Broke & Terrified...is it going to get better?

[bac511]

I just had to pay some bills with my credit cards. I know that's a horrible thing to do, but I have no choice. Groceries have doubled, daycare went up, gas bill is up, kids clothes are expensive, prescriptions are up, and I haven't gotten a raise in two years.

When Obama wins tomorrow, will it get better for me? I am terrified.

[az chela]

1. With Barack there is hope,with Mccain nothing will change

for the better,It will only get worse

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Yes it will

because we'll all work together to make it better. Know this to be a FACT--my health foundation has been seeing folks in real health need for little or no charge--we realize it is tough out there, and want to help out.

[TomInTib]

3. Ohhh, SweetHeart, you have a lot of company.

"Terrified" is the word.

Take care.

Tom

[longship]

4. I am unemployed.

After teaching and computer work for decades, I have found myself apparently unemployable.

I'm on food stamps. The state just put 150 gallons of heating oil in my tank so I don't freeze to death this winter.
I'm on top of my electric bill, but I have no land line, only a pay-go cellular phone.

Thank goodness gasoline prices are going down so that I can get to town (15 miles) to get groceries.
Here in rural western Michigan, this winter is going to be bitter, and cold. In more ways than one.

Sometimes things just plain suck.

[Taverner]

6. That's horrible

Makes my problems pale in comparison

I'm doing OK now - but our company just announced layoffs

[Fumesucker]

5. You aren't alone.. We're pretty much broke too..

And since we lost our credit to medical bills at least a decade ago we don't have the option of charging anything.

But the good thing is, eventually your fear will burn itself out, it's simply impossible to sustain terror forever.

An Obama victory won't make any difference in the short term, in the medium and long term I'm hopeful but Obama is a bit too centrist (in the USA that means right wing) for me to be entirely comfortable with him.

:hug:

[Azlady]

7. I just did the samething...

I have struggled all last night and today to pull out my credit card & pay my basic need bills, electric, water, phone on credit card. I'm so sorry, bac511, I really understand how it feels.

I'm sure that things will improve greatly when Obama gets into office, but I am not fooling myself, I know it is going to take some time, it is not going to be instant, but I have faith in HIS DESIRE TO HELP US! Mcjerks only desire is to give the rich more tax breaks and we continue to pay their way.

I have emailed Obama at his home office in Chicago, asking if people are busy righting bills to take to the floor the afternoon of 1/20/09 so they can be passesd quickly.

The bills are, immediately closing the tax loops that allow corps to take jobs out of the country.
Stopping all foreclosures for a minimum of 6 months.
and a few others....

Hang in there, please...

Azlady

[Tansy_Gold]

8. I assure you, you are not alone

Short term, no, it's probably not going to get better.

Like you, I'm doing things I know are not rationally the best things for me to do financially, but the other better options simply don't exist. We do what we have to do to get by.

My hope, whether it's realistic or not is debatable, is that within the next few months there will be a surge of optimism that will in and of itself work some positive changes. But that's only a vague hope.

hang in there the best you can, and hang around DU for support, hugs, and ideas to get us all through this.


Tansy Gold, also struggling

[MarkInCA]

9. I share your fear, hang in there

I think our country has the best outlook politically it has had in 8 years by far.

In the last 8 years I have filed for bankruptcy, lost 3 jobs (due to downsizing), switched careers, was a day away from losing my house, sold one of our cars to save the house, and am living paycheck to paycheck. I am just getting back on my feet through really friggin hard work. If I get laid off again I could lose everything.

I share your fear but I also finally have a bright light to focus on in the distance.

[codjh9]

10. Well I sure as hell hope so, for ALL OF US! I'm not 'broke', but I've got a hell of a lot

less than I did a year ago, thanks to the Wall St. crack-up. And it's money I'd saved over the last freakin' 15-20 years... I can only hope it, and the whole economy, will come back under Prez Obama, and history shows that the economy does better under Dem presidents, too. So keep hope alive!

[leftofthedial]

11. I have about a fifth of what I need to pay this month's bills

with funeral expenses and other household expenses for my Mom...


:shrug:

[bac511]

12. Thanks for the well wishes...

Things started getting bad when I got divorced a couple years ago. Still live in the house that the ex and I still own, but he doesn't contribute to any of the bills or mortgage anymore...just pays child support which is about 50% less than I was used to getting from him.

Then with everything going up and no additional compensation from my employer, who by the way makes about 75% MORE than I do, it's just gotten out of control. Trying to find ways to be more frugal, but I am afraid I have cut about everything I can, except Netflix (my family's only entertainment) and the Sunday paper.

It'll work out, always does.

[caty]

13. Being on a fixed income,

I have tried to find ways to double the value on what I get. I try to conserve energy to keep my bills down. Turn down the thermostat and wear a jacket if I get cold, changed all of my light bulbs to energy saving bulbs and don't leave appliances I am not using plugged in. I turn my computer off at night also. I make a grocery list and go to the dollar store before I go to the grocery store. When I do get to the grocery store, I buy store brands when available. If I can walk there, I leave the car at home and call it part of my exercise program. I buy a used appliance when I need one. I just try to find as many ways as I can to stretch my money as far as it will go. Even if Obama comes through with his promises, I will still live this way. It somehow makes me feel like I am beating the system a little bit with every dime and dollar I save.