How is the recession affecting you?

I started a thread about a year ago on how people here have been personally affected by the recession.

http://www.hipforums.com/newforums/showthread.php?t=349514

I wanted to check in again and see how people are doing.

 

Well, I quit my job to go back to grad school, so the job market isn't bothering me at the moment. In a year, I might feel differently.

Honestly, I'd say I've almost benefited from the recession. I had to purchase a car this year(other one totaled) and the insurance gave me blue book value and I found another one way below blue book. I got a pair of skis for 70% off because nobody was buying any this season, and I bargained my landlord down $125/month because nobody is renting right now.

IF and its a big IF I can land a job reasonably quickly after I graduate, I plan to buy a house in 1/2 years, so I'm kind of hoping the housing market stays depressed.

So, the recession is pretty scary and I'm worried about having to land a job when I finish my schooling. However, personally, its almost been a benefit.

Around me, though, I've see a lot of hardship and, all in all, I really do hope that we come out of it quickly. I work with children, and about 25% of their parents are out of work, a handful have had to move in with relatives because their families can't afford rent, and a lot of houses in my area are going up for sale. In the end, it is best for everyone if our economy is doing well.

I'm thinking of and wishing the best to anybody who is having trouble with the economy.

 

Around what % reduction is that? I'm looking to negotiate a reduction too.

 

Well, not really a reduction because I moved into a different house.

However, he'd been charging the past tenants 1175, and wanted the same from us. The house sat for about a month and he was getting desperate. So, we offered him 1050, which is what we were paying at the other place, which was much smaller and farther from town. He took it. It basically works out like getting heat included. Oh, and its a 10.6% price drop.

I hope it works out well for you. We made sure he was aware of our very good rental history, the fact that every month the place sat vacant was over $1000 lost, and that many other places around here are having a hard time renting. It seems that landlords know that its a renters market and are pretty willing to negotiate to keep/get a good tenant.

 

It's not. Things seem to be the same. Prices may have gone up since last year, but I'm sure that could be attributed to good old fashioned inflation. But even that doesn't affect me as I'm still able to save up money and live cheaply.

I had no trouble landing two jobs over the past three months either.

 

Not, except I'm working harder at being self sufficient. I may have noticed more except that in the past couple years I have grown increasingly sick of the ignorance level of most of humanity so I stay home more. Which goes well with working harder to be self sufficient... So, I'm having a good time.

 

Well the job market for anyone without any real specialized skills is very lolz

 

What prices do you think are going up?

Well done. I hope everybody is putting some pressure on their landlords at lease renewal time - we are all owed a reduction, but you won't get it if you don't ask.

 

Well early on I had to move from my hometown because it was becoming far too expensive.
I've noticed my place of work as well as other businesses suffering and having to cut hours, etc.
Its been getter better though it seems.

 

It hasn't affected me at all.

 

I lost my job, twice, and found new jobs, twice. My girfriend lost hers twice and is still unemployed after several months.

 

I haven't been able to find a job yet!

 

I'm doing rather well, working 3 jobs and in school. However, my dad was laid off in Jan and hasn't found a job since and they're losing their house. It's affected me in the sense that I can't get any assistance from my parents and I'm officially on my own all the way.

 

What industry was he in?

 

Piping designer.

 

I think this will be answered very regionally. I live in Alberta, Canada and we are certainly seeing signs of recession here.

Both hubby and I have increased our earnings substantially over the past year, so I agree that if you have training and skills, you can still find work around here although I personally know of one person that hasn't found a job in her field... but she is insisting on finding a job that is a perfect fit and not willing ot take anything less.

I have also seen my friend's workplace dwindle from hundreds of employees to only a handful (oil field). In Alberta the oil industry has taken a huge hit for a few reasons (price of oil, new royalty structure, etc) so things here are turning a bit ugly.

Here is where we're really being hurt. We own a house and we want to move far out of this area. We had it on the market for three months last year and it never sold (but it looked dumpy inside). So we did tons of work and it's been on the market for almost a month now and we have only had three people through the house.

We have been watching the stats and more houses were sold in June 2009 than in June 2008. But it seems that it's the middle priced houses ($250-$300K) that are selling and not the upper and lower priced houses. Ours is priced at $129K.

 

Not much here.My sons and I have a small family roofing company and really, people can't afford not to keep the most important part of their house un-repaired.Leaky roofs lead to all kinds of secondary troubles.I've never lacked for work in many years of working in the trade,but some of the big roofing companies here have laid off dozens of workers lately.The unemployment % here is second in the nation so it could get bad for us ,I suppose.I feel sorry for older workers out trying to get work and those that are losing their homes or are in jeopardy of losing them.It's sad.

 

It looks like the recession is letting up and the economy is recovering... not the apocolypse everyone predicted and was freaking out about. I know some people said it would be another great depression, and that we'd go back to a trade and barter system.

 

On the verge of bankruptcy, have the government hounding me for taxes i can't pay, no work whatsoever in my trade. The recession has pretty much fucked me, and didn't even care to use lube!