Hi, sorry i havent been on in awhile. with the economy the way it is, i havent been able to find a job (not including art commisions) and its taking a toll. for awhile i was afraid i would have to give my 2 gliders away because of the weekly bedding costs and worms,fruit etc. We are ok now but is anyone else having trouble with this?

glad to be back!-Mary

I just lost my job . About a week after I got my gliders. It's definitely taken it's toll. There are lots of things I'd love to get for my gliders [and my husband and myself ] that we just can't afford right now. Luckily I'm getting unemployment and things haven't gotten SUPER drastic. But I understand what you're going through! I've been keeping all my fingers crossed for myself.. but I'll cross my toes that things get better for you!

I have learned over the past few years that there are a lot of things you can live without.

My husband, Alan, has lost his job twice in the last 5 years. Both times the companies were moving out of the country. We were not given any notice either time. Last June, he totaled one of our cars and broke his neck in two places - and was out of work for over 3 months. When he doesnt work, he doesnt get paid. And there is no unemployment when you have an accident.

There are many really good habits formed by going thru these hardships. We dont need to go out to eat. We can make a very tasty meal ourselves for much less. We take our lunch to work. We buy Great Value brand from Walmart and sometimes shop at Aldi's. We dont go to the movies - we rent them. We dont drive new cars. We dont spend on things we dont need. It hasnt kiiled us. And now, we are used to it and continue to live that way - very frugal. We do not do without. We have everything we need. I clip coupons. We buy clothing at 2nd hand stores (and you would never know it). Plus - anything we are no longer using that is still good - we give away. Nothing goes to waste.

My job has been stable - Thank God . We keep all our bills to where I can pay them with my check. We will have our house paid for in 5 years and only have car payments on 1 car.

We have to differentiate between "wants" and "needs".

At first, all of this was difficult. We had to rethink our lifestyle. But it really is OK now. And guess what - we have money in the bank!

Rita, the way things are going we all need to learn what you've learned. We sure can do without a lot of things -- cable TV, eating out, that fancy new phone or computer (but not Internet!). I've been so poor that we ate cornbread and beans five nights a week; hamburger was a luxury and chicken almost unheard of. Second-hand clothes? I've always liked looking for good stuff at the thrift store. You'd be amazed at what's available. For myself, I'm pretty frugal so I can save and also spend my money on what counts: shelter, transportation and taking care of all my four-legged kids.

We've been there, too, Snusie. Thank goodness my girls really have no recollection of when they were little, and we were struggling HARD! The beautiful thing is that little kids love PB&J, scrambled eggs, cereal, and spaghetti with no meat. We were "green" when it wasn't even fashionable yet! LOL! I still love haunting thrift shops, redoing/remaking/recycling. Aldi was a Godsend to us back then. I wish I had one closer to where we live now.

Old habits die hard. We are not struggling so much anymore, but I get anxious spending money on almost any "luxury". We live in a pretty affluent area now, and it irritates the beans out of me to see women carrying purses that are obscenely expensive--think of all the people that could be fed with that money! I guess that they or their husbands, or both work hard for their money, but it just seems utterly grotesque when so many people, especially in Michigan, are losing jobs and houses. Okay, off my soapbox now.

I still cant seem to find any jobs open to teenagers. habits really do die hard wendi, I use newspaper instead of bedding for my gliders now,and i cant buy there regular food, im using baby food and whatever fruit or vegetable is on sale. I know what you mean, i see girls at school with purses and shoes that cost more than my wardrobe and there is no need for it. its just vanity. hopefully the economy will get better soon, for me its frusturating going out into a world where there really are no jobs available right now.

I know. I feel bad for teenagers today. It was relatively easy for my generation to get part time jobs at 16 (back in the 80's); those same jobs that businesses now want you to be 18 to do. My son is unemployed, too. He's moved back home with us for at least awhile.

BML is fairly cost effective.

Try not to get too down, Mary. You are an intelligent, talented young woman, and things can't stay this way forever!

We've all been through it, I'm 20 and still have a hard time getting a job.... People don't even believe I'm 20, I had one employment agency throw my application out and tell me they were going to have me charged with identity theft or some crap.... Blah... I hate being a part of the younger generation.


I think we are all feeling the pains of the shakey economic situation... My roomate is losing his job friday and my boyfriend has been out of work for months. No one is hiring and to make it worse I'll be the only employed person in my house which is gonna make it hard to find an house (As if being a young adult doesn't make THAT situation hard enough)


Thankfully I'm not hard up enough for my pets to be doing without... I would starve to death before I would let them not eat... I love them too much to see them hurt like that... Although I will admit the free flyers I get have helped with bedding and the scrap bins and thrift stores are my new best buddies.... I'm also starting my own mealie farm and that will help cut down costs a bit too... ( Extra 9.99 a week... and thats only for 50 worms! )

Quitting smoking is another HUGE way to save money.... and if you pay for water, put a pop bottle in the tank and it won't waste as much with each flush!