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How many of you have had to go back to work, get a second job or cut expenses..

who's talking here?

Keystone 2
ukchristine 1
ladybeachbum 1
Donkey Hodie 2
Polly Ester 4
SleightOfHand 1
Perfection 17
Agent of Change 4
Hiro Protagonist 13
anti-antichange 3
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AwesomeTattooedDragon 16
JohnLynch 6
NewNanna 1
Retired drama teacher 2
RedMulch 2
Gigix4 3
Tipsyhic 1
Dorothy Parker 17
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Sinister 5
Joe Blow 1
3rd generation hippie 2
Nightshade 3
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FabFive 4
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Lets Be Fair 41
waterfall 20
TexasMusicMom 1
Just stuck 1
JAMS 11
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Lets Be Fair --- 12 years ago -

How many of you have had to got back to work, get a second job, cut expenses or delay retirement in the past year? 

Keystone --- 12 years ago -

Nobody in this house. Finances are in order, no debt, and not buying junk. 

FabFive --- 12 years ago -

We did, we cut back and I got crazy frugal. We are not big consumers. We do buy nice computers for the kids buy they use them for school so it is what it is. We don't have new cars either. 

Identity Crisis --- 12 years ago -

I am learning to pay attention... Saves thousands 

Retired drama teacher --- 12 years ago -

Every year that I have been teaching. I have had a second job and trim expenses from the previous year. It is now 33 years 

Keystone --- 12 years ago -

I am learning to pay attention... Saves thousands

Definitely! I see people not taking their receipts at the store and wonder how they keep track of what they're spending. We track every penny! Amazing how much can go for stupid stuff like Sonic drinks, etc. 

SagaciousSighFiGurl (Mod) --- 12 years ago -

While I agree things are definitely more expensive and health care is going to be bad for the consumer in general from I can see and NOT 'affordable' at all, the last year is a very small window with which to blame all the negatives on. It's been a gradual thing that both parties willingly participated in with stupid things they did, and do. And total lack of priorities IMO.

Unknown economic factors that seem to be sliding down and my own personal beliefs about money is WHY I don't carry much debt...no new cars or latest of everything. If I don't have the cash, I really don't buy it. a lot of problems in this country is not the governments but people over spending and carrying drowning debt, and not being able to deny themselves "things".

Especially the younger folks. 

Retired drama teacher --- 12 years ago -

The stuff I see my students throw away. Unbelievable. 

NewNanna --- 12 years ago -

We're doing we'll. No second jobs and money for nice vacations. 

JAMS --- 12 years ago -

I went back to work to help with my hobby. My horse expenses here are more than $1500/mo more than when we lived in NC.


Our insurance and health care expenses are wonderful.
We just paid off our last CC and are planning an overseas vacation, a local vacation, and a cruise.

I just don't understand how or why people say things are getting worse. Maybe it is that whole "personal responsibility" thing. Everyone I know is doing great. 

JohnLynch --- 12 years ago -

a lot of problems in this country is not the governments but people over spending and carrying drowning debt, and not being able to deny themselves "things".

lol...the government is in huge dept...and won't stop overspending...that's where our problems lie... 

Lets Be Fair --- 12 years ago -

Groceries are one thing that has increased. JAMS, where do you shop? I need to go there 

FabFive --- 12 years ago -

Groceries have definitely increased and so has the price of health care. Last year we had a great HMO that paid 100% for everything but the premiums were high. The premiums went much higher and we couldn't afford them. We switched to an 80/20 and of course this year we have had a lot of medical expenses. My 20% of all of that has not been cheap. 

Gigix4 --- 12 years ago -

I see people not taking their receipts at the store and wonder how they keep track of what they're spending.

Don't shoot me Keystone, but I write a check for almost everything (but I always take my rec'). And I do a monthly budget, faithfully, every month. When I balance my checkbook, I then sit down and put it all in my budget I keep in an Excel spreadsheet.

I've done this for many years. It's a good way to take a look at where my money is going and if it is more or less than: last month, last year, etc.

I was fortunate enough to work for an amazing company for 40+ years that had some good incentives with matching deposits into my retirement account, as well as some stock options. I saved like crazy but sacrificed to some extent and was able to retire at the ripe ol' age of 59.5 yrs of age.
It takes discipline but can be done. 

SagaciousSighFiGurl (Mod) --- 12 years ago -

lol...the government is in huge dept...and won't stop overspending...that's where our problems lie...

Yes, they have issues. But personal debt is at staggering highs...that's called personal responsibility and has ZERO to do with the government.. 

FabFive --- 12 years ago -

I hear what you are saying, but maybe not zero. Maybe if people were literally not able to feed their families, not able to afford housing or health care, maybe they would take initiative. So in the case of he gvt enabling them, there is association with personal responsibility.

Also, so many great minds invented things or companies because they got creative. Living off the dole takes someones creativity away from them, plus other stuff too. 

RedMulch --- 12 years ago -

I fired my pool boy in 2010....it was mostly a panic attack.....lol..but seriously, my 401K, that took some hits back in 2008-10 has recovered nicely and I do find that pool work is fun........ 

Gigix4 --- 12 years ago -

I do find that pool work is fun........

Yeah ... it ain't so bad. Not much to it. I usually do my weekly "sweeping" early, early Sunday mornings - like a soon as it is daylight!
And yeah, I'm still doing my own lawn work except when it gets to be 105 deg. - then I get the grand sons over here to mow. :) 

RedMulch --- 12 years ago -

do find that pool work is fun........

Yeah ... it ain't so bad. Not much to it. I usually do my weekly "sweeping" early, early Sunday mornings - like a soon as it is daylight!
And yeah, I'm still doing my own lawn work except when it gets to be 105 deg. - then I get the grand sons over here to mow. :)



Oh it's not that fun.....lol......I bought a dolphin pool cleaner for the "sweeping"........the part i think is fun is checking water and putting chlorine in the little floaters.....

Yard work- no.....i discovered that i don't have the upper body strength to start a mower, so the yard man has job security........ 

Gigix4 --- 12 years ago -

Yard work- no.....i discovered that i don't have the upper body strength to start a mower, so the yard man has job security......

Well, I would call you a "whussie"(lol)because I know they now make mowers that start with a key, but I can understand and I know my day is coming that I'll not be able to do the things I do now. It makes me mad now that I can't do the things now that I did 5 years ago.

But back in the day, I learned to do a lot of things just to save money. I never had to take a second job but had my time of living from paycheck to paycheck and I hated it, but it did teach me a lot!
(Gotta' know when to hold 'em - know when to fold 'em!) 

AwesomeTattooedDragon --- 12 years ago -

the market is at an all time high- for the most part, things are better for me- 

Lets Be Fair --- 12 years ago -

I was just curious. I know a lot of people who are struggling. Groceries seem to be one of the reasons. Gas, utilities, insurance for home, auto, and health are also a big concern. There are people on KU who claim they haven't had any of these increases. Maybe they could give the rest of us some tips. 

Just stuck --- 12 years ago -

Go back to work, i never stopped! It's always been about the health benefits. 

Donkey Hodie --- 12 years ago -

We haven't cut back on anything, since we have never been frivolous spenders. But we haven't had to get extra work, either. We've been saving for retirement, for vacations, and putting away money in the kids' college funds, just like we always have. But we still go on at least one big vacation a year, if not two, just like we always have.

I understand the economy has affected some people, some more drastically than others, but it hasn't affected my family in the least. 

SagaciousSighFiGurl (Mod) --- 12 years ago -

It's always been about the health benefits.


If you're getting them, stay there.

We have a friend whose here with a friend of theirs who has a malignant brain tumor. He has 1% chance of survival with this type of cancer and surgery.

Surgery = $109,000
Critical care daily rate= $25,000 a day

That's just the beginning. Health care issues can and do wipe people out financially. :( 

FabFive --- 12 years ago -

That is so sad. 

AwesomeTattooedDragon --- 12 years ago -

that's been forever- even with insurance, these expenses can go over the lifetime coverage- the one thing I like about Obama health care is you can't be turned down for pre existing conditions- 

ukchristine --- 12 years ago -

On a practical note how will that “can't be turned down for pre existing conditions” work?
Could (for example) Sag's friend buy the ins on Jan 1 and have $109K Surgery and icu for however many days on Jan 2nd? That sounds too good to be true. Why would anybody actually buy insurance? Especially catastrophic insurance. Might as well wait till you need it. Also if you have insurance now that has a rider that does not pay for pre existing conditions would you be able to cancel that insurance and start afresh on Jan 1st? Seems like that’s going to cost the insurance a LOT to pay out for people who do that. Clearly the insurance companies won’t just suck it up. 

SleightOfHand --- 12 years ago -

I work a 2nd job. Cops don't make much money. I don't trust that my pension will be safe and I know social security won't be there so I have my own retirement that I have been investing in. Hopefully my pension is okay then I could retire like a king. Every once in a while ill pick up a third job if I want some toys. 

Tipsyhic --- 12 years ago -

the one thing I like about Obama health care is you can't be turned down for pre existing conditions-
But if there are no longer doctors to provide the service then you are SOL! 

JAMS --- 12 years ago -

I shop mostly at Costco, Kroger, and HEB, since you're asking LBF.

We don't drive new vehicles, I am not called the "light nazi" for nothing as I enforce the lights off rule at my home, and if we aren't here, AC isn't on, and I don't wear expensive clothing, and neither do my children. In fact, I love shopping at thrift stores, and I am not too proud for hand-me-downs.

We don't have a lot of toys, but do have a nice 3200sf home with a large pool to occupy our time.
Our last real vacation was in 2011 and before that 2009. Both of those vacations were used using military deals that saved us hundreds of dollars.
My splurges are for a yard guy and a pool guy.

When shopping for food, I stick to a budget and I buy things that are on sale. Blue Bell is my favorite but I refuse to pay $6.99 for it, so I wait for it to go on sale.
We order pizza once a week, and only on a day that we can get 99 cent slices.

My husband and I have been married over 12 years, and I just got my wedding ring in October. Yeah, I waited that long. Couldn't afford what I wanted before that.

I do spend a lot of money on my horses, but cut corners when I can. One of my horses is used in a lesson program, so he works off part of my board. My daughters have recently started competing, and while other girls their ages are wearing $500 shirts and vests, my girls wear used clothing with new buttons.
My daughter recently won a class in a boys Walmart shirt and vest I got for $10.

Granted, we both work and my children are older so I don't have to worry about childcare. My husband is an electrical engineer in the oilfield after retiring from the military, so our income is decent.

We have struggled in the past on military wage peanuts.

But seeing the things I've seen, I recognize how utterly fortunate we have been, and how fortunate most people who constantly complain are.
Despite all the issues we face in life, most of us will ever know what it's like to be without the basic necessities in life.
We have shelter, clean running water, and food in our bellies.
So much of the world has none of that. 

Lets Be Fair --- 12 years ago -

Thanks Jams. 

JohnLynch --- 12 years ago -

that's called personal responsibility and has ZERO to do with the government.. 

lol...overspending by the government leads to overtaxing by the government which leads to higher costs to the people...so it's NOT a zero effect 

witchywoman --- 12 years ago -

lol...overspending by the government leads to overtaxing by the government which leads to higher costs to the people...so it's NOT a zero effect


Yeah, Bush temp tax cuts have expired but taxes haven't gone up. Not even our property taxes. 

AwesomeTattooedDragon --- 12 years ago -

the only thing that's gone up is dh's medicare- 

JohnLynch --- 12 years ago -

Bush temp tax cuts have expired but taxes haven't gone up.

lol...you just verified that they have gone up...even though i said nothing about taxes going up...i said we are overtaxed...and we are 

AwesomeTattooedDragon --- 12 years ago -

?? she didn't verify any such thing- 

Lets Be Fair --- 12 years ago -

Seems the liberals are doing well! Plenty of money, no increase in medical, lots of vacations. Wow! 

Dorothy Parker --- 12 years ago -

All of my conservative friends in this area are going on vacation this summer...just like they do every summer. Going on vacation has nothing to do with politics....lol.

Bumping a 7 day old thread to start drama, eh Let's be fair? Bored this evening? Maybe you should read a book or do some meal planning, instead. 

Lets Be Fair --- 12 years ago -

Dorothy, maybe you didn't read the whole thread so you missed the point.

How is your job going?
Are you taking a vacation this year? 

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