How is the economy affecting you?

[Fierce Critter]

Overall, how is the economy affecting you? Making changes? Feeling the pinch? Doing surprisingly well?

Jon and I are feeling it. Jon hasn't had a 40-hour week in over a month. Our tax refund went towards making up as much as $100 deficits in his paychecks.

eBay earnings used to go towards savings & fun stuff for us. Now, it's an actual, needed 2nd income in the house.

Jon's shop has been laying off workers left and right. It looks like they're going to keep him on, but whole divisions have been closed. And if his hours continue to dwindle, he'll have no choice but to look for something else.

He's had some side work with a new friend who has his own business doing construction. But that's not steady and the guy seems to take his time paying Jon once he's done work.

We've had to cut down massively on the amount of time we spend driving due to gas prices. We used to be quite spontaneous, taking day trips up north, that sort of thing. Those days are gone.

Overall, we're o.k. But I hope things pick up in both of our businesses, and I'm concerned for others.

[phee]

Overall "Ouch"!!!

[The_Dark]

The current economy is great... as long as you dont live in Michigan. FC, you choose the absolute wrong time to move back home. We are the only state to have lost jobs in the last 2 years.

Now, if we can get Granholm out of office and someone else in that will actually try to not only save what jobs we have but get some of the old ones back...

but more to answer the question...

Hasn't hit me that much. My sales numbers are a bit low because people are holding thier wallets and waiting to find out whats going to happen with Delphi.

[phee]

The current economy is great... as long as you dont live in Michigan. FC, you choose the absolute wrong time to move back home. We are the only state to have lost jobs in the last 2 years.

Now, if we can get Granholm out of office and someone else in that will actually try to not only save what jobs we have but get some of the old ones back...

but more to answer the question...

Hasn't hit me that much. My sales numbers are a bit low because people are holding thier wallets and waiting to find out whats going to happen with Delphi.

I agree.... it went from bad to really bad under her...

[torn asunder]

Now, if we can get Granholm out of office and someone else in that will actually try to not only save what jobs we have but get some of the old ones back...

thedark for governor!!!

[Fierce Critter]

If you knew just how absolutely miserable we were living in NC, you'd understand why "!!!NOW!!!" was the "right" time for us to move back to Michigan.

We had lots of $$, a great house to live in, and reasonable security in NC. And were going insane.

In Michigan, our budget is stretched to breaking, we're unsure about tomorrow's paycheck, are living in a miniscule apartment - and are happier than we've been in years.

There's no comparison. Happiness is relative. We're struggling, but happy.

I've always been totally out of touch with government on the state level. I'm trying to remedy that. But I still hear from Republicans that Granholm sucks, and from a lot of democrats the same thing.

But I also hear people say that what Granholm inherited from the former Republican governor would be difficult for ANYONE to remedy in 4 years.

I don't know what to believe, 'cause I haven't been here to see it happen.

[torn asunder]

oh, and to add something worthwhile...

i haven't really noticed any issues, monetarily - i tend to go in cycles, sometimes blowing a lot of money going out, and sometimes staying in for weeks. i haven't done much road-tripping, but that's more of a time issue than a financial one. i can afford bills, groceries, and the occassiona night out for drinks, so i'm doing ok...

[The_Dark]

There is that. Our previous Govener left Granholm a mess. What happened was...

He put forth a budget plan that would have left Michigan sitting pretty... Congress would not pass it. So, publicaly, he said (paraphrased) "OK, here's an alternative budget that you people are going to love. As a warning, it will fuck you hard core in 1 year." The idiots passed it and here we sit. Granhom could have fixed this mess.. . she never even tried.

[phee]

There is that. Our previous Govener left Granholm a mess. What happened was...

He put forth a budget plan that would have left Michigan sitting pretty... Congress would not pass it. So, publicaly, he said (paraphrased)  "OK, here's an alternative budget that you people are going to love. As a warning, it will fuck you hard core in 1 year." The idiots passed it and here we sit. Granhom could have fixed this mess.. . she never even tried.

I think that's the gist of it

[pharoh]

Well personally I have been thinking about moving out of state just so I can get some work........Hell my Farsha (thank you goldmember) moved to Texas to get work when I was a baby cause michigan wasn't doing shit for him.....Now I am finding myself ready to do the same thing......Maybee might move to Baltimore lol

[Blackmail]

It's pretty weird hearing how the economy in the United States is great right now when it is only getting worse here in Michigan. But when the auto industry has problems there is a trickle down effect.

[pharoh]

I aggree completly Blackmail.....it seems this state depends on the big 3 to keep it's workers going, and with all the other buisnesses here that don't have anything to do with the big 3 are all tightening thier belts too so to speak.

[Homicidalheathen]

I don't hang out with people far away as much. I feel like the gas prices are forcing me to hang in my own hood, almost a conspiracy of sorts.....but I am paranoid. :erm

I miss some people.

[pharoh]

Ya i am pretty much being a homebody myself at the moment, i don't get alot from unenjoyment, so I am keeping my excursions limited at the moment =(

[Fierce Critter]

I had hoped Jon would be able to avoid businesses that are associated with the auto industry.

he pretty much has. He's a freaking DOOR repairman, for pete's sake. But when the economy is down and the weather is warm, people just prop their broken doors open, I guess.

[Msterbeau]

A lot rides on the auto industry in Michigan.. directly and especially indirectly. We not only have a lot of the corporate offices here (design, marketing, engineering, etc.) we also have a lot of suppliers who support those activieties. Add in manufacturing and that's a sizeable chunk of employment directly attributable to cars. Add to that the fact that people here tend to buy domestic far more then anywhere else in the country. As the economy goes downhill... people don't buy cars - domestic cars. That's a downward spiral particular to us here. Now... with all these people out of work and others scared to spend... that takes the already worsening economy and kills it.

I think anyone in Granholms office would have a tough time helping it while working with a hostile legislature. I could be wrong, maybe she sucks... but I'm pretty sure you can't blame it all on her either. The domestic car industry has needed to reduce costs and build better products for a long time. They've gotten better... but nearly enough. I'd put a chunk of the blame for the econmy squarely on their shoulders.

[Steven]

its tough here.

I make 45 grand a year.

I'm up for a 5 grand raise next week as per the agreement I had with my boss when I came to his company - if I'm doing a good job - the original amount (i wanted 50 grand) will be mine afte 6 months.

I hate to admit that I'm stressin it a bit - but every penny counts.

we are a one income family.

that is difficult - we have a mortgage and such - but my life is just so much better when Laura is home to help me as opposed to draggin herself in teh door at the end of the day like I do. the sacrifice is worth if - but its hard.

[BrassFusion]

I'm really bad off... I've been trying to get a regular office bitch or banking or pharmacy or any kind of day job for years now and no one will hire me because I don't have as much experience as people who were never any good at their jobs to begin with.

I'd consider moving out of state just to start a job except I have students and gigs here. I couldn't abandon them, and if I ever DO get a decent job, I'd still have the second income. I'd be sitting pretty.

[Hellion]

:devil The Single Business Tax needs to go,I know that I have seen want ads for manufacturing for companies that deal with the aerospace industry,and medical industry.Yeah these gas prices really suck,and its like that in every state.Its like they are trying to put everybody out of business.The auto companies also never seem to make cars that appeal to the customer,and the vehicles are way overpriced.Thats my opinion.

[Fierce Critter]

We've done o.k. on a single "official" income. Jon's pay rate has him at $32,000 a year pre-tax. But after they take out $264.00 per month for our health insurance, plus appx. another appx. $30 per month for things like his cell phone, uniform fee, STD & LTD, taxes, etc, his take home adds up to only $22,000.

Take out another appx. $100 per month for prescription co-pays, and that whittles take-home down even more, technically.

He got a $2.00 hike in pay at this job vs. what he made in NC. But all the deductions have put us at a much lesser income than what we had before - even if he was getting 40 hours a week., which he's not.

His take home amounted to closer to $25,000 in NC. And our rent was $125 less than it is here. 'Scrip co-pays were less than $50 total. And we had no gas bill. So we really have taken a serious, serious hit here in Michigan. Bankruptcy has gone from idea to fact - we just don't have the funds there to pay beyond the day-to-day needs. My debts go back to way before I even met Jon. If I get a job tomorrow, I'll be garnished for certain as soon as my social security number hits the computers. So, for now, it's eBay and yard sales for my contribution to the household budget.

We've tried to keep things as budget-conscious as possible, such as not having any credit cards, only having one vehicle, no kids, seriously combing sales for groceries, living in an apartment that's, truthfully, way too small for us. Things like that.

We can deal by getting back to the simple pleasures. Wyandotte is a great place for me - I can bike everywhere instead of taking the truck. Saves on gas, gets my ass exercising. Jon can go 4 blocks and fish on the river - and boy howdee, he sure does.

And there can be no value placed on the time I get to spend with my 80-year-old parents again. Truly priceless, well worth being back.

The things that get me upset are things like constantly having to play home-repairperson. The door sags on our truck. I already looked up the instructions online and replaced the hinge pins once - but I have to do it again. And this also caused the latch to get destroyed, and that's a much, much more difficult repair than the hinge pins were - and they were no picnic. I can't tell you how near tears I am, just wanting to take the damned thing to someone who knows what they're doing and say, "here - fix this."

Those kinds of things are starting to get to me. I couldn't care less if we never eat out, can't see movies at the theater, can't even afford NetFlix but can only rent DVD's from the library for $1.00 per week. I just don't want to be a fucking car mechanic/plumber/painter/seamstress/IT tech/carpenter/insertspeciality here anymore. I'm tired of it.

[Hellion]

We've done o.k. on a single "official" income. Jon's pay rate has him at $32,000 a year pre-tax. But after they take out $264.00 per month for our health insurance, plus appx. another appx. $30 per month for things like his cell phone, uniform fee, STD & LTD, taxes, etc, his take home adds up to only $22,000.

Take out another appx. $100 per month for prescription co-pays, and that whittles take-home down even more, technically.

He got a $2.00 hike in pay at this job vs. what he made in NC. But all the deductions have put us at a much lesser income than what we had before - even if he was getting 40 hours a week., which he's not.

His take home amounted to closer to $25,000 in NC. And our rent was $125 less than it is here. 'Scrip co-pays were less than $50 total. And we had no gas bill. So we really have taken a serious, serious hit here in Michigan. Bankruptcy has gone from idea to fact - we just don't have the funds there to pay beyond the day-to-day needs. My debts go back to way before I even met Jon. If I get a job tomorrow, I'll be garnished for certain as soon as my social security number hits the computers. So, for now, it's eBay and yard sales for my contribution to the household budget.

We've tried to keep things as budget-conscious as possible, such as not having any credit cards, only having one vehicle, no kids, seriously combing sales for groceries, living in an apartment that's, truthfully, way too small for us. Things like that.

We can deal by getting back to the simple pleasures. Wyandotte is a great place for me - I can bike everywhere instead of taking the truck. Saves on gas, gets my ass exercising. Jon can go 4 blocks and fish on the river - and boy howdee, he sure does.

And there can be no value placed on the time I get to spend with my 80-year-old parents again. Truly priceless, well worth being back.

The things that get me upset are things like constantly having to play home-repairperson. The door sags on our truck. I already looked up the instructions online and replaced the hinge pins once - but I have to do it again. And this also caused the latch to get destroyed, and that's a much, much more difficult repair than the hinge pins were - and they were no picnic. I can't tell you how near tears I am, just wanting to take the damned thing to someone who knows what they're doing and say, "here - fix this."

Those kinds of things are starting to get to me. I couldn't care less if we never eat out, can't see movies at the theater, can't even afford NetFlix but can only rent DVD's from the library for $1.00 per week. I just don't want to be a fucking car mechanic/plumber/painter/seamstress/IT tech/carpenter/insertspeciality here anymore. I'm tired of it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I understand compltely Fierce,I my self have put several things aside because of the cost of living in America.Which to me is out of control.

[BlackHound]

Well, Its kicking me in the nuts. I have friends who moved of detroit found a job in two weeks. I think of moving out if I can get more cash.

[The_Dark]

I really wish we could get the Mobile/Motor home factorys back. Michigan did not used to be so dependant on the Auto industry. As little as 30 years ago we had all kinds of manufacturing jobs not related to the auto industry. Great old Govenor Milikin enacted his brain child Single Business Tax and drove them outof the state. If you want to see them, they are all in Northeren Indiana.

[Nienna]

My job is ok. Problem is, I'm getting about half what I need to pay all of my bill and still save, and about half what I should get in light of my education. I'd like to get a better job, but it just isn't out there right now.

I cast a vote for "OUCH"!

[Msterbeau]

I have a job. Not as good as I'd like, but I'm pretty much stuck in MI since I want to be near my daughters. I'm a little worried... there are way too many rumors that the company isn't doing great financially. We're always busy, but that doesn't necessaril translate into $$$ coming in. I don't even wanna think about getting laid off again. I'm in a hole with no 401K to fall back on now.