Just a little economic rundown of my family (in Belgium)

[BelgianMadCow]

We had the 60th birthday of my mom yesterday.

My aunt (55, divorced and unemployed) asked if she good get our wood stove. She cannot afford central heating (and can get wood almost for free).
Her children, one of them is in the same situation.
My wife and I (both masters' degree, me at home due to illness though) are discussing heavily which spending to cut, as we don't see how we can keep up with our mortgage payments otherwise.
My brother (commercial engineer), in a top job, with his wifes' antique shop tanking, will have to close the shop and his wife has to go work full time.
My sister (translator, in marketing) has come to stay with my parents again. All on her own, she couldn't make ends meet with a 1500 euro paycheck.

We think we will have to learn the skills of my grandparents.

just sayin', americans aren't suffering alone.

regards
bmc

[Hannah Bell]

1. thanks for the perspective. with the euro in trouble & workers not doing so well in china either,

i begin to wonder who IS doing well?

Oh, wait -

[kickysnana]

2. Sorry to hear that. Belgium is the only homeland I have made contact with distant cousins. n/t

[marions ghost]

3. can you give us an overview

of how widespread are these kinds of problems?

[BelgianMadCow]

4. everyone shopping at Aldi (low-cost)

but Aldi's larger actions aren't selling anymore.

So I'd say the crisis has affected the majority of us.

On another note: in the residential area my parents are in, there are for sale signs everywhere. Just like suburban people having to live in a tent...

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Yeah, But You Have Better Beer To Take Solace In

Although we have some pretty good stuff too.

:hi:

[Lasher]

6. They make some excellent firearms too.

I have my grandfather's excellent Browning shotgun that was made there. But quite a few years back they started making them in Japan.