OUCH!

Hubby just told me what we've been anticipating for a while. Work for him is slow, and they are going to 4 days a week, 32 hours. No overtime, no nothing! And my Real Estate career is dead! Just when gas is going up, our PG&E bill is over $400 for the last 2 months, and I just bought a NEW FRIDGE! Yikes, I may have to give up wine for a while....

Nancy - I am sorry to hear this! I expect more of these situations in the coming months - times are hard!

Oh I am sorry to hear this. You never really expect this to happen to you or someone you know.

That sucks. I know I keep saying that I want to quit my second job but I really can't afford to.

Susan, I'm going to increase my hours a bit (my choice). I've been only been working 20-25 per week, and not getting everything done. My boss has wanted me there more anyway.

I know this is NOTHING in comparison with people losing their jobs altogether. Just a bump in the road. Some families are in real trouble. I've been so spoiled and hubby makes great money. We will feel it though and will have to tighten up a bit on eating out, etc. We've done it before. I used to stay home with my boys and we lived check-to-check at times. We're getting a pretty healthy tax refund and that will tide us over.

I have to change my lifestyle too. Our businesses have been affected by the housing melt down and most of my extended family is in construction. So I feel it all around me. No more Starbucks for me...and a lot less eating out..thats just the beginning...but like you..I have strong faith that whatever happens...this will pass one way or another. Of my starting college class only two of us havent shortened our term to go for a lesser career sooner. Everyone is feeling the crunch and needs to get out and get a paycheck. My gas commute started at $240.00 a month its now over $300.

Sorry to hear about this. Hope you get things sorted out. At the moment, in the UK, our economy is not too bad (although what do they say about when the US sneezes the rest of the world catches a cold?) but I know how difficult it was back in the early 1990s here so I can empathise to some extent. Kate

You're right.....it's happening all around us. And no matter where you look, there's a tougher story next to you. Maybe we can try to make the best of this before it gets bad (my attempt at optimism through a dark phase....and it will be a phase!) Saving money by not eating out as much definitely = better control on our meals. We cut out all of the other extras - the chips, the bread, the extra glass of wine, etc. * money and calories!! No Wine.....again, I took your cue and didn't drink wine during the week....dropped 4 pounds that week * Wine = money and not just calories....but weight loss blocker! I hope you can find a manageable balance w/ your new situation. I'm sure you will. Personally, I'm not good at 'budgetting' as I've never had to be but I think I'm going to be proactive and start to keep track of spending!

I don't know what kind of work your DH does, but I hope everything works out. My DH is a foreman for a construction company and so far all has been going ok, but the threat of reduced work always rears its ugly head. Sad part for us is that we do pretty much live paycheck to paycheck and the biggest splurge we have for the week is he buys a pizza on Saturday night. We don't go out to eat, we both take our lunches to work and the kids take lunch to school. We make decent money but both have vehicle payments and the cost of gas is killing us. Something has to give....I keep saying that but it's not happening. Then I see people taking awesome vacations and wonder where they get their money??? I haven't had a vacation out of state in 20 years. Oh well.... I hope things look up for you Nancy!