The long dark night of the economy February 27, 2009
Posted by spacemom in : Current Affairs , trackbackYesterday, my neighbor lost his job. This is not the first person I have met that is suddenly out of a job. My sister was lucky and survived the cuts at her work, in fact, she was one of 9 people out of 75-100 who kept their jobs. My nephew worked at Linen and Things. He is having trouble getting unemployment.
The economy is very scary right now. I worry about friends who have cuts looming. I know that we have funding from congress for a while and that, in general, what’s up in space, stays up in space until it breaks or there is a replacement. So I do not worry so much about me, although Jay and I have a back up plan for each of us.
I have been trying to buy a little more for the food pantry. I have taken to picking up $5-$10 of pasta and rice every shopping trip and dropping it in the pantry box. People who never thought they would need it are going to the pantry more and more. Less people are donating, arguing that "charity starts at home". I wish I could do more. I try my best, I encourage the kids to do what they can, but is it still hard to see families struggling.
How has the economy affected you? What are your worries?
Comments»
80% of the people I know who bought a house in California have confessed to some sort of financial straights not at all limited to being underwater on their house.
You know, I’m weirdly calm about the economy. I lived through several years of poverty and intermittent homelessness as a teenager, and while I certainly don’t want to go there again (or put G through it), I know that if it happens, we will survive and rebuild.
As a Director in a non profit, I think my days are numbered. And I took a big paycut to take this job (another non profit layoff 14 months ago) Lesson learned? No more non profits…too bad, call to service is important to me, but family is more important!
I am very fortunate - my employer is investing billions in the US to prepare for our next technology generation. There will still be layoffs here and there - but as far as I can tell not in my area (we are building a key component of the next generation technology I mentioned). No raises this year, the 401k shrunk by 50+%, the usual list. But at least it seems my job is save.
Even more surprisingly, K2 has been asked to come back to the job that she quit a year and a half ago (on a temp basis).
Around us it’s a mixed bag. A good friend just lost her job but most everyone else is still holding on.