#925131 - 04/24/09 09:29 AM
Recession cutbacks anyone?
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Hugs
Registered: 08/29/99
Posts: 866
Loc: Quispamsis, NB
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Have you been touched by this recession? Has it been necessary to make cutbacks in order to make ends meet?
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#925143 - 04/24/09 10:13 AM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: Hugs]
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LilMissie
I live in a zoo...please don't feed the animals
Registered: 12/17/06
Posts: 4527
Loc: Brandon, MB
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It hasn't affected us directly. We are still working on moving up for a paycheck-to-paycheck living. My IL's though have been hugely affected. FIL has gone back to work full time with a farming job - he will be there until after harvest. MIL is considering getting a full time job. She has upped the amount of casual jobs she does. They have cut back there trips that they take each year as well as the amount of 'spoiling' of the grandkids (and yes it's spoiling they don't need even a 1/4 of the stuff MIL would normally come home with)
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#925146 - 04/24/09 10:32 AM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: LilMissie]
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Tookids
Registered: 09/28/06
Posts: 3655
Loc: The Eye of the Storm
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I said "Vacations". Not much I can cut with Groceries. Yes, we've cut restaurants, but in terms of actual monetary outlay, it would be Vacations.
Entertainment? It's stayed about the same.
Housing? If postponing maintenance indefinitely counts, well, yeah....that's going on. But we haven't downsized. Our mortgage is nice and low.
It's municipal taxes and the cost of utilities that just keep going up, up, up. And don't get me going about car insurance!! Ok, I'll go...why would Ford think we want to upgrade from a 1995 Ford Escort to a new car when we'd essentially be TRIPLING our automobile insurance??? Insurance is the ONLY place we can save on a car. Maintenance on a new car and old car is essentially the same. When you have a new car under warranty, the warranty is void if you don't complete the recommended maintenance every 5 k....right?? Well, with my beater I can do maintenance on my own schedule...if at all! 
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Emily
Married Fall '99
DS Fall '02
DD Summer '04
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#925150 - 04/24/09 10:44 AM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: Tookids]
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MomofC's
Bon Jovi Freak
Registered: 04/24/03
Posts: 15644
Loc: SK
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Actually the warranty isn't necessarily "void." Only if it's something maintenance would have prevented. Warranty saved us probably $4,000 in six months. Even when they "thought" they had a way around it.. they paid for the repair. The old, no-warranty vehicle was costing us around $1200/yr to maintain above and beyond regular maintenance. Also, having newer vehicles = better fuel mileage, so we're saving on gas. We've done the round-about with vehicles here. For us, we're better off with a payment and warranty.
We've cut back how much we go out. I'm more careful at the grocery store. We don't go visit family just because it's a long weekend, either. Like you said Tookids, it's the utilities, etc... the fixed expenses. We refinanced at a far better rate, and lowered our payments by about $300/month... that will sure help since we just lost about that much in income.
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#925188 - 04/24/09 12:29 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: MomofC's]
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chel
chaosville
Registered: 12/15/04
Posts: 8225
Loc: BC
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well, my hours got cut back to the point of not working Dh is union though & they voted to take 1 day off w/o pay every 3 months for 6 months. It was either this or if you voted no they would have to lay off 8 people & they would only lay off people from the sites that voted no.
Money wise etc we are ok but work is being affected - not sure how much is affected vs just using it as an excuse KWIM.
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#925297 - 04/24/09 05:08 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: chel]
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2manyguys2009
Registered: 10/28/07
Posts: 3857
Loc: Yorkton, SK
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Well, luckily DH is on parental leave, as his boss told him to extend it due to lay offs (no one had the heart to let him go because they really enjoyed working with him before DS2 was born). I can see that the prices have gone up on most staples we normally buy so we just have to search around for the best deals. While everyone complain about job layoffs/losses and financial troubles, thank goodness I do not have credit cards anymore.
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#925304 - 04/24/09 05:40 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: 2manyguys2009]
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Nicole013
Registered: 09/20/08
Posts: 1022
Loc: BC
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We buy all our meat and fish locally and the prices on those haven't changed yet (the farmers we buy from get their feed locally too). I've noticed veggies have gotten a bit more expensive, but the inlaws have a huge garden and they always give us stuff. I plan on doing a lot of freezing this summer.
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#925306 - 04/24/09 05:47 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: 2manyguys2009]
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JillyMB
Galley Wench/ Groundskeeper
Registered: 03/21/07
Posts: 5843
Loc: Manitoba
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We aren't doing much different, but we were always pretty frugal. We're bringing in more money than last year (DH's 7 month parental leave) but the cost of stuff keeps going up too.
At my work though we are being more conservative, as we don't know yet what kind of year we will have. It's a small family business.
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#925555 - 04/25/09 06:24 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: honeybear7]
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Mom2Travis
Registered: 12/02/05
Posts: 646
Loc: Alberta
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We've been affected indirectly. I just lost one of my co-workers who was offered early retirement. She's happy, but our small office is down one person and we are very busy right now. On the plus side, our variable rate mortgage has never looked so good. It's given us a bit more money at the end of every month.
So far the jobs seem safe, but as I found out this week that could change in the blink of an eye. We basically had our president and HR person blow through Western Canada and cut jobs left right and centre. A few people (like my coworker) were close to retirement and they got pretty decent packages. Others weren't so lucky. It's a pretty scary time right now.
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 My Kids!
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#925728 - 04/26/09 01:56 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: Mom2Travis]
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henrys
Yes, sometimes you get to be the windshield, today I think I'm the bug ...
Registered: 08/24/00
Posts: 3727
Loc: Innisfil, ON
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Let's see - Dh hasn't worked since 2000 as he's a SAHF, my income suddenly went pfft in February - so we've been slammed really badly by this recession.
Vacation? Haven't had one of those since 2003 (and even then it was a "cheapie" because we got it with points).
Dining out? At best we only went out about once every 2 or 3 months. We always said that our "annual sushi dinner" for our anniversary was untouchable, but it's probably just a dream this year.
Other entertainment? Last time we went to the movies was 3 years ago, although we do go to sporting events several times a year - CFL tickets are pretty affordable, but going to a hockey game is completely out of the question - we haven't been in about 8 years.
Groceries - we've cut back and cut back and cut back - it's hard with 2 adults, and two boys that eat like there's no tomorrow. (15 & 9)
Clothing - freecycle is my best friend. The 9 year old gets his brother's hand me downs and thank goodness for grandparents otherwise the 15 year old would probably be naked. I haven't had any new clothes in a very long time, although I did buy 2 pairs of shoes last year because my others were beyond falling apart.
Vehicles - both our vehicles are paid for and as much as DH says they need replacing, there simply isn't any possibility of us swinging car payments. Not now and probably not for at least 5 years.
We live so close to the bone now, I don't really know where else to cut. Until I get a job again, we're unfortunatley running up the debt again that we've worked so hard for the past 3 years to pay down.
We're both looking for work, but there are so many out of work that it's a tough competition for everything...
Edited by henrys (04/26/09 01:58 PM)
Edit Reason: I can't spell...
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#925784 - 04/26/09 06:52 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: henrys]
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vegan_mom
vegan_mom
Unregistered
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We haven't done anything different, really.
Its kinda of embarrassing but dh got a raise and we have upped our grocery budget. Our mortgage is awesome and dd is buying stock at ridulously low prices since she's 16, if she loses, she just starts again...we are in a position to get through this relatively unscathed.
My parents dumped all thier stock months ago...moved a bunch of stuff around and are doing better now that they aren't watching thier money drain away...its not growing but but its not shrinking either.
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#925815 - 04/26/09 08:49 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: ]
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momof4boys
Registered: 08/20/05
Posts: 5267
Loc: Southern Ontario
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We have been hit pretty hard too, Dh was laid off 3 wks ago and I went back to work full time 3wks ago (it wasn't planned that way but that is how it has worked out). Money is tight but it is going to get worse, especially if Ei doesn't kick in.
We have cut back as much as we can but I will be working our budget if more in the weeks to come.
Holidays, we went away in February but we saved and paid cash for it awhile back and it was before DH's work got really bad. Summer is going to be camp here or there from time to time but that is about all.
Eating out isn't happening, our anniversary in a few weeks well be us at home and maybe some family will take the kids so we can be alone but otherwise it will be a family affair. Sitter for 4 just isn't in the budget.
Groceries have been cut and I am working on cutting more and I even have DH watching the sale flyers for stuff. With a family of 6 there is only so much more I can cut back. The mortgage is less then rent and I am working with a finacial advisory to help out with some unnecessary debit.
Hopefully things will get better. but I think we have a long wait ahead of us...
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#928178 - 05/03/09 12:21 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: momof4boys]
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SarahNB
round and round and round
Registered: 04/23/00
Posts: 8852
Loc: NB
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A week ago I would have said we were lucky not to have to make any changes. But dh lost his job on Thursday. We don't take vacations, I don't go to the mall unless there is a need. We don't eat out. Any clothing we buy is second hand. Aside from the kids having no activities or camps this summer, I don't know what else to cut. Thank goodness for my small income but dh going on EI reduces his income by alot. Looks like I may spend my summer working a second job if he doesn't find something quickly.
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#928245 - 05/03/09 06:10 PM
Re: Recession cutbacks anyone?
[Re: Hugs]
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miscouchemommy
"Who dares to teach must never cease to learn." -- John Cotton Dana
Registered: 05/01/07
Posts: 8737
Loc: Prince Edward Island
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we have been very lucky, knock on wood! we should have our consolidated loan paid off by the end of the summer. i'll be going back to school in sept, so we will be living on hubby's income for the next 2 years. he can pick up extra shifts when he wants to and the company is going through an expansion, so i am hoping his job is secure. hopefully i can pick up a few subbing days while going to school.
i always have a list when we grocery shop and i meal plan, which i think saves money. we don't go out to often and if we do, it's usually to a friends house. living on PEI, we spend most of the summer at the beach or a local campground.
Edited by miscouchemommy (05/03/09 06:17 PM)
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