How would you describe your recession in six words?
Posted at 5:00 AM on March 25, 2010
by Eric Ringham
(66 Comments)
Filed under: Economy
Readers of our Minnecon blog have been sending in very brief economic status reports. That gives us Today's Question: How would you describe your recession in six words?
Comments (66)
Laid off. Better Job. New house.
Comments from MPR Public Insight's Facebook page:
Nice concept... it's like a misery haiku! Here's mine: "Fifty Thousand Underwater On 05 Mortgage". -Maria Denise Nichols
Lots to be done; no workers. -Mary Warner
Finally a chance to buy low. -Kimberly Phillips
Fear, anxiety, instability. Society circling drain. -Patrick RichardsFink
My second layoff in 10 months. -Monica Wimpee Digre
depression. unemployment. frugality. panic. debt. panic. Sorry, had to use the word twice. -Jennifer Ruth Malmquist
Lost job had to create job. -Mary Myers
More in the rainy day fund. -Zachary Thorson
Consume less. Live sustainably. Enjoy family. -Derek Barto
Give more to food shelf. -Lois Anderson Garbisch
Laid off, new job. gardening more. :) -Heather Breyer
Contract for deed...still no loan. -Jessica McAlpine
No recession here. Hired three people. -
Steven Carter
Haven't had one. Sorry for others. -Steven Carter
Eat more of what I grow. -Tish Stewart
Welcome to my world, everyone else. -Meg Ryan Gronau
Really nervous about moving next month! -Lauren Larson
Found new ways to live frugally. -Chris Harrington
Opportunity to change for the better. -Tammy Oseid
Insecurity of future layoffs weighs heavily. -Tonya Van Tol
Take the bus or maybe walk. -Kris Kerzman
At least I still have a job. -Tim Tollerud
Keep it simple, reuse & recycle. -Gail Tufte
Identifying the important things in life. -Edward Jensen
An opportunity to continue my education. -Myah Nelson
Went sailing on other peoples boats! -David Crum
I don't listen to investment advice. -Melanie Rowan Logan
family. priorities. frugal. saving. enjoying life. -Lisa Barber Zahn
Moved to south padre island Texas. -Melissa Smallman
Unemployed. Healthy. Fit. Frugal. -Josh Agapito Jimenez
Living simply,frugal, and being happy. -Emily Louise Dockendorf
Nothing new for me! -Jo Belvedere
Found solace in the simple things. -Tory Kielbasa
Stay at home mom. -Kim Funk Senne
Are any companies hiring these days? -Erin Trader
Glad I retired before I couldn't. -David Bergum
Do I really need that? -Gina Stillwell
I'm not eating as much anymore. -Anne Priest
Feeling boxed in, lack of possibilities.
Always been frugal, now I'm trendy!
1: Working
2: Overtime
3: Got
4: Raise
5: What
6: Recession
Assets tanked, but I am fine.
Giving more money to feed hungry.
Texts sent to MPR:
Four jobs, but I need five. -Mark, Minneapolis
Paycheck to paycheck. Including odd jobs. -Stephanie, St Paul
Shop local, think global, plan and diversify -Leanne, Waconia
Six months, no contracts; have one. -Kelly, Dearborn
Trying to learn to love simplicity. -Kathryn
Almost lost job, glad I didn't. -Rob
Was comfortable, soft, now lean, alive. -Mark, Minneapolis
My life couldn't get any better. -Wade, Rochester
Had it. Lost it. Want it. -Aaron, MN
Scared of layoffs - hasn't happened yet. -KJ, Minneapolis
Less opportunity, but more neon flip flops. -Anna Lucia Krupp, Minneapolis
Hard times are here, always return. -Dave, Burnsville
I want my old life back. -Scott, New Brighton
Law school debt, BA wage. -Ann, Minneapolis
Family, simplified living, debt elimination, optimism. -Allison, Minneapolis
Look farther, work harder, spend less. -Brad, St. Paul
I am dangling in financial despair. -Julie, Howard Lake
This recession is survivable. -James Allard, Minneapolis
An opportunity to reassess and re-prioritize. -Aimie, Coon Rapids
Anonymous texts:
Not too bad at all. Yep.
Earning and spending less; thankful rest.
Two more jobs no more $.
New car, new house, same job.
Old car, spend less, save more.
JD/MBA with debt but no job.
Would be fine, if lower taxes.
Over-worked and underpaid.
Struggling two steps forward ten backwards.
Live debt free, frugal, doing great!
No work, loans, grad school. Help.
Sold house bought a bigger one.
Not even close to getting started.
Still a temp after 22 months.
No mortgage, no investments, not affected.
Not where I thought I'd be.
Your McMansion debt ate my 401K.
Your McMansion debt ate my 401K.
Hardly anyone is buying art now.
Confusing, Scary, not Forewarned, not Hopeful.
Working 60 hours every single week.
Totally ripped, no money for food.
10-15hr/wk $9hr, no health, civil unrest, work til death??
Unemployed, fully employed, unemployed, mostly employed
Unemployed, fully employed, unemployed, mostly employed.
law school grad, now stay-at-home dad!
Lost career, friends, sanity. Found school.
Hunkered down, stayed employed, we're okay.
Reduce debt, cancel cards, spend less.
*gulp* okay, still employed, feel lucky
Retirement postponed.
Otherwise OK.
Alarm
Disquiet, Distress, Dread
Unease, Unrest
Back to school, intern @ age 52.
My husband's still looking, still jobless
Big grows bigger,
most get smaller.
God's blessings abound: absolutely no lack!
Me: Poor. You: Same. Us: Exhausted.
Switched jobs;moved in with friends
Cheap houses :), Cheap Stocks :), crabby people :(!
Laid off, search, search, search, retired
I have chosen not to participate
Instructive as to what's really valuable
If I gotta flip burgers, fine!
Roles changed-husband college, wife work
Our leaders don't care about us.
DTOM
Life temporarily suspended by ignorant others
I graduated, getting married, yay job
I graduated, getting married, yay job :)
Unemployment pay... better than bounced paychecks
"... solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” - Thomas Hobbes
Even debt is hard to get.
Dismal expectations for kids. They're BACK.
Myself: reduced hours
Husband: laid off
So glad I have a job!
New house. New career. Going great!
Getting back to what matters most.
Disappointment.
Insecurity.
Anxiety.
"Whos to blame?"
Family of five.
Three jobs.
Sinking.
What a pain in the ass.
Increasing job responsibility without increasing pay.
David from Minneapolis
Hope and change, thanks President Obama.
Retirement home equals a refrigerator box.
House still expensive, less income overall.
Less work
Less money
More time
I learned to live with less.
A nagging worry like a toothache.
Hate my job
can't quit it
What recession?
Got laid off
Gone to Korea
Temporary investment dip, but better now!
Laid off;
Stove broke;
Hot Meals?
My life couldn't get any better!
Hard, harder, hopeless, No way out!
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