Anyone else really hurting financially this winter? Hubby is self-employed as

[GreenPartyVoter]

a computer fix-it guy and there is almost no work to be had. x(

[Midlodemocrat]

1. I'm sorry.

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Thanks. *hugs* SmallestGreen has a birthday in two days and we can barely afford him a

present from the local salvage and bargain store. 3 years running we have promised these kids to take them bowling for their birthdays, but the trouble is there is never any money at that time.

Crap, crap, crap. I can't wait till it's summer again.

[peacefreak]

3. My life is about to get more interesting.

I'm being hit with $150. rent increase. I'm trying to figure out what to cut now. I'm toying with dropping my health insurance. At the age of 56, that is just fool-hardy, I know.
I already work full-time. I guess I could put in an app at Tim Horton's.

[lizziegrace]

6. Don't drop your medical...

Too hard to get back on a plan and the pre-existing condition clauses will kill you...

Maybe a part-time job for the time being will help. Don't forget to consider the tax implications if you take a second job. (They tend not to withhold anything so you have to tell them to so you don't owe at the end of the year...)

Hang in there.

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Ouch! Hang on to the medical if you can. *hugs*

[Gormy Cuss]

4. I hope things pick up soon.

Winter with fuel bills and all is tough enough.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Thanks, yeah. And it isn't even feb yet.

[Parche]

5. I feel your pain

It is kind of slow, when it should be picking up this month....we can only hope that it gets
better :hug: :hi:

[GreenPartyVoter]

9. I wonder, though, if it's just us or if this is a symptom of economic troubles for

a lot of people, y'know??

[lizziegrace]

10. I think it's a symptom of a bigger problem

wages are keeping up, prices keep going up and we're all working so hard to survive that we don't the time or resources to scream about it.

I'm making $5,000/year less than I was 5 years ago. Not adjust for inflation, just annual salary. Heating oil has doubled. Gasoline has doubled. Food is expensive. The middle-class is getting squeezed to death and no one's noticing but those of us who are doing the bleeding....

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. Yep, that's my thoughts too. I know a lot of people around here are struggling

[av8rdave]

11. So sorry to hear

With all the post 9/11 events in the airline business, I'm making about half what I used to. Have had to cut back on things, but we're still able to get the bills paid, for which I am thankful. I know there are many that are really having a tough time making ends meet.

I hope things start looking up for you soon!

[GreenPartyVoter]

13. Thanks! :^) I am sorry that you've seen some changes in your

own finances too :hug:

[av8rdave]

14. Thanks...again, pretty trivial compared to what a lot of people are going through

in this great Bush economic boom.

[AnneD]

15. Many hugs to those ...

on DU having a tough time.:grouphug:

Hubby and I are holding our own and are grateful for all our blessings. We may not have great cars-but they are paid for and we can put gas in them. Our travel trailer is not the house of my dreams-but it is paid for and I can make lot rent-one day we will have the home of our dreams. We both have jobs and can get OT if we want. I pinched a penny so hard last week that Lincoln didn't have a beard when I let go. But I always generously tithe to our church and gift to our food bank. Houston is ok but I think it will start to slow down soon. We are prepared for what ever comes our way.

I never realized how poor we were when I was growing up. Mom always made things fun for us. We had camp outs in the living room with nothing more than sheets strung over our 2 chairs (there were 5 of us 4 kids 1 adult) and some fried bologna or wieners 'roasted' on the oven for special occasions. We had cardboard boxes for tables and all the kids shared one twin bed (2 sleeping at the head-2 at the foot) and Mom had the other twin bed for herself and that was it. But all I remember is that we had a large room to play in when we pushed the boxes aside and we could 'decorate our table'. As the oldest I remember the most, but I never remember us being poor. There was no WIC, no welfare, so we eked out an existence and things must have been awful until she got back on her feet (the asshole father that didn't pay any support is another story).

I have to admit-I grew to hate oatmeal though. Mom never force me to eat it once we got on our feet again, and she was a clean your plate kind of Mom. I guess she figured I had eaten a lifetimes worth. I have only recently begun to eat oatmeal again, if it is doctored up right, and this after 40 years. We ate mac and cheese to but for some reason I didn't mind that. We laugh now, but we never knew about Christmas until I started school-then Mom had to fess up and get us each a small gift. Our Santa really gave us handmade toys.

Sometime we have tough times-but they can do much to strengthen your family and their bonds. Remember, poor is a cash flow problem, poverty is a frame of mind.

[deepthought42]

16. I am a grad student.

By definition that means I have no money...ha ha :rofl:

[AnneD]

17. Let me guess...

Ketchup soup, soy sauce soup, lemons in your restaurant water so you can use their sugar to make lemonade, and going to confession to pray for forgiveness for pinching all those rolls of toilet paper out of the public bath rooms.

How many ways and days can you make a chicken last and you buy Budding deli meats because you can use 1 thin slice of meat for your sandwich (your fridge is full of stolen condiments). You feel wealthy when you find change on the ground, etc.

Good luck, when you get your first puny check, you'll feel flush with cash. :rofl:

[deepthought42]

18. I just deposited my first full paycheck

from my p/t job @ Borders since I came back for Break... I'M RICH!!!!!!


:rofl:

[AnneD]

19. Don't....

let it go to your head....:rofl:

You'll be back to stealing condiment packages and toilet paper before you know it.

[deepthought42]

20. Are you kidding me? I'm saving up

to buy my own condiments! I'm living on easy street now!


Don't be jealous... ;)


Ooo, ooo, OOOOO!!!! I had leftovers for lunch. :D