I think things are turning around. I went to a publishing trade show this weekend and saw a lot of optimism: companies starting new projects, people looking ahead and not over their shoulders. Of course, there are fewer companies now than there were two years ago, but the ones that are left seem stable and ready to grow a bit.
On the other hand, at work I'm seeing the effects of long-term unemployment—people who were laid off a year or more ago and have exhausted their savings and their benefits. Even those who are back at work are struggling with debts from their period of unemployment.
The recession was a short, sharp shock, but the long-term trend is also dismal—wages have been stagnant for years relative to the cost of living. This is especially true in the Northeast, where housing prices have stayed high. True recovery will require not only more jobs but also better pay (and benefits) so that working people will be able to maintain a decent standard of living and set a bit aside. Otherwise, the next dip will send them spiraling into debt again.
Hi, great post. I've been wanting to do this but wasn't sure if I would really save any money,or just spend it all on electricity and buying more than I really need. Thanks for the info.
I also would be interested in your typical menu.I'm feeding 2 hungry men,assorted girlfriends and a grandchild so sure could use some money saving recipies!!
All they did was work their ass off from high school on, often for no pay, and massive debt to acquire the american dream.
Sure, a majority (the VAST majority) of the rich that these people refer to are actually the children of vast inheritances, and rich stay rich by being greedy, but yes, they are the victims.
Why should the rich pay more? WHY INDEED?
Because 5,000 dollars or a 15 percent tax rate on 50k bears the same effect on the 50k maker as it would the guy making a million.
Life's not fair. And it should be fair for the rich when it comes to paying taxes. What's that? But you just got laid off because your factory owner realized he could ship the factory overseas and pay the employees sh-t? Hey. LIFE"S NOT FAIR. You should know that by now you typical lazy dumb poor person.
(all rich people are inherently smarter, of course, and never lazy)
How on earth can it ever get better when our jobs are getting outsourced? I think our standard of living will always be lower as long as we are in a service-based economy.
Like many here, I think we are far from being finished with this recession. Not only are unemployment rates frightening, but the availability of social services has greatly diminished over the past year plus as more and more people need such services. Every day I see more local businesses closing, with no new businesses filling their spaces for months, or more. Its still really sad up here in Portland, OR.
Carrie, would you mind also posting a typical meal plan and grocery list that you use? How many people are you cooking for and how old are they?
I just haven't been able to spend only $80 a week since I was a newlywed over twenty years ago. I have tried everything I know to cut back such as coupons, store brands, bulk items and I still can't get it down. I would really love to hear more on this.
As for the deep freeze, it is well worth the money. Ours finally died a couple of years ago and due to other economical issues, we just don't have enough to fork up the cost to begin with. In fact, my oven just died and the money I planned to use for a deep freeze was poured into a new range, which is being delivered tomorrow.
Anyway, I can't stress enough that meat in bulk with a deep freeze is an essential money saver. For small families a smaller deep freezer works wonders too.
We did the exact same thing last fall, the new freezer and got a quarter cow from a farmer in Wisconsin. It was about 3 hours drive to go get the meat, which was actually a nice day trip and even with last year's gas prices only added about $15. We are just now on the last of the roasts from October last year, and just picked up the meat for this year so the freezer is full. We have used the ground beef, roast, steaks, all year long and I have to say the quality of the local grass-fed beef is amazing, and we did not have any drop-off in quality as the year went on. (despite what the USDA says about freezing) The way they are packed there is no freezer burn issues. The savings more than paid for the freezer and it truly is great to know where the meat you eat comes from and buying in bulk really cuts down the cost considerably. Sure, ground beef in a 20 lb thing at Costco is probably cheaper per pound, but who knows where it came from, what microbes lie within and what hormones and chemicals those cows ingested.
I've been thinking of doing this. My question is how big of a chest freezer do you need to fit in a quarter of a cow? I've been pricing freezers, but I'm not sure what size I need. Thanks!
We are in a recession, and this legislation will only increase our debt.
Less tax revenue = Larger defecit and national debt
Obama and congress complained about GW Bush/Clinton era policies that led to easy credit for unqualified consumers, ridiculous spikes in home prices, and a large amount of foreclosures.
This bill will artifically raise home prices and start the ball rolling towards unsustainably high real estate prices all over again. If the credit is extended indefinitly, people will buy a home, flip it, live in it for 3 years, and then repeat the process all over again. What's to stop a large group of people from pooling money together and taking out multiple mortgages, each under a different name?
This mentality is part of what caused the over-priced housing market that collapsed recently. This gives me flashbacks of watching all those "Flip this House" shows on HGTV.
I'm thinking yes. I feel as if people are tired of being worried and scared. I also think I'll have an easier time finding a job graduating in May 2010 as opposed to May 2009, as my cousin did.
Great post! I liked your analysis on costs etc. I would like to have a deepfreze, but the wife and I are still renting so no room for now. I would like to hear you follow up on this. Did you find it easy to make use of all that meat? how much electricity do you think the deep freeze uses? What else do you use your deepfreeze for?
My husband was laid off earlier this year (company was bought and closed), graduated with his MBA this summer, took a paycut/title cut in order to have a job while many of his coworkers are still looking (and this is in Biotech where people are educated, specialized and have (in the past) been needed). he is not using his MBA but at least he has a job.
The month after he took the new job, I was laid off from a finance position (executive level) but negotiated part time through the end of the year.
Until people start working again this recession will not be over. When ALL industries are being hit across the board, I don't see any positive signs. Companies are still quietly reducing staff in finance and biotech as well as other areas.
You can't really say you don't need a car. A lot depends on where you live. If you have good public transportation, you can ditch the car. In rural areas, you must have a car. We do get by with one car. I walk to work. My husband drives or carpools to his job 15 miles away. Without a car, how in the heck would I visit my dad 2 hours away? There would literally be no way without a car.
a large compost bin we built out by the veg garden - extremely easy to throw cuttings and clippings into. I also have a lovely bamboo compost container I keep on the kitchen counter and that can be carried out to the larger bin as needed. Anything that doesn't go to the chickens, goes into this.
The banks may be back to their evil ways (on our $) - but people around me are very cranky about $ & no one has any & at hubby's job mgmt. is taking advantage of the bad job mkt to squeeze its employees to the point of being illegal (by not paying for all hrs. really worked)- We have no choice, however, due to lack of other jobs - I have always pinched pennies - so a lot of this is normal for me - Almost...
House prices here in my NW suburb seem to be going back up. But there are still several empty and foreclosed on houses, sales still taking a long time. My DH's place of employment, a rather large insurance company started some big layoffs 2 weeks ago, and this is a first for them. A good friends family recently lived in a shelter for 2 months, and are still trying to recover. I don't see that the economy is recovering.
I do think we are seeing some encouraging turnarounds. But I also think it will be a long recovery process, not a quick fix. I also think that we may never get back to what we considered "normal" before this recession. We may very well have to adjust to a new "normal". I hope that new normal includes some big changes in things like regulation of the financial industry and health care delivery. These are big issues and in themselves won't be quick fixes either. It may take some failed attempts and some trial and error, which may be painful. But we can do it. We are a resilient, resourceful nation and we can do this.
I'm bad with details, but I remember reading that a huge batch of risky mortgages is about to turn over - like, bigger than the first wave of destruction. So I suspect things will get much worse before they get finally better.
I don't think the recession will truly be over until unemployment starts coming down. The stock market may have rebounded, but that only helps the people who have enough money to invest. The millions of people out of work don't care if the S&P 500 goes up. There are promising signs, but we certainly can't breathe a collective sigh of relief yet.
I actually dry-heaved at the "hair as a pillow" tip.
Um, some of those were good...some of them too hard and others...morally ambiguous (and that's being generous). Thanks for the fun:)
buy a power generator in case of a power outage...
I think things are turning around. I went to a publishing trade show this weekend and saw a lot of optimism: companies starting new projects, people looking ahead and not over their shoulders. Of course, there are fewer companies now than there were two years ago, but the ones that are left seem stable and ready to grow a bit.
On the other hand, at work I'm seeing the effects of long-term unemployment—people who were laid off a year or more ago and have exhausted their savings and their benefits. Even those who are back at work are struggling with debts from their period of unemployment.
The recession was a short, sharp shock, but the long-term trend is also dismal—wages have been stagnant for years relative to the cost of living. This is especially true in the Northeast, where housing prices have stayed high. True recovery will require not only more jobs but also better pay (and benefits) so that working people will be able to maintain a decent standard of living and set a bit aside. Otherwise, the next dip will send them spiraling into debt again.
Hi, great post. I've been wanting to do this but wasn't sure if I would really save any money,or just spend it all on electricity and buying more than I really need. Thanks for the info.
I also would be interested in your typical menu.I'm feeding 2 hungry men,assorted girlfriends and a grandchild so sure could use some money saving recipies!!
That's right.
All they did was work their ass off from high school on, often for no pay, and massive debt to acquire the american dream.
Sure, a majority (the VAST majority) of the rich that these people refer to are actually the children of vast inheritances, and rich stay rich by being greedy, but yes, they are the victims.
Why should the rich pay more? WHY INDEED?
Because 5,000 dollars or a 15 percent tax rate on 50k bears the same effect on the 50k maker as it would the guy making a million.
Life's not fair. And it should be fair for the rich when it comes to paying taxes. What's that? But you just got laid off because your factory owner realized he could ship the factory overseas and pay the employees sh-t? Hey. LIFE"S NOT FAIR. You should know that by now you typical lazy dumb poor person.
(all rich people are inherently smarter, of course, and never lazy)
How on earth can it ever get better when our jobs are getting outsourced? I think our standard of living will always be lower as long as we are in a service-based economy.
Like many here, I think we are far from being finished with this recession. Not only are unemployment rates frightening, but the availability of social services has greatly diminished over the past year plus as more and more people need such services. Every day I see more local businesses closing, with no new businesses filling their spaces for months, or more. Its still really sad up here in Portland, OR.
Carrie, would you mind also posting a typical meal plan and grocery list that you use? How many people are you cooking for and how old are they?
I just haven't been able to spend only $80 a week since I was a newlywed over twenty years ago. I have tried everything I know to cut back such as coupons, store brands, bulk items and I still can't get it down. I would really love to hear more on this.
As for the deep freeze, it is well worth the money. Ours finally died a couple of years ago and due to other economical issues, we just don't have enough to fork up the cost to begin with. In fact, my oven just died and the money I planned to use for a deep freeze was poured into a new range, which is being delivered tomorrow.
Anyway, I can't stress enough that meat in bulk with a deep freeze is an essential money saver. For small families a smaller deep freezer works wonders too.
We did the exact same thing last fall, the new freezer and got a quarter cow from a farmer in Wisconsin. It was about 3 hours drive to go get the meat, which was actually a nice day trip and even with last year's gas prices only added about $15. We are just now on the last of the roasts from October last year, and just picked up the meat for this year so the freezer is full. We have used the ground beef, roast, steaks, all year long and I have to say the quality of the local grass-fed beef is amazing, and we did not have any drop-off in quality as the year went on. (despite what the USDA says about freezing) The way they are packed there is no freezer burn issues. The savings more than paid for the freezer and it truly is great to know where the meat you eat comes from and buying in bulk really cuts down the cost considerably. Sure, ground beef in a 20 lb thing at Costco is probably cheaper per pound, but who knows where it came from, what microbes lie within and what hormones and chemicals those cows ingested.
I've been thinking of doing this. My question is how big of a chest freezer do you need to fit in a quarter of a cow? I've been pricing freezers, but I'm not sure what size I need. Thanks!
We are in a recession, and this legislation will only increase our debt.
Less tax revenue = Larger defecit and national debt
Obama and congress complained about GW Bush/Clinton era policies that led to easy credit for unqualified consumers, ridiculous spikes in home prices, and a large amount of foreclosures.
This bill will artifically raise home prices and start the ball rolling towards unsustainably high real estate prices all over again. If the credit is extended indefinitly, people will buy a home, flip it, live in it for 3 years, and then repeat the process all over again. What's to stop a large group of people from pooling money together and taking out multiple mortgages, each under a different name?
This mentality is part of what caused the over-priced housing market that collapsed recently. This gives me flashbacks of watching all those "Flip this House" shows on HGTV.
Defnintely heading into a rough patch. Our economy is unstable as we are still consuming far more than we are producing.
Great post! And I, too, would like to hear more about how it goes.
I'm thinking yes. I feel as if people are tired of being worried and scared. I also think I'll have an easier time finding a job graduating in May 2010 as opposed to May 2009, as my cousin did.
Hello Carrie,
Great post! I liked your analysis on costs etc. I would like to have a deepfreze, but the wife and I are still renting so no room for now. I would like to hear you follow up on this. Did you find it easy to make use of all that meat? how much electricity do you think the deep freeze uses? What else do you use your deepfreeze for?
Great Job!
Blog posts are not sponsored, smart guy. It's just a recommendation.
My husband was laid off earlier this year (company was bought and closed), graduated with his MBA this summer, took a paycut/title cut in order to have a job while many of his coworkers are still looking (and this is in Biotech where people are educated, specialized and have (in the past) been needed). he is not using his MBA but at least he has a job.
The month after he took the new job, I was laid off from a finance position (executive level) but negotiated part time through the end of the year.
Until people start working again this recession will not be over. When ALL industries are being hit across the board, I don't see any positive signs. Companies are still quietly reducing staff in finance and biotech as well as other areas.
You can't really say you don't need a car. A lot depends on where you live. If you have good public transportation, you can ditch the car. In rural areas, you must have a car. We do get by with one car. I walk to work. My husband drives or carpools to his job 15 miles away. Without a car, how in the heck would I visit my dad 2 hours away? There would literally be no way without a car.
If the recession is waning my
Financial statement has not received the memo.
a large compost bin we built out by the veg garden - extremely easy to throw cuttings and clippings into. I also have a lovely bamboo compost container I keep on the kitchen counter and that can be carried out to the larger bin as needed. Anything that doesn't go to the chickens, goes into this.
The banks may be back to their evil ways (on our $) - but people around me are very cranky about $ & no one has any & at hubby's job mgmt. is taking advantage of the bad job mkt to squeeze its employees to the point of being illegal (by not paying for all hrs. really worked)- We have no choice, however, due to lack of other jobs - I have always pinched pennies - so a lot of this is normal for me - Almost...
House prices here in my NW suburb seem to be going back up. But there are still several empty and foreclosed on houses, sales still taking a long time. My DH's place of employment, a rather large insurance company started some big layoffs 2 weeks ago, and this is a first for them. A good friends family recently lived in a shelter for 2 months, and are still trying to recover. I don't see that the economy is recovering.
I do think we are seeing some encouraging turnarounds. But I also think it will be a long recovery process, not a quick fix. I also think that we may never get back to what we considered "normal" before this recession. We may very well have to adjust to a new "normal". I hope that new normal includes some big changes in things like regulation of the financial industry and health care delivery. These are big issues and in themselves won't be quick fixes either. It may take some failed attempts and some trial and error, which may be painful. But we can do it. We are a resilient, resourceful nation and we can do this.
I'm bad with details, but I remember reading that a huge batch of risky mortgages is about to turn over - like, bigger than the first wave of destruction. So I suspect things will get much worse before they get finally better.
I don't think the recession will truly be over until unemployment starts coming down. The stock market may have rebounded, but that only helps the people who have enough money to invest. The millions of people out of work don't care if the S&P 500 goes up. There are promising signs, but we certainly can't breathe a collective sigh of relief yet.