I was rereading the thread "How worried are you about the economy?" and thought we might continue the topic. That was started about 3 months ago. Has anything changed for any of you to think differently? For the better? For the worse?

For us, the grocery prices are hitting us hard, I continue to double coupon and get what I can for free. But everything is expensive. The gas is getting a bit better, it is down to $2.89 a gallon here and DH's job gave them the option of going to a 4 day work week working 10 hour days, so that saves 50 miles a day of gas. Winter is coming and we heat by natural gas so that is on my mind (as I know on others because of the heating thread).

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Well gas prices are about $1.50 less than they were when the thread was started. Winter is coming and that will be bad news for people in certain parts of the country.
I personally think my husband and I partially doing better and partially scared because his plant closed and now he has to go through the retraining program.
But generally speaking I think prices are pretty much steady for a while.

I am predicting it will take 5-8 yrs to go from this current financial cycle to the next one.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I started the other thread and have to say that I am more worried now that I was when I started that one.

A lot of people are getting laid off at DH's company, mostly upper management, not people really needed for day to day operation, but there are talks of more. Currently he is getting more hours and overtime than he was over the summer, but the scary thing is that it could change at any time, not something I was really considering 3 months ago.

It's good news that oil is down so much, that will help people.

More good news is that we've finally sold my Dad's house that we've been paying on (morgage and upkeep) since his death last July, so that will be a huge load off, not having to worry about another winter of that.

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"A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked." ~ Bernard Meltzer

Since my retirement fund has been taking a beating, I must consider another way of investing my income until the stock market conditions improve.

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We're off to never never land

I jsut talked to my retirement counselor today. I went in becauase I lost 15k in the last month or less!!! From 47k down to 32k. But, half of my retirement is guaranteed so that helps. I have 10 more years until retirement so I'm hoping my stocks go back up.

At the rate things are going you might be better off using the lottery as a retirement fund (only half ass joking LOL)

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I am certainly worried, and feeling it in a big way. My husband's company went bankrupt, after several months of no paycheck and discovering our health insurance premiums were not paid. Since it was clear it was going down, he had been stomping for a job for months, and THANK GOD found a great job. We'll be digging out for a long time, and with one in college, one starting in September, and the fact that my d/h was ill for several years & our savings were consumed by it, it is not a great place to be in middle age.

However, I have faith it will improve, and we just need to work one day and one week and one month at a time to continue forward until then. What is the alternative??

**Middle age is not a good term. I think I'd like to refer to myself as vintage.

Yes, I have thought about investing maybe $5 a week if the mega millions/lottery rises to a nice level, lol. Usually, the investment is $1-$2 if the jackpot is over $100 million.

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We're off to never never land

With 3 kids in college and a self employed husband I worry a lot. My retirement through my employer is with AIG's Retirement division, but I'm waiting to see how hard a hit I took on my next statement. There's nothing I can do about it now. Just have to hope that things turn around soon.

The only thing I'm happy about is that in the last few months we've paid off all our credit debt and canceled all our cards. We're about 8 years away from paying our mortgage off so at least I feel that there is a light at the end of THAT tunnel.

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As long as I have a roof over my head, have some food, and internet, I can survive.
Will probably have to rent a room in some old shack at some point in my life but there are people worse off than that and I'd be thrilled just to be able to afford that.

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I have been worried for a while now. I mean, I am hopeful, but I am realistic.

I think I mentioned this already... I ended up selling less on ebay (it sucks 10 times more now), building my businesses, and getting more opportunities to bring in more income plus I still have to be even more frugal. Ugh!

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"Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness."
~ Earl of Derby

At the risk of everyone yelling at me I think this is not as horrible as everyone thinks. If you look at "predictions" dating back hundreds of years this time around 2010 is supposed to be the time the people of Earth have a huge spiritual transformation and start changing our priorities.

Going back to a simpler way of life is not all bad nor is learning to be thrifty and less wasteful.

Perhaps we will change our focus back to people before money. I hope so.

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.