I know the economy is considered to be bad in the US, how is it in other countries? Is it hurting you and changing how you live and altering the decisions you make? Personally, I haven't been affected too much. Food prices have gone up but we try to eat for as little money as possible. I shop mostly at the lower price grocery stores and it seems because of the bad economy, other merchandise has gone down in price in order for stores to try and lure customers into their stores. Gas prices had gotten to be outrageous but we don't drive too much so that wasn't too bad for us and now gas prices have gone down greatly over the last month or so.

On the job front, I got my new job earlier this year and feel I'm making reasonable money and if I do stay there, the money should get considerably better over the next year and a half. My girlfriend on the other hand does make good money but worries that her job could disappear at any time. She's been there almost two years and has had some success there but still worries that the economy could have a bad effect on her company and that could lead to cutbacks and job losses. So we just have to hope for the best and that we can continue to live as we are personally.

I know some people are having horrible problems in one way or another. How are you being affected by it?

I also added a poll from scoring from 1-10.
10 means you're doing great, 5 would be about average and 1 would be that you're doing horribly.

PS. I mean for this to be a discussion on the economy and it's effect on you and your friends and family perosnally. I don't intend for this to be a political discussion in any way as far as this politician versus another or one political party versus the other.

__________________
YOUR HATRED AMUSES ME

I said I'm about 5. Not really any better or any worse than how I was doing this time last year.

Gas prices aren't too bad here, they've actually come down quite bit over the past few weeks, which is really nice.
My only gripe about the economy is the exchange rate. US and Canada have been at par for quite some time, but our dollar started dropping over the past 2 weeks (went to it's lowest in a few years). It's started to rebound again, and I can only hope it's close to 90 (or par would be nicer) for Black Friday and Christmas.

__________________
ThrillNetwork Moderator
The user formerly known as WildeFyre
UOIT Mechanical Engineering Student

I said 6, which is slightly better than average.

The Charlotte region is doing really well compared to the rest of the US. It took a long time for our housing prices to finally fall into the red.

Myself personally, I still have my job and I think I will do ok when salary review time comes around.

If I was out of debt, or a considerable amount of my credit cards were paid off I'd be even better. But I'm trying my best to just live on cash these days, and not use the plastic.

It has helped a lot that gas is down to $2.10 or so here. When it was running $3.50-$4.00 it was a huge drain on my spending money. The extra money I'd have left over after all the bills were paid and I could go and play with, see a movie, etc.

I feel very blessed to have a job these days, even though I don't make a ton of money as some may think a banker would. I'm just glad to have a job, and have such good benefits as well. I guess when you add up all my benefits though and add that to my salary, I make better than average when you look at average single incomes in the US.

__________________

Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Both my wife & myself are disabled - we are on a fixed income of Social Security and do not own any stocks or bonds.

We parked the van and only drive the Rio. Going out to eat is limited to McD's/Wendy's/Burger King once a week. Pizza (not home made) twice a month. Quit the newspaper subscription and am considering getting rid of the cable - but that's our main entertainment. I used to love to go out for breakfast - we wouldn't go out for lunch or dinner then - but now I fix it at home (I am an excellent cook!). Going out for coffee with friends in the evenings is out, too. I wanted to have a dinner for my 50th b-day later this month, but we just can't afford it.

I just wish it were a little bit easier.

I have cut back on things, cut back on driving so much, cut my satellite package down to the basic package which runs about $20 instead of $60 a month for the next level up.

I also took a look at my phone package and stuff like that a while back and cut out several items that I didn't need, that were costing me an extra $10-$15 a month.

I hardly go to the regular theaters anymore, which I know isn't that much of a big deal. But I do either go to the $2 theater, or just wait till movies are on DVD and I can either watch them for free or for $2 through the library (which is 2 blocks from my office).

__________________

Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

I can't really speak for myself here cause my college education is being paid for by my Grandparents, but tuition has been on the rise and a lot of people here are struggling.

The one thing I love about living in the city is that you don't have to drive everywhere, you can walk or take a bus. Which is great cause: A. You can go party as hard as you want and walk home drunk. B. Save money on gas. C. Get exercise by walking everywhere. Funny thing is that I drove a lot over the summer when gas was like $4.75 a gallon and now its $2.65...and I use maybe a tank every 2-3 months.

One thing I have learned though in the past year or so is that saving money is really important. I used to love spending money, but now I try and save what I can. Every now and then I get something nice for myself (Attend a Sharks game, video game, hockey stuff) but I really try and make use of what I have.

I'm also building my credit with my credit card. It seems like these days you need perfect credit to get a decent loan since a lot of banks gave loans to people with mediocre credit, and look what happened.

__________________
Thornton to Heatley all day, every day.

I recently started working more and my get a slight raise for my next paycheck, and am looking to buy a new amp.

I have noticed my parents are spending a little less, but other than more fires instead of central heating, I can't notice that large of a difference.

__________________

I would say i'm at a 10 and doing great. The crumbling economy has not bothered me at all. I'm still spending about the same if not more with gas way down.

__________________

2009 Carolina Cobra Crew
Go Panthers! 4-6: Week 12 @ New York Jets

#6 North Carolina Tarheels 4-1

Beside the fact that I can't seem to get a job anywhere and my dad is unemployed, my family had to cut back on a lot of things and we still can't get the utility bills any lower.

__________________

OK, you know I have to ask what kind of Amp you're looking at getting. I'm collecting parts to build my own amp as a winter project after the holidays.

As far as the economy and us, I gave it a seven. The biggest thing hurting us right now is the housing market. We're wanting to move, but finding someone to buy our house is turning out to be very difficult.

__________________
ThrillNetwork Lead Moderator
My neighbor got a big new house, and all I got was his lousy payments

I voted 6. I don't own a home. I just rent an apartment, so there's no trouble there. I would be better, but I was unemployed for six months after leaving my last job. That ate at my like crazy, but I'm finally putting money in the bank instead of just taking it out.

But I don't know how secure my job is, and my line of work certainly isn't secure at all.

__________________
ThrillNetwork editor emeritus
Voyage is the best roller coaster ever.
Raptor ride count - 1,146.

I voted 3. We are down at work from 40 hours a week to 32 hours a week, and I'll be honest, this is the first time I've really been scared in my life. I don't know if I'll have this job next month, next year, or 5 years down the road. I don't know what I would do if I lost my job.

I guess on the plus side, I'm still able to pay rent, phone, insurance and gas/upkeep of the car. But luxuries such as cell phone, cable, high speed internet are going to have to wait.

__________________

I like Andrew don't know what's down the road either. I would like to go back to school but I feel I still don't have the full swagger and drive behind it.

I definitely do not want to pay more than the $50 I do for my mobile phone. There's no need for a smart phone for me when I just want a sturdy, fashionable slider and could still use the internet at home.

I've really fought ordering lunch with people at work. I bought a few canned items today at the store for $3.15. That'll be good for part of next week.

I'm concerned about the auto industry and the effect of losing the diversification of retail. Walmart is too price driven on a broad selection of items and are not very finite in selection like certain specialty stores are. Will my Dark Knight Dvd purchase be my last one at Circuit City?

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

The econemy has killed me, lost my job over a year ago, I work in the houseing construction industry.. Cant find anything in what I know and working for $7.00 an hour dont pay the morgtage. I am disappointed everytime I go to the store and its more money for less stuff. Does everything cost $5.00 each.. Glad to see gas come down, but lack of jobs and no pay is makeing for a horrible existantance. May even have to pull my website off line this coming year as I just cant afford the fees to be online. Burned up all my savings and life is very hard.
Only thing I have is hope that it will get better and even that is running low.
Sorry for a negative post but thats just the way life goes.. Just like a big roller coaster, full of ups and downs.

__________________

Johnny Upsidedown's Roller Coaster Website
www.Johnnyupsidedown.com
Stop by and take a look at lots of coaster photos, construction and trip reports.

Not liking the Big Three swaying like they are. Manufacturing is further leaving my county.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

To those of you who are doing great - I'm happy for you! Those of you who CAN spend are what keep this economy together.

Those of you who aren't doing so swell - I feel you!

My husband was laid off from a decent-paying job in August (the day after we returned from our anniversary vacation) and spent 3 months out of work before finding a lower-paying position at a distribution center. He drives an hour and a half to work each day so we were as glad as anyone when gas prices started coming down! At the same time, my part-time job cut me from 16 hours a week to 4 - everyone in the store took a big cut because of poor sales. During this period of unemployment, because we had no savings, we lived entirely off credit cards, which are now beyond our ability to pay them off or even keep up on the minimums.

So, needless to say ... the biggest reason we are currently hurting is because we will not be able to buy a house in the foreseeable future, and because of our large amount of uncontrolled debt, we aren't sure we'll be able to even find an apartment that will approve us. Right now we're living with family but we want to be out on our own again. My husband has not been able to find employment in his line of work and is settling for less than half what he should be making - we're looking at moving to the Washington D.C. area because his line of work is more in demand there, but that will mean me taking a hiatus from college again.

__________________
05.16, 05.17, 05.18, 06.05, 06.06: Cedar Point
05.25.09-06.01.09: KD, SFA, BGE, SFGAdv, Morey's & More!
06.18.09: Holiday World
2009 Diamondback laps: 41

The myth that "spending" is good for the economy and is the thing that keeps it together is quite possibly the most widespread of all myths. I don't blame anyone for thinking it's true, but I'm here to tell you it's not.

During our industrial revolution America borrowed a lot of money from abroad, but at that time we made good use of the capital. We made stuff that people at home and abroad wanted. Nowadays we still borrow tons of money but we spend it all on consumption. America is dead weight in the world economy, although a 'modern economist' would tell you that without America consuming all the stuff everyone else makes there would be no point to the producers.

Now Ben Berknanke and Paulson, et al. and all the people Barack is going to bring in who believe the exact same thing are going to bail out financial institutions with money created out of thing air so you can *borrow* money and buy things with money you don't have. It's a bad situation for everyone.

If you're having a tough time now, that sucks - eventually it'll get better but I'm afraid it won't happen until out unsound system falls apart.

If you are well off, SAVE YOUR MONEY, don't buy things just for the sake of buying them. It's like when they tried to build the bridge to nowhere to 'stimulate' the economy.

I don't have an awful lot of things to pay for, but I'm doing well in this economy. I've never had a balance on my credit cards, I payed for my car in cash and I save my money.

So your proposal is that putting your money in the bank and not spending it on consumables will stabilize this economy? How? Saving money doesn't help the automakers (who depend on people spending money on cars), retailers (who depend on people spending money on their stock), the service industry (who depend on people spending money on their services), the government (who depend on people spending money on things so they can collect sales tax), or anyone but the bank, who invests it in the stock of all these other companies who depend on you spending money to stay afloat.

If people stop spending money, the economy grinds to a halt. It was the theory behind the 'stimulus' package - give money to people to spend, and it'll help the economy! Only problem was, most people took that money and either stuck it in the bank, or paid off debt, so it didn't help the economy.

__________________
05.16, 05.17, 05.18, 06.05, 06.06: Cedar Point
05.25.09-06.01.09: KD, SFA, BGE, SFGAdv, Morey's & More!
06.18.09: Holiday World
2009 Diamondback laps: 41

It has hit me in a big way. I am in school for Motorsports, and the ultimate goal is to be on a NASCAR team. Well, I graduate next summer, and the entire racing scene could not be worse. NASCAR teams are closing shop, laying off everyone, merging with other teams just to stay afloat, losing sponsorship etc. Now this entire GM crisis is going to hit the sport even harder, as dodge, ford, and chevys all race.

I'm considering jumping ship on the entire thing.

__________________
HANNAH MONTANA!!!!!!!!!
TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM!!!!!
"I'm living proof....THAT GIRLS CAN ROCK!!!!!!"

I'm not suggesting the no one spends any money. I'm saying don't spend money for the sake of spending money. One major reason we got into this mess is because Americans borrowed money and spent in on consumption. It's unsound; we've been living beyond our means and continuing to do so is not the solution.

Another reason government 'stimulus' doesn't work is because we don't have the money so we get it from our printing press down at the Fed which is the definition of inflation. Inflation is the worst of all taxes, it makes you poorer and it's worse in the long run.

Actually, many modern economists suggest that deflation is far worse than inflation. While hyperinflation and stagflation are both devastating, we have not seen the likes of severe deflation in our lifetime. With inflation, consumers at least feel a pressure to buy because of the fear of rising prices. However, with deflation, consumers feel pressure to wait to buy in order to hold out for lower prices. Thus no consumption happens, and the economy gets even worse.

That being said, do I think that this is going to be another Great Depression? No, every situation is different. However, do I think this might be worse than the Great Depression? Perhaps. The fact is, things are bad, and they're going to get a lot worse before they get better. Obama will help a little, but it's going to be hard to undo what Bush, the bankers, and the auditors have already done.

Ron Paul 2012

__________________
I don't feel like manually adding my Track Record, so I'm just going to tell you it's 210.
Towson '09

Deflation occurs as a result of bankers being stingy and offering less loans; with less credit out there the money supply decreases. During the 'bust' cycle this is actually welcomed because it encourages people to save their money - which is what's needed.

The market needs to correct on its own and nothing the government does can help the situation. Obama will only exacerbate the problem the same way FDR did. Need I remind anyone that the great depression lasted for over 10 years due to government intervention and the New Deal. Now Obama wants to come in and do it all over again because FDR is revered as much as a god. I'd also like to point out that on the economy Bush and Obama are extraordinarily similar and their 'teams' all believe the same things in regards to the economy. What change?

I'm surprised you're still a fan of Ron Paul. Nothing you've said recently is line with Paul's philosophy.

The most played out word is "Doorbuster." That's how desperate Retail is. If the doors were really busted that would be quite a price to replace all those doors for all the times they spit out the word. It's so bad it seems like everyday this week is its own advertised super sale.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

The economy is not affecting my family at all. However, education (which I am in) and health care (which my wife is in) are two of the most stable working environments in existance in the United States.

In fact, we have more money right now due to lower gas prices, and every business giving such huge discounts on everything.

__________________
SWOOSH - MidwestInfoGuide.COM

I am personally doing a lot better since the gas prices dropped so much, but with my employer promising 3500 job cuts in the next 3 years, who knows how long I'll have a job. I've dodged that bullet several times, but who knows now.

__________________

Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

We've seen Citi and now BoA go around.... So I'm concerned too.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

Tell me about it...I work there. It's only a part time job, since I'm in school, but I do like having the money. However, my hours were just cut from 25 a week to 7. My store is staying open for now, but we'll see what happens after Christmas...

__________________

Our circuit city just had a giant going out of business sale.

__________________
HANNAH MONTANA!!!!!!!!!
TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM!!!!!
"I'm living proof....THAT GIRLS CAN ROCK!!!!!!"

4MM filing for unemployement in the past month. Wow.
Jobless claims sink more than expected - Dec. 31, 2008

__________________

Intimidator Coming in 2010 to Carowinds!

Wells Fargo had so much of that Western US look to them that in a recent commercial I felt kind of spooked with the shadow of their stage coach driving by Independence Hall Philadelphia.

__________________
Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too