How is your PERSONAL economy?

[Daylily]

I'm feeling the crunch but it is self-imposed since I am aiming for the max 401(k) contribution of $15,500 this year.

The gas and food bills hurt, but we're okay since we live below our means. It doesn't help though that DH is self-employed and drives 40,000 miles a year! Really high gas outlays here.

[zooracer]

gas may get cheaper here soon.
barrel of oil costs are possibly going to be heading downward over the next couple or several months.

[cptacek]

The gas prices are hurting us. I am spending ~ $500 a month in gas to commute and my DH will be spending ~ $2000 in diesel for the farm every month in June - September/October, depending on the weather.

I am also trying to sell my house and I haven't had much interest in it, so that is hurting us as well. If I can sell it, it would save us $1000 a month (I can rent a room for $100 from a co-worker for the three nights/four days I am at my job).

[Pitman]

Adjustment is the proper word for what most members have done with slump in the economy. Most members on this site, pay alot of attention to thier finances, so when the word recession or god forbid depression pops up in the media every five seconds, members know now is the time to tighten the belt.

Personally, my economy is pretty stable, with gas prices well into $4 mark, I'm really not driving often as much as before besides going to work, and the bank. I'm still saving for college tuition coming up, even though I borrowed $400 from myself to go to Miami this past weekend, which was well worth it. The only real hit is the grocery shopping, no matter how much coupons we cut, I'm still paying 10% more on food, that in the previous months.

[aida2003]

I am also trying to sell my house and I haven't had much interest in it, so that is hurting us as well. If I can sell it, it would save us $1000 a month (I can rent a room for $100 from a co-worker for the three nights/four days I am at my job).

Where will you live the other 4 nights? I am guessing you've got a primary residence and you try to get rid of the 2nd house, right?

[cptacek]

Where will you live the other 4 nights? I am guessing you've got a primary residence and you try to get rid of the 2nd house, right?

Correct. I actually get to live with my husband those 4 nights!

[Secret Stash]

My own personal finances are in shambles. I switched from a full time position to a part time position while I finish up nursing school (finish aug 08) so just continuing to manage everything is getting difficult.

[aukxsona]

How are we?

Better than I expected. We have 350 saved in the emergency fund. One of my jobs just gave an ultimatum, full time or quit. It happens to be the best paying one. I am in the process of making the switch. My husband's job however, is laying off. He is one of the lowest on the totem, so we are waiting.

Our car still does not run, so for now it's car pool fees mostly. Groceries are too expensive. I still have to watch like a hawk. I am planning a huge garden and have some of it finished. The housing issue doesn't affect us because our home was paid for in cash, because I knew my income is variable. I owe too much in student loans, but have been working on that.

I think we will be okay. Our neighbours are all on disability or retired. The ones that aren't live in trailers and usually only rent. We are the odd ones in our community. As such, since they have less commitments and a more stable income, they complain about the yard etc.... I don't think my yard is a priority, but I guess housing prices are a concern to them.

We have quite a few avenues to keep a pay check coming, and enough for a weeks transition time. The more I save, the longer that transition time will be.

[cantretire]

I think also the reason why we are seeing that so many of us are okay is because we are on a saving money place. Lots of people are not looking at it the way we do or being careful the way we all are. So there are lots of people that are hurting very badly and the media is not totally wrong. We are the ones that are going to be okay when gas does hit $5 and $6 per gallon cuz we are learning how to cut other areas, whereas these other people will just whine and not know what to do.

I think you have a point here. This is a site where people have or are coming to grips with financial reality. Most of us here are doing OK or are getting there.

I'm not doing too badly, but I'm nervous all the time. I hear about layoffs in my industry all the time. I heavily overworked and want to find a new job, but there aren't any. Many people have been out of work for a long time and have to settle for low paying survival jobs. Gas, food and heating prices are killing my elderly parents so I'm trying to help them, sometimes without them knowing it. Rents are high so I hope my elderly, ill, landlady can hang on for a while.

I have a pretty good EF now, so I've relaxed somewhat, but I'm very worried about what I see around me. Disaster can strike and hurt even if you're prepared. It's getting harder for me to pay my debts and still save.

[Fizgig]

I'm feeling pretty good. Yes, rising food and gas prices have added another $50-75/mo to my expenses, but I was living way below my means anyway, so it's in the noise and doesn't affect me much. I can see how someone paycheck to paycheck or with a long commute could feel the pinch.

I work on a government contract that's in place until the end of 2010, so for now my job is secure. I do wonder what will come after that, but more from concern about personal career satisfaction than about money. I love my job and hope the next one will be as gratifying. I'm educated with a strong career track record, so staying employed shouldn't be too hard.

The EF is in place, my expenses are only 2/3 of my (take home) income, and my job is secure. So, yeah, my personal economy is doing fine.

[Snave]

We are in pretty good shape. I have a company car, so gas is paid for which really helps. My wife is a coupon queen, so while the prices have gone up for food, she does a good job saving money. Plus, she just found an Aldi (sp) grocery store near us. She had heard about them, but had never tried it. She loves it and the prices are great. I guess the premise is that they only sell their brands, but she said it is so much cheaper. She also went back to work 8 hours a week. Her old job called her and asked if she would come back. She was only working 8 hours then, but the drive didn't pay b/c it was 30 minutes each way. They opened a new office and it is 10 minutes away. She likes having some sanity as oppossed to being with our little one all teh time. We also save a significant portion of our income and are in good shape financially, so this downturn doesn't hurt us that bad.

[rduell]

It hasn't affected us too much yet. I'm still able to put most of DH's overtime toward the smaller mortgage. I refigured the budget to allow more money to gasoline and food and so far we're doing okay.

[eisor]

It hasn't really affected us much either. I was unemployed for 4 months while student teaching, so we are doing "better" than we were b/c I am now bringing in a paycheck. Also, my commute to my job is shorter than it was while I was student teaching, so I'm saving gas there. I started using coupons faithfully back in October and I have our weekly grocery bill down to about $20. So, the increase in food costs isn't really affecting us either.

I'm not liking the lower interest rates though. But that isn't really something that can be avoided.

[aukxsona]

UPDATE Personal economy. Not good husband lost job because he herniated his groin muscle. Now job ditched him and refuses to pay for injury. He can barely walk so he won't be able to work for a while. Plus he can't get medical care because his job won't pay for it.

[disneysteve]

UPDATE Personal economy. Not good husband lost job because he herniated his groin muscle. Now job ditched him and refuses to pay for injury. He can barely walk so he won't be able to work for a while. Plus he can't get medical care because his job won't pay for it.

If your husband was injured on the job and they are refusing to cover his care and fired him as a result, you need to speak to a good workmen's comp attorney immediately.

I hope things work out okay.