What have you had to give up?
February 17, 2010Jon Brooks 1 Comment »At first glance, this post from the blog Fired For Now might seem rather banal, as it simply asks its unemployed and other Great Recession-affected readers:What have you had to give up?
In reading through the answers, though, you may be hit with the reality of just what a profound effect this economic dislocation has had on the American public. Because just about everyone has had to give up something. It might be something as relatively undisruptive as a weekly night at the movies or it may be as catastrophic as a home or it may be as abstract-yet-psychically-damaging as peace-of-mind, hope about the future, and worry about what lies in store for your children.
But it’s that sense of deprivation, of a way of life lost that may never return, I think, that is one factor fueling the red-hot anger at, on the left, corporations, and on the right, government.
Some answers to the question: What have you had to give up?
Since my wife got laid off two months ago (she made almost double what I make), we have cut eating out to maybe once or twice a month (keep it under $30/visit), we avoid unnecessary driving to save gas and we haven’t visited family quite as much since most of them live over one hour away. Oh, and we cut down to basic cable TV, slower Internet access, cut Netflix, and got library cards.
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I’m all about the library now. We very rarely go out to the movies or buy books anymore. A lot of libraries are even lending video games now, so that’s something new to get my mind off of things, and saves a lot of money. If my fiance loses his finance job, we may very well need to move in with family, and give up a bit of freedom. But we’re trying to hang in there a bit longer.
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I did take in a roommate in March – but it was someone I knew who was facing more difficult economic times then I was. It has worked out well overall, but there have been some adjustments. I am, by nature, a very independent and private person…(and) when I’m upset, tense or facing difficulties (you know, all the things you feel after losing your job) I want to be alone. I miss having the whole house to myself once the kids are asleep. To just “be” and let my emotions go.
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All my vehicles are not less than 10 years old. For a time I gave up auto insurance, medical insurance, and new clothes became a thing of the past. Dish network went by the wayside. The house went into foreclosure twice and I fought it back out. There was a Chapter 13 filing too, but all along I’ve kept things rolling. Family has helped and been supportive in my efforts to reinvent a career as a web savvy business guy. I have developed a company and we are about to launch a new educational product which has wide market appeal.My advice to everyone is, there’s so much crap we’re told we can’t live without, until we do… Seriously, I look at all the needless crap I see people defining themselves with and just laugh. My laptop is 4 years old. It works great…. I won’t buy another one, even though I can, until I really need one.
No offense, but I really have to chuckle at some of the posts. “Had to give up ‘NetFlix’” Wait until you can’t make school lunch money for your kids.
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I had a part-time nanny whom I’ve let go (she was $300 a month), so that sucks for both her AND for me, as that supplemented her income.
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I used to have wine every night. I miss it, but I save a lot by doing without. Wine is not cheap.
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I’ve given up transportation. See, at my former job, we got free yearly bus passes, which was great since I don’t have a car. I got laid off the week before the new passes came in. I would LOVE to just hop on a bus and wander around downtown, but not if it’s going to cost me $5! I dread actually getting a call for a job interview, because I’ll have to figure out how to get there on our city’s crappy-yet-expensive public transit system.
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Wow, where do I start…1. We don’t go to the movies anymore or rent DVDs. We use our DVR to death with the rule that only when ALL the items on our DVR have been watched will we go get a DVD.
2. I just started cutting my husband’s hair. Not an expert yet, but I still do just as well as the terrible hairdressers he usually goes to!
3. We’re selling an investment property to cut down our mortgage where we live.
4. We live on a lot more fresh food and generic brands from the supermarket. More home made things. When we do get takeout we choose the cheapest or go where I have discounts.
5. I buy much cheaper clothes when I need them and don’t give into temptation when I don’t need them!
6. We don’t take people up on invitations to the casino or anywhere that is an instant money drainer. We don’t drink out at bars as often.
For all that we’ve had to give up my husband and I are definitely closer and we’re enjoying being together. Before he lost his job he was away for the equivalent of 2/3 of a year so for all that we’ve lost, we’ve gained a lot too.
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I am, reluctantly, giving up my love of good food and going out to eat. Ham sandwiches and Ramen are appearing more frequently here. Hoping a good multi-vitamin fills in the nutritional gaps!
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Lets see, I have had to live several months without my husband…Due to lay-offs, we are in the process of relocating. He went first out west to find work. I Have cut my cell phone, cable down to just basics, I have cut out going out to eat, movies, and buying clothes. I don’t really miss it. I have gone back to basics, baking breads, sweets, and making fast food dishes at home. I have also been busy donating items I no longer need, use or want to charities. I have been packing up the house so I keep busy. I apply for work on line, so that I don’t waste the gas. I go to town once a week and apply for work (for unemployment verifications) and do all my shopping and bill paying before coming home to finish packing more boxes. I turn off lights I don’t need and I buy only what I need a week at a time. I am happier, though. No longer the workaholic, no longer watching what I can get done in so many hours or minutes, and not on a particular deadline that a job would entail. I appreciate what I used to take for granted and see this as lesson learned, a blessing, even in tough, frustrated times.
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Ya know before the recession hit I never really have a second thought about how much I spend on morning coffee but when you really step back and look at a full month or year’s worth of expense it’s really astounding. By making my own in the morning I save close to $1000 a year. Crazy that I spent that much and didn’t even realize it.
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I have given up binge drinking…nah not really lol
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I’m giving up my pride…having to ask for help. The bank I submitted my loan modification kit (better known as the Making Home Affordable package), is taking their sweet time responding and from everything I’ve heard, the chances of being approved for a loan mod are slim to none. Going to eat beans and rice from now on and do a lot of praying.
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I’ve given up buying anything bike-related… I’m not dropping any $$ until I’m employed again. I also don’t eat out as much. I do eat out very cheap and take half the meal home (for a second meal). Or I split with others. In these cases, I spend no more than $5 out.
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I had to give up me living the good life and move in with my parents…womp womp.
February 21st, 2010 at 7:10 pm
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