How are you coping with the current economic situation

Well it officially happened. The new threat the newly formed Global community can all cry about. How is it affecting you? Do you feel isolated, liberated about new opportunities. Or is it just something out there that isn't really affecting you? Everyone in my opinion is being affected by it in some way even if it's just being irritated by what is on the news.

Me? I'm finding myself isolated. I could go out and meet people anc chat but everyone seems so wrapped up in their issues that I use twice as much energy on them and then feel doubly depressed considering my issues.

I guess if you felt stable and your foundation rock solid it would be easier to deal with others issues however big they were but with money being a pre requisite for someone's well being in this day and age how do you feel secure where everything hinging on that seems to be dangling under a very shrp balde threatning to cut off your lifeline at any moment?

I say screw it on a daily basis, let the economy come crashing down. I say thats the best thing that could happen. Let it crash and it will naturally find that balance that society has greedily tilted out of shape.

I'm finding that it changes very little for me. God blesses me with everything I need, and with many things I want that are not necessities. I don't place very much value on possessions, and somehow still manage to receive the prettiest clothes, the tastiest food, a comfortable bed, musical instruments and art supplies, usually without even trying to acquire them. I have always found meaningful work when I have prayed for it. At each new job, I discover that my employer has been praying for someone just like me to come along, and also feels blessed for having found me. The one I have now is always thanking me for everything, which makes her pleasant to work for. I have food, shelter, water, faith, hope and love. All of the basic necessities are fulfilled in abundance. The more I have, the more I can give, so that aspect is nice. The economic disaster hasn't touched me. It's as though I live in a protective bubble. I have multiple backup plans if something goes wrong at this job, and even if I end up jobless, the economy has put so many people in that position that it doesn't have as much of a stigma attached to it as it used to. Being willing to work for significantly less than minimum wage gives me a certain advantage over those whose lifestyles require more to maintain. I don't own a house or any property. I don't pay rent. I can trade work directly for anything I need, and sell my hand-crafted items on the side. I have plans to buy a sewing machine so I can make custom-designed clothes to trade or sell.

I grew up poor, so its not really a big deal for me.. The only thing I did to cut back was taking my lunch to work (which I did pretty regularly anyways), and taking web browsing off my phone. That saved me $25-$30 a month. And taking your own lunch saves about $5 a day.

.....................

Selling belongings that I don't use anymore, and using the money I do have to buy gold. It's $1100 an oz. right now and it's only going to go higher. A perfect investment during economic hard times.

I bought a gun.


The above was a joke.

I have been very fortunate to have been in the only institution that has not laid anyone off, begun work furloughs, or anything of the like. However, we did not get raises this year, which was a slight bummer, but still better than getting laid off. I do want to see the official numbers, though, because I think if revenue did in fact go up (which I suspect) then we should get back pay raises...we probably won't though. Anyway, let me not digress into financial babble....I've been saving a lot and I cut back some expenses.

Well, so far it hasn't really affected me (touch wood!). Right now, I'm just concentrating on working at Virgin Active for the moment. I want to try and keep this job as long as possible, since I don't want to have to go out into the world to have to make it and not be myself. (Since in the big world, you are required to dress up and present yourself differently, and I really want to avoid that) I want to try and get going as much as possible while I'm working at Virgin Active. I just hope it works out...

I still live with my parents so I'm lucky at that fact that I don't have as many bills as others however, it is prolonging how long I'll have to live with my parents seeing as how I'm having a lot more difficulty getting in a job than I have in the past. Luckily I can pay my bills until the end of December...but my biggest problem is Christmas. I love spoiling the people I love and I don't have the money for it. I guess that's what credit cards are for (within reason). However...I'll start panicking at the end of December when I can no longer pay my necessary bills...along with student loans starting up.

I do know, I am a lot better off than many people though...so I am very thankful for that.