1.9 Million out of work in the US. How are you holding up?

I'm new here, so Mods, I'm sorry if this is in the wrong place.

This is more or less attempting to grasp that statistic by putting some "faces" on them.

So, I'd like to know how the people who regular this site are doing economically.
You don't have to use your real name or location, ect. This is just a place to share stories.

As an act of good faith, I'll start.

I'm 20 years old. Unemployed. Can't go to school yet, because I'd rather not come out of a place of higher education with $40-$50,000 of debt I might be able to pay off depending on whether or not the economy stabilizes.

On top of that, I'm trying to help pay the taxes on the house of my recently deceased grandmother.

I'm aware my problems are probably not nearly as dire as others, so I'd like to hear from you guys.

How are you holding up?

Edit: Fixed the title. This isn't to deter people from other countries from posting, just to clarify the statistic used.

[edit on 6-12-2008 by Thelast]

Depressions and Recessions are ok . . .

As long as you still have your job and can pay your bills . . .

I am in a business that will benefit from the upcoming spending on infrastructure, so I am justing waiting, although we are still busy with work, everyone is very nervous!

[edit on 12/6/08 by mel1962]

i work for an electric provider so i'll be good as long as people pay their bills. safe as my job is, we're getting lots of "messages" about trimming the fat and what not.

thanks for asking though.

Well I'm a student in Northern Ireland at the moment with a part-time job at a local shop. My hours have been halved as have others which goes to show that this recession even stretches all the way down to the bottom of the food chain.

Friday the 5th I took a vacation day to have some medical tests done. The nature of the tests were not so bad but as to me nature of disliking tubes directing anything into my veins that I can feel running through my body as well as big machines the staff run from before starting is stressful enough so I could not wait to get home, have a good smoke and just relax.

"Anyone from work call you yet?????" read the text from a coworker. Within 5 minutes of getting home I found out a round of surprise layoffs ran through our branch of the advertising company I work at. I was the last one hired and have less seniority than any of the furniture. So far, my boss claims I am all good but hey, they waited for everyone else to show up and work a few hours before letting them go and I don't go back to Monday.

So, so far, I am really lucky. Monday I may be posting here far more than I should be. Until roadrunner wants more money, lol. How is everyone else doing out there?

We're actually doing O.K. I'm severely underemployed-but haven't filed for unemployment (dooh!) thinking each week work will open up. He is helping the particulars donating plasma and his severe underemployment.

A check here and there things are really tight. The power bill is outrageous and will take some doing to be kept on. We had to apply for foodstamps. There is food. We live in an abundant area of the nation. There is *usually* lots of work and there is never no food, we tend to have operating soup kitchens and many employment resources.

There are ways to find your way, it is just not terribly easy. I usually get bullied out of a job I perform just fine at-because I don't take underhanded tactics to fight underhanded tactics; and that IS a huge problem over here.

I would rather be poor than terribly trauma'd by absolute idiots, preferring to some day find a company of fuctioning integrity and a keen eye, or die trying. Which doesn't pay the bills.

But, power rolled over the bill. I was sent to work for a week-which is better than none (!), rebates will come soon, we are thinking of freeing up our hugely cheap apartment in a good neighborhood for a cheaper apartment in the ghetto.



It will be ok. It is sort of nice in a sick way that this is a huge phenomena shared by many, especially when many of those are characteristically the ones looking down their noses at those less blessed by circumstance.

Yeah--you try it for a change.
A humbling experience.

But I'm happy; I don't know why. I guess because I know that I learn so much from every bit of living-even when the living is never very good; and I have that kind of indoor wealth that others were not so lucky to find even for a moment. Now that, is truly sad.

I work in the real estate field.. eee gads. I am an avid ATS reader, so I am well aware, and have been for months now, of what is on the way. My company just opened a new office that I manage, so I may be alright for a couple of months, but as the home prices keep dropping, who knows if the broker can afford to keep the doors open. Also, the vast majority of my coworkers are under the amazingly ridiculous impression that "things will pick up after the first of the year." I am the doom and gloomer if I mention anything other than their heppy peppy little fairy tale. It makes me crazy, but heck, I am still picking up a paycheck - for now.

Im a student and stay home mom. So, I dont work right now.

I actually dont know anyone who has lost a job. Thankfully. My parents and brothers own their own businesses and are doing well - no decline in business at all. In fact, one brother co-owns a bar and his business has increased. The other owns a contstruction company and his has too.

All my friends who work are doing fine and arent in fear of loosing their jobs (they all do various things from administrative work, to cops, to military to waitress and so on).

I guess im lucky that the ecomony and all the job losses have not hit my home or anyone I know.

Anyways, best of luck to all those who are being hit hard

I work in healthcare, so I'm good so far. If something happens in my hospital, then I can always go to another hospital or a nursing home. There are a lot of things an RN with my esperience can do. So far, we've been able to pay the mortgage, and keep food on the table. If we have to go on the dole then I'll figure something else out.
My wife is on disability, so I have to keep her in mind.

[edit on 6-12-2008 by kettlebellysmith]

My girlfriend just got a job about a month ago, and she loves it. I just picked up a second job this week. When I check the job listing on craigslist there's hundreds of jobs everyday. Are you guys sure the economy is tanking? I was slammed at work last night, it was insane, everyone was out spending cash! Maybe you should pack it up and move to seattle. Either way, and I stated this in another thread, I think it's important to maintain some kind of an income in times of economic troubles. If this means you have to take a crappy job for a while, then so be it, but I think keeping the cash flowing is the best way to get out of this mess. If there is a mess..really? Is there? It's not just a media blitz? You guys can verify this right?

As well as can be expected.Iwork for a company that makes a building product.The pay is not great but i decided a few years ago to stick it out for a while.I worked several jobs that sucked the previous 5 years and some were only temorary to begin with.i did not want to get a job hopper label stuck on me.one place got rid of me when i got sick and missed 3 days ,falsly claiming I did not call in sick-Thyssen Krupp Fabco of Springfield Tennessee.i feel like i may be stuck where I am because jobs are becoming more scarce.electric has gone up 20 percent so there was a strain on my budget.The gas prices coming back down some has helped

I recently lost my job. I worked for a Human Service Ageny in town, aiding the developmentally disabled. I was "fired" under the guise of excessive absenteeism (which was completely untrue, I had not missed a day in my tenure there), but came to find out soon thereafter that the Agency was indeed broke. I was "fired" so that they could try to skirt paying me unemployment. Needless to say I've forwarded the appropriate paperwork to my lawyer- including timesheets and schedules- for his review, but I feel horrible just having the thought of taking to court a non-profit that does so much good for so many in my area.

I have a property that was bought by my family with the intention of being a rental property in the city of Denver, CO. I was lead to believe that the housing market would turn around very quickly by my broker, and that I would have enough cash available to me- through my savings and such- to weather any short-term housing market problems. Needless to say, 4 months after the mortgage paperwork was signed, the tenants notified me they were leaving. They subsequently ripped the copper out of the basement, stole all of the brand new appliances that I outfitted the house with, tore up carpet, and smashed holes in the walls. I was put in a situation of losing my savings to fix the house quickly so I could regain a tenant, or letting the house go into foreclosure, while protecting my personal savings so that me and my family could weather these troubled times ourselves. The house is now in foreclosure, but knowing that I will never have to deal with the hassle of the house (or the son-of-a-gun RE Broker) ever again is a huge weight off of my shoulders in these trying times.

I am now forced to use up my minimal savings- which are diminishing quickly due to car repairs, home repairs, and other necessary expense. I filed for unemployment today, which is something I have never done since I started working when I was 16 years old- 8 years ago.

I live with my parents. At 24, it's embarassing to say. But I'm able to survive day-to-day a little better that way, while continually trying to find a job.

I have no health insurance, and was denied medicaid due to the fact that my aforementioned employer "fired" me, which disqualifies me from social services for 90 days. I have some health issues, and the medical bills are mounting- the insurances that I could pay out-of-pocket for will not cover any of my pre-exisiting conditions, so that leaves me stuck dead in the water for now, until I can find some meaningful employment.

Sorry to be a downer with my story, but it's the truth, and it sucks.

But hey, every day above ground is a good day, so I'll keep that outlook for now.

Originally posted by Bobbo
I live with my parents. At 24, it's embarassing to say. But I'm able to survive day-to-day a little better that way, while continually trying to find a job.

Considering the state of the economy, that's a matter of practicality.

You shouldn't really be embarrassed, as there are 30-somethings having to move back in as well.

Just a sign of the times.

Moved out of the parent's home in July. Turned 25 in August. Haven't been
back to college since about 2005, and I definitely can't afford it now.

I work for the world's largest Organic and All-Natural grocery store,
and things aren't going so well there. After our hours were cut, and
overtime was eliminated, they laid-off a sizeable portion of us, including
myself. But due to my job performance and the years I put in there, some
friends (or butts I've kissed over the years) pulled some strings for me,
and I was re-hired a week later. I was the only lucky one, and it was a
sobering experience.

Things really aren't looking good to be honest, I need a second job, as do
many of my friends, and finding a basic part-time job is nearly impossible.

Imagine if gas prices were still $3-$4 a gallon, there would be riots.
The low gas prices are one of the few things holding this country together.

We're hanging on in eastern PA ... the rope we're hanging on to is getting thinner and thinner, though.

Spring of '08 I got a partial layoff - upper management in the advertising industry. I went from full time salaried to hourly at 20 hours/wk. I took a part time job as a baker for a restaurant. After a couple months part time at both places, the advertising company was in imminent danger of bankruptcy. They were forced to lay off 90% of the staff, including me. I was very lucky in that I was able to move to full time at the restaurant. My husband is a chef and he continued his normal work schedule of 60-70 hrs/wk. Yes, we work at the same restaurant.
After being laid off from the advertising company, I filed for unemployment - I got partial benefits due to making much less at the restaurant, but it was a huge help.
All was well through the summer months. Come about August, business began to slow, then in September it fell off a cliff. Customers & orders were down by 30-40%.
By October the restaurant had slowed by an estimated 60% from summertime. Everyone's schedules were cut. I was down to part time, hubby down to 40 hrs/wk.

Having an excellent reputation in the industry, hubby was able to pick up a few shifts at another restaurant to make up some of the difference. I'm not so lucky. I've been looking for either something part time to supplement what I have now or something full time in areas I have significant experience. No dice. I've been told more than once I'm overqualified for part time positions (like a grocery store checker, waitress, I don't care what I do at this point!), and the few full time office positions out there have insanely fierce competition. Factories around here are either cutting back or closing our right, so manual labor is shot. I send out dozens of resumes a week whether I'm qualified or not. Nothing. I have been able to do some contracting with my old firm (advertising) as they've survived and are at least getting by right now, but that's hit or miss.

We've cut out extras like dining out, etc.
The kid won't notice too much of a difference at Christmas this year because I'm the queen of bargain shopping, but our Christmas budget is less than half of what it was last year. She's too young to not have anything under the tree, so we eliminated our annual Thanksgiving trip to see my family and used that money for presents.
We have to juggle like mad every month when it comes to paying bills. Fortunately we don't have any credit card debt and we own our car, but it's a struggle to get everything paid on time.

I don't know what's going to happen after Christmas. At this point I believe we should be in good shape at least through late spring, when my unemployment runs out. Right now we're just trying to take everything one day at a time.

What an honestly depressing thread I've been on disability now for 5 years and my psychiatrist was 'as if' suggesting that I now go back to work Yeah, right.

Actually, I am concerned about losing my SSDI. My ex-wife would than expect child support again and the state would probably seize 'what's left' of my 401k.

I would than have to move in with my dying mother and control freak family. Living alone and having little contact with people is what's helped me recover or stabilize. And I received disability for intentionally being homeless? It still doesn't make sense.

Yeah, it's good that gas is cheaper and no one is siphoning it out of my car where I live either. Today they spoke on the news about giving "WORKING" tax payers a bailout? A 16% 2 month tax holiday?

WTH? What about all of the people who've lost their jobs etc? Our government is nuts.

Give the auto manufacturers a loan and not a bail out. If they fold, than the government forecloses first to sell off their assets such as new cars to those who can't afford them.

Low cost leased high economy cars sounds about right too.

Still, I have to wonder if the NWO is going to officially start at the end of January.

I work part time at a Deli.
I go to college full time, Engineering student.

I am really pissed off at this whole situation.

I have a year and a half left of school. So i hope to god that I will be able to find a job after i graduate.

If not, well, then tough luck for me, Im on my own, no bailout for a hard working, law abiding, born in America free thinking person like me.

Maybe soon it will be time to excersize our right to abolish our current government, and re-establish the constitution as our supreme law of the land. HAHAHA in my dreams right.

Unemployed just about 2 months, about 50-60 resume/applications and I've had 2 interviews with nothing promising on the horizon.



[edit on 6-12-2008 by ATruGod]

Originally posted by Thelast

How are you holding up?

[edit on 6-12-2008 by Thelast]

Very well, thanks.

I'm just a blue collar union worker, working for a utility. Lots of overtime, low six-figures for the last 5 years.

Idiots run the company, but people need their lights! I'm in the upper third of seniority, so even with a layoff, I should be OK. Even if I get fired/laid-off, there's plenty of jobs in the US and overseas for my trade. I won't go hungry.

Hey I am new here as well, well I just signed up that is.

At any rate I am in Utah and would consider myself low to middle class just like a lot of other people in the U.S.
High School diploma holder.
I have worked since 1994 in a wide variety of jobs and never collected unemployment. I am still currently employed, I don't see my job going away any time soon and have very little debt. I don't make a lot of money nor have I ever.

I feel bad for all the unemployed people that are not only unemployed but have mass quantities of debt. I do know this though, IF you are reading this and want some free advice which is the best financial advice in my opinion. Look up "Dave Ramsey" He has a radio show, t.v. show and books. It is very inspiring and can bring a tear to your eye hearing the families and individuals that call his show and scream "I'M DEBT FREE!" or "WE'RE DEBT FREE!" very awesome stuff. I am close to that point myself. I think there might be some stuff on you tube as well.


Anyway I know a few jobless and a few that say they are concerned about their jobs but here at my place I am doing just fine. Did I mention that I am male, 31 and live next door to my mother who is divorced and with my sister who is a single mom? Good thing my mother is the best cook in the world huh.