All I can go by is the way my grandma used to talk of the last great depression, and some reading I've done on it myself out of curiouslty. And yes, I think we're plunging head first into one. (hope I'm wrong) And from what I've read.......I'm not really sure if there is a way to actually stop it or deter it. We've become a country of people where the vast majority lives on credit.......credit cards, loans, ect. Back in the 1930's that was unheard of. So in some ways I think a depression is going to be more profound than it was back then, affecting even a larger part of the population.
I wish I could say all this isn't affecting us, but it is. K is in a town where businesses are closing up so fast it's scaring them. Our town isn't much better, we've had 3 major factories shut down in the area in the past year and have dhl about ready to close come december which will put another 6000 out of work. husband is paying out a small fortune in gas to just get to work in cincy. Grabs as much overtime as he can to counter it. But even that's not helping much.
My kids have stopped complaining about eating leftover meals. They've stopped complaining about eating what we call Tight Budget meals....meals meant to fill you up the cheapest way possible. They're figuring out Mom is rationing groceries for a good reason, not to just be mean. Food has stopped being wasted around here. Even dogs get leftovers that would normally go into the trash to suppliment and stretch out the dog food. Our days are planned around carpools to get the most out of the gas we've bought to get from school and work ect. We don't just hop into the car and go anymore. And the really shocking part is they are finally learning to shut off lights and appliances when not in use so as to not raise the utilities any higher than necessary. This winter our thermostat won't be going over 60 degrees.
I haven't had a credit card in years. The only loan we have is for the house. Nichole went and got back on WIC for the baby to insure there will be milk and such in the house for her.
If gas prices keep going up, pretty soon husband will basically be paying to go to work. sigh
And the really sad part........we're still barely surviving. Scarey. Lincoln screams everytime I hold a penny, because I hold on to every penny so tight and am reluctant to spend any extra money.
I don't know how you can be "too poor" to be affected. Cuz we sure are. We're not losing investments, we're struggling to keep our heads above water and to survive everyday.
I hope it doesn't get any worse, cuz I don't know what we'll do.