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How to Survive the Economic Crisis

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Posted 1/4/2009 11:40 PM (GMT 0)

My Father lived through the great depression and when he was alive he would always make sure that my 4 children had warm jackets, boots, food on the table and on cold days he would call and ask me if the children were warm enough.

Those were the most important things he carried with him all of his life. Take care of the children.

Even as the mother of his only grandchildren he would take me to the shoe store to make sure I had warm winter boots.

He was the wisest man I have ever known and he only had a 8th grade education.  I love you Dad, and I am fine. 

Love Your daughter.....................

Hugs to all

Kitt

Posted 1/4/2009 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
My grandmother tells stories of those days also. They lived off of the land and farmed for a living. They were so poor anyway that they didn't miss much because they had everything they needed :)

My family is an inspiration to me :)
Posted 1/5/2009 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
We also started doing Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover - the debt snowball (have paid off about 10K of our credit card debt last year) have quite a ways to go though with credit cards and student loans, etc. Also found a great place I love to use (don't know if I allowed to post this so remove if necessary) grocerygame.com where I have been using their list and coupons to save AT LEAST 50 percent a week on my groceries and health/beauty. Even if you don't sign up go their message boards and read them b/c they are great! It was only $1.00 to try it for a month so I gave it a shot.

We also use Dave Ramsey's advice on using envelope system with cash. Something using cash makes you spend less. We have them for things like groceries, eating out, dining out, etc. Anything we have saved at the end of the month goes into a special savings account (for things like our daughter's mission trip this summer, tires for the car, etc.). Also we find ways every month to roll everything we can into that debt snowball - you would be amazed how fast you can pay off a bill with this method and where you can find an extra $5.00 or $10.00.

I pray that everyone can find ways to save money b/c I know that these are hard times for the country right now and we are all pretty nervous about our future!

Blessings,
Leah
Posted 1/29/2009 11:18 PM (GMT 0)
I've looked for this thread for over an hour, lol :) This is a bump for all of us that are worried about the economy and money right now. Please post on the different things that you do to save money and find jobs for all of us to share and get some help :)

Love this one Lil Sis :)

Here is a link with a post by me to Lil Nikki's thread.  I hope it might have some info to help!

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=1368887

Sam :)

Post Edited (Green Grove) : 1/29/2009 5:10:30 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
i have been buying at salvation army their alot cheaper than goodwill, and i lovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeee garage sales, you never know what you find, come home with a car load of stuff for $20.00 or less , my kids where raised off garage sell clothes designer clothes 25 cents, they grew so fast it doesn't pay to spend alot, grocery's are getting higher we've been eating more beans and chicken, less beef and we just don't buy unless needed. i am definitely going to do a garden this year again, i also pick up stuff at dollar stores, watch for sales, eating left overs, worse case we could all buy a large home and stay there together because we all know what each other are going through but i not washing your clothes are dishes lol love you guys, together well all wish each other the best, in some ways this may make people enjoy family life more than games ,movies, enjoy the simple things in life that we've forgotten, nothing funnier to me than, having fresh dirt between my toes in my garden i am making, i think the smartest thing we did is our home, its not big but we didn't pay alot and our notes are $400 a month, my mother in law wanted us to buy a 100,000 to 200,000$ (higher end in louisiana), house, we didn't what a house note we couldn't afford, my husband works construction, and its almost payed off. i love my little cottage style home, big enough for us. we have 4 acres of land too. skitt i am sorry you have to sell your bike, i know you love it.

Post Edited (machelle) : 1/30/2009 6:27:06 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 1/31/2009 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
You sound like me Machelle, lol :) I do all of these things too and I also love to feel the dirt between my toes. . . Could you imagine all of us in one big house? I think we would have a hoot! At least it would be a heck of a support team at all times :)
Posted 1/31/2009 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
maybe we would all feel normal, because were not worried about what the others are thinking , have less stress that way
Posted 1/31/2009 2:11 AM (GMT 0)
I'm trying to rent out my second bedroom. If I could sell the place I would, but prices are down almost 50% in my neighborhood from a year ago. Too many auctions! But a housemate can also keep me company so maybe it will work out after all.

Also, I'm not taking as much medication & have cut back on food. I thought I couldn't survive on one meal a day, but though I've lost some weight I'm doing just fine. :)
All that worrying for nothing.
Posted 2/1/2009 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
We board people from time to time and rent out unused fields as well. . . That is what got us started in the rental business :) It is a good thing, but make sure you ask for references! We have had a few scary people here and there that were more of a burden than help, but in these current times we must do what we can to survive :) I have my real estate license here in MO and know a thing or two about it, so if you have any questions, please feel free to email me :) The best bet for anyone IMHO is to keep their houses by renting or boarding right now. The economy will upturn one of these days and you don't want to lose your equity!

Good luck to you. A very smart thing to do :)
Posted 2/5/2009 3:05 AM (GMT 0)
 we here where i live are just starting to notice some economic pressure, over the last 3 weeks there have been more then usual people coming to me for a job, and whats weird about it is when the idustry i work in (rail roading) slows down, what i do for them gets buisier. The jobs that i can hire for dont pay enough but now im seeing that right now it doesnt seem to matter what the pay is, so what im saying is at least people are willing to work and are not just sitting at home. I have talked alot to my employees and have told them a good way to tighten up is to stay home more, dont eat out as much watch the utillity bills and find more productive ways to entertain themselves and family, also if they know anyone who may be harder hit then others with the economic turndown, to try and help in whatever meaningful way they can ,   smilewinkgrin
Posted 2/5/2009 2:58 PM (GMT 0)

Great advice, thanks racer and all. 

I know we have turned down on heat to save on electric bill, cut out buying things we don't really need. I am back to the library for books instead of buying new at the store. Looking for store coupons on line.

What other ways are people doing to survive the economic crunch to keep them from getting overly anxious?

Of course, my favorite is staying in the moment .

Kitt  turn

Posted 2/5/2009 3:50 PM (GMT 0)
The co-pay on my Crohn's drug went up from $40 to $75 monthly. I have my annual check-up with the GI this month and have debated about asking him if we might to go a less expensive drug, but then I remember the months that it took for me to get on a drug that would work when I was diagnosed. I had adverse reactions to some of the ones we tried, including Sulfasalazine, which my carrier considers generic and which would be much cheaper. Ironically, he switched me from Pentasa to Asacol a couple of years ago because he was hoping the co-pay for Asacol would be less than Pentasa, but they both fall into the same "preferred" category. I keep telling myself not to be cheap about my health, but the fact is that the co-pay will never go back to $40... once it's been increased, that's that. It has nowhere to go but up. It wouldn't seem like a big deal if so many other expenses hadn't also gone up.
Posted 2/5/2009 5:49 PM (GMT 0)
I have also turned down heat and stated to unplug items that are not being used constanly as it it still will take energy EVEN when turned off


GREAT THREAD..............Love..............Big sis
Luvs
LYN
Posted 2/5/2009 8:17 PM (GMT 0)
I've been doing the same thing, lol. . . I was rather shocked to know that I was still using energy even though we don't turn on a lot of stuff here at the farm :) The woodstove has been a big asset to us as well, and for all of you "treehuggers" out there like me, we are only cutting out stuff that is choking out the bigger trees in the woods. . . I would never cut down a mature tree unless something was wrong with it :)
Posted 2/5/2009 8:38 PM (GMT 0)
also dont forget if you can donate to the salvation army or any place that is helping with people in the cold.

Posted 2/5/2009 8:41 PM (GMT 0)
yw skitt
Posted 2/6/2009 2:27 PM (GMT 0)
A lot of food pantries are really being hit hard. I read the other day that demand at local food pantries is up 48% over this time last year. They really need monetary donations because they are able to buy food at a deep discount and really maximize their money. If possible, look into helping a food pantry or soup kitchen in your area.
Posted 2/7/2009 9:57 PM (GMT 0)

By unplugging appliances (toaster, lamps, blow dryer, etc.) when not in use and turning my heat down just 5 degrees and even turning it off some days when it isn't 5 degrees outside I noticed a $22 decrease in my last electric bill from the prior month.  I have DSL also and called my DSL provider and got my service down to the cheaper service (still the same kind of service but fewer features and lot cheaper).  Taking my lunch and soda to work with me each day has now saved me almost $30 a week.  I am also putting the saved money aside in a savings account and also each pay period am taking $50 out of paycheck and putting it into the savings account (to only be touched if I lose my job or have an emergency).  It's amazing how fast just a few dollars can add up.

There have been great ideas on this thread.  Really great resources. 

Posted 2/16/2009 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
bump for those stressing on economy :)
Posted 2/16/2009 11:17 PM (GMT 0)

How to save money on groceries:

Shop for produce at a local farm stand.

Never buy coffee, soda, or other drinks or snacks out.

Always grocery shop with a list.

Take advantage of sales on items that you would normally buy.

Only shop once a month.

Stockpile staples when prices are low.

Buy generic items.

Buy enough of a sale item to last 12 weeks. That’s about how long sales take to cycle.

Shop at discount marts: Grocery outlet, The Dollar Store, etc

My favorite is the dollar store for cards and wrapping paper, recyle those fancy gift bags.

Ok come on family what can you come up with. Every bit we can save will keep us from feeling the anxiety at the check out counter. 

Kitt 

Posted 2/18/2009 7:25 PM (GMT 0)
I came upon this earlier while drinking my morning cup of ice water :)

http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/176478/%22Worst-Is-Yet-to-Come%22-Americans'-Standard-of-Living-Permanently-Changed?tickers=WMT,WFMI,FDO,%5EGSPC,%5EDJI,RTH

It's so nice to be able to read the news in my recliner while preping my work for the day :)

Posted 2/18/2009 8:30 PM (GMT 0)

Here is a link to a thread that our dear Frances started.  It has tons of great advice for all those struggling right now!

https://www.healingwell.com/community/?f=9&m=1388585&g=1389846#m1389846

Posted 3/9/2009 11:12 PM (GMT 0)
In the times we are now living
I do believe this is really important to sahre info
and get input from others
to just see if we can help one another along

Luvs
LYN
Posted 3/9/2009 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Oh!  This is one I can answer!

We are a single-income family so we've been cutting back for a long time now.  One thing that we have always done is, have a "treat" for each of us built into the budget.  Something small.  For me, it's Dunkin Donuts coffee.  When I was working, I used to get one every day, which I obviously couldn't continue once I started staying home.  I tried cutting it out entirely, but then I felt deprived and resentful.  So now, I'm allowed (for lack of a better word) a certain amount of cash per week to be used at my discretion.  If I choose to get a coffee one day, that's fine and I don't have to feel guilty about it.  For my husband, it's fast food lunch from the dollar menu once in a while when he gets sick of frozen meals or leftovers.  It helps us to have something to look forward to and makes us feel like we're not entirely depriving ourselves.  We're OK with not getting it every day. 

Posted 3/10/2009 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
I cut my DSL service to the lower package.  I was on the Elite and now on the lower package and now will be saving another $20 per month.  The service switched over this weekend and I cannot tell a difference in the way my laptop, e-mail, etc. work at all.  So, saving myself $20 bucks with the same speed of service.  I've become a regular cheapskate I think.  I'm a coupon addict now.  $10 for $10 specials are my favorite.  My Mom and I went to a wholesale store this past weekend and loaded up two carts with food and stuff and the whole back end of my SUV was full.  We got a lot of great deals and since she has a huge freezer I was able to buy extra stuff and store it at her house and I'll just go over when I need my stuff. 

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