Post here if you're not really affected by the current economic downturn...

[GTaudiophile]

So far not...but my anger towards the US government/American culture in general continues to grow.

 

[JS80]

My 40% bonus plan has been cut to 30%.

 

[Kanalua]

Actually prospering...doing better now than ever before!

 

[Joemonkey]

Originally posted by: trmiv
As of now unaffected other than feeling a little wallet crunch due to higher prices. That could change in an instant though because I'm a contractor at my job, so they could dump my ass any time they want. They will likely make me permanent though, which isn't really a good thing. The wage for a permanent employee is about 15% LESS than my current contractor's wage, which is going to hurt big time when it happens.

Won't you be making back at least 100% of that 15% in bonuses and benefits?

 

[Slew Foot]

Got a fat raise so not yet. Higher prices all around, but Im still gainfully employed.

 

[rival]

My house has lost about 30k in value in the last year, i bought it in December of 06.

Edit: Zillow now says 261k and i paid 300k, and yes, I'm aware of how accurate the internet is on pricing my home!

 

[BoomerD]

Being on a fixed income I'm affected by the rising prices of everything, but other than that, only by the empty houses in my neighborhood and all the foreclosures in the area driving prices back down to 2002-2003 levels. (dammit, I hope the prices start back up soon...I'm about to retire completely and move the fuck out of Kahleeforneeya...)

 

[Squisher]

I'm crying here in SE Michigan.

 

[ChaoZ]

We have annual increases in tuition now along the tune of 10% or more.

 

[Lurknomore]

My customers are immune to any economic downturn.
Me, on the other hand...

 

[reeserock]

I'm in the middle. I am fortunate to have my job, but I lost all of my "rainy day" savings, and who knows how long the job will last. One lay-off and I'm screwed.

 

[chuckywang]

My 401(k) is going down the drain.

 

[fallenangel99]

I'm ok. I'm a saver not a spender, so this whole recession talk hasn't effected me. 401k down 5% to date.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It does not really affect me much, in fact it affects me more positively, specially future wise. I just dumped a whack of cash in my US account recently so eventually when the US dollar goes back up, that money will be worth more and I can cash it in.

My web hosting costs are USD, so that means my hosting is much cheaper right now then what it used to be. But it also means that any money I make from ads and such is lower so it all balances out.

 

[Scouzer]

No impact to me. The economy is still red hot in Alberta, Canada and likely will continue to be. I get a 6.5% raise this year and the next.

If I get the position I'm hoping for it'll be a 35% raise.

 

[ViviTheMage]

not really, except gas prices. I am sure energy will cost more as time goes on, more so then it does now. It HAS to, unless we get a more effecient method of getting energy.

 

[cubeless]

Originally posted by: JEDI

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
I must admit I'm not really affected by it. My salary remains fixed (just got a small raise actually)... the only time I bitch a little is that I pay $3-4 extra when I fill up my tank.

My company stock has been going down a little and now it's almost back up to what it used to be in back last november.

I try to conserve by not going out as much, but I think it's more psychological since all consumers are psychologically affected by it.

I guess it helps that I'm only 26 without family to support.

doesnt affect me.

still making oodles of $$$.
still seeing the newest movies on opening day (Fri noon) during my lunch "hour"

and to boot, i've just refinanced my mortgage for 4.99% FIXED, no fees.

financially, life is (still) good

recession? whats that?

who'd u refi with? i dropped to 5.5 a couple weeks ago, but couldn't find any deals like that...

 

[Red Squirrel]

Yeah for gas/energy the goverment needs to stop thinking about money and realize it has to think about the environment and it's citizens for once. The goverment needs to step in and stop the oil industry from smuggling all the alternative energy sources from inventors. These alternative sources need to be made public domain, and the goverment should even give grants to companies who manufacture products that use them.

For example, tax the oil industry to death, but use that money to give tax breaks on stuff like solar panels, non gas cars etc... We have the technology, so how about using our brains and actually using this technology. A simple concept like a solar power electric car would work wonders. Car charges/runs off solar panel, plug it in at night to charge. During the day it charges from the sun while your at the office. This concept would work wonders for a "in town" car. Many other technologies exist that may be better suited for long use where solar may not cut it. (dark stormy days while traveling etc it may not be producing enough power)

Same for houses, I'm sure with a battery room the size of a shed and some solar panels one could be pretty much off the grid and just use the grid as backup, or at least go partially off the grid. Goverment should encourage setups like this and give grants to companies that manufacture such products to make them affordable. Give incentives to people to buy and use these products.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
So far not...but my anger towards the US government/American culture in general continues to grow.

You haven't left the US yet?

 

[dakels]

As for my job it does not affect me much. It takes a review board to fire me or lay me off so it's reasonably secure. Also my department has been extremely profitable and so has our hospital, considering (last I heard) 92% of all hospitals in our state were in the red (a freakin shame). (we are in the black). It also does not affect the area I live in too heavily either as rent and land values remain to increase, restaurant and entertainment still do very well. Of course we get hit in other areas like gas, retail, etc but overall it's not as bad.

 

[MisterJackson]

I actually got a raise the other day because of it. I told them the cost of everything is going up (food/gas/rent/bills, etc.) and I needed more money for the work I do and that I was well worth it. I was told that they agree. The simpleness of it amazed me....in hindsight I wish I'd asked for more.

 

[moparacer]

business has been slow the last month or so, unusually slow...

I own my own business and I too have seen some slow days and looking back over my records January was the slowest month in 5 years....

To top it off I got some pretty discouraging news the other day that my biggest customer might not make it much longer. And they owe me a substantial amount of money so yea, things have been better for me.....

 

[Eeezee]

We're all affected in some way. Destrekor, the falling value of the AMERICAN dollar definitely increases the price of gasoline in AMERICA.

I'm a student so I am minimally effected. I live in subsidized housing, and I eat cheap because my salary is already the bottom of the barrel. My current TA/RA (teaching assistant / research assistant) contract has already fixed my salary for the next 4 years, and the year after that I'll have my PhD. My luxuries include a nice PC (and the electricity to run it) and a good party every other weekend. This economic crisis would have to get pretty bad to really effect me.

I'm a little concerned at the rising cost of milk (it costs as much per gallon as gasoline! )

 

[randalee]

Lost my job April 1. (yay, April Fool's!)

Completely related to downturn in economy. We sell tech stuff (PBX, data, wifi, etc.) Companies aren't buying. Pocketbooks are closed, and everyone seems to be in a holding pattern. 6 months ago we could do a million in revenue per month. We were lucky to get 100k for March.

Our company can no longer support the families it had before.

 

[The Boston Dangler]

i guess it will be harder for me to find another job. certainly harder to match my current pay when walking in the door :| :| :|