OK, I know times can be tough but right now, seems to be quite a lot of turmoil - jobs/banking (loans)/Petrol (we have to line-up for it in Georgia)...

What's going on in your world in this "recession"?

Really no noticeable changes for us so far.

not really noticing any changes here either - however - I have decided not to panic, but to start stocking up a little on food stuffs. Tins and loo paper and the like. Just the necesities. I am looking around where the offers are and just getting double.. Well U NEVER KNOW!!

Funny really. We're the best off we've ever been. How long it will last I've got no idea, but I hope it's a long time and gets better!

I know a couple of people who rent apartments in houses that have been evicted because the banks foreclosed on their landlords. Some food prices are up quite a bit.

It's a good idea to have food on hand. Fortunately, Merkan bread is so choc-full of additives it lasts forever.

If you are going to hoard, do it discreetly, because all you're doing is collecting it and storing it for someone like me who will come to your gun-free home and take it from you, and laugh while you cry your iddle impotent tears...

I'm alright for now as I am single, don't own a vehicle and rent at a reasonable price.

However I am about to dip into the job market looking for a new job, and I'm expecting it to be a fair challenge. We'll see how that pans out.

We've just sold our house for 35% less than what we paid for it 4 years ago

OUCH! I'm so sorry to hear that.

Thanks, bummer I know but had to be done and we're in a better position than others that we know of who can't move out of MI even if they wanted to due to things being so bad there.

I really notice it in my shopping bills. We eat no more than we did and now my youngest is totally out of nappies/diapers even at night and I am still paying about 25% more each week.

We also bought a second car in the summer and get 12 miles more per gallon which helps.

With Joycee not working for the last 15 month
we live on bread and water ..

Fortunately we have no Mortgage

I agree Ray no mortgage is the way to go. To know we have a roof over our heads is very comforting...unfortunately others aren't so lucky.

Anybody who can... should get shot of mortgages if they can
there are going to be a lot more tears in the next year ..

Agreed...but we are of the old school Ray...if you can't pay for it you can't have it. That's something I hope I have instilled in my daughter. Take no notice of the here and now society...ideally what you earn each month is yours and not someone else's.

We do have a mortage but that is the only debt we have. We did buy a new car earlier this year (we paid cash, no loans) and use one credit card that is paid in full each month.

I work in retail and you would not believe how many I people I see fan through their credit cards like they are a deck of playing cards deciding which on to use... I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!