to save $50.00 out of each check I get. By years end, that will be an extra $600.00. I've also stopped gambling, which at one time had become a huge problem for me, so much so that at one point I was getting overdrafts in my bank account just so I'd have money to gamble with. Fortunately though, I haven't been anywhere near a video lottery machine in 6 months, and haven't bought a single scratch-it ticket in about a year. I've also been shopping wiser, finding all the coupons I can get my hands on, and going for generic brands, rather than name brands. I've also cut down my coffee, and soda intake. Before I'd go buy a $4.00 coffee everyday, whereas now, it's more like twice a week, and the same with soda. Those are just some of the changes I've made during these rough times.

[Brian Damage]

Well, after several layoffs at my job, the head honcho just announced to us today that we have to take a 5% reduction in pay or else more lay offs.

I now have to sit down with my wife and try to assess what we need and what we don't.

[Jenya]

I ban people from message boards. :lol:

[Max Whittaker]

I bought a video camera in order to stimulate the economy. I eat more meals prepared at home and starting tomorrow I'm going to drive half way to work, park at my girlfriends apt, and ride my bike the rest of the way to work. After I get in better shape, I'll be able to ride from home to work and back again. One step at a time.

[catlover79]

Well, after several layoffs at my job, the head honcho just announced to us today that we have to take a 5% reduction in pay or else more lay offs.

I now have to sit down with my wife and try to assess what we need and what we don't.
We didn't get raises this year at our company. It's pretty much a case of put up or shut up at this point. :(

[Jenya]

I bought a video camera in order to stimulate the economy. I eat more meals prepared at home and starting tomorrow I'm going to drive half way to work, park at my girlfriends apt, and ride my bike the rest of the way to work. After I get in better shape, I'll be able to ride from home to work and back again. One step at a time.

Max, I miss you. How are you doing? :)

[Pus$y Galore]

I'd sell my body, but nobody has change for a $5. ;)

[Max Whittaker]

Max, I miss you. How are you doing? :)

Hey! My life is different, but good. Don't care much for debating politics these days. Mostly keep to myself and my life... sleathly lurking about. On topic, my retail job cut my hours early in the year because we had a bad several weeks(and my opinion, bad managers) but my hours have stablized to 38 once again and my managers have stopped being idiots(openly). We've had an exceptional busy week and a half.

How are you?

[Hollow]

just worrying about the future. i'm being financially taken care of by my dad and he works for the government, so i'll probably be fine in the meantime.

[Brian Damage]

I ban people from message boards. :lol:


You should ban your ugly kids from making public appearances Russkie :)

[Jenya]

Hey! My life is different, but good. Don't care much for debating politics these days. Mostly keep to myself and my life... sleathly lurking about. On topic, my retail job cut my hours early in the year because we had a bad several weeks(and my opinion, bad managers) but my hours have stablized to 38 once again and my managers have stopped being idiots(openly). We've had an exceptional busy week and a half.

How are you?

I'm still working in the DVD's at Technicolor, Max :) We had to hire foreign workers last year due to our labor shortage in Alberta. But this recession is hitting us hard too. Now, I have to lay off some workers.

It's good to hear from you. :)

[Brian Damage]

I'm still working in the DVD's at Technicolor, Max :) We had to hire foreign workers last year due to our labor shortage in Alberta. But this recession is hitting us hard too. Now, I have to lay off some workers.

It's good to hear from you. :)



What you need to layoff is the booze :)

[Jenya]

What you need to layoff is the booze :)

Brian, I was talking to Max, not to you. :)

[Max Whittaker]

I do feel like beer, though...

[Jenya]

I do feel like beer, though...

A beer is good. You still live in Washington state?:)

[Max Whittaker]

A beer is good. You still live in Washington state?:)

Oh, good lord, no! I've never lived there. You must have mistaken me for someone else! :lol: Much too cold up there. I'm a Texas boy, through and through!

[Jenya]

I thought you lived on the Pacific Coast. Maybe I was wrong. I have to get up for work in the morning. Chat with you later, Max. :)

[Mikeisha]

I have been working much more. I ask supervisors for more hours each and every week in an effort to earn more money. I'm always cutting out and using coupons. I try to save. A lot of the time I have to go into my savings, but that's the purpose of saving, to have something to be able to go to. It's hard out here.