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How Has the Economy Affected You?

by Lindsay Ferrier on June 11, 2012 at 12:11 PM

MoneyI've been your Moms Matter 2012 correspondent for seven months now and it's very obvious that the one issue you all care about most in this election is the economy.

It only makes sense. With Europe in crisis and our own country struggling to recover from a recession, nearly all of us have been personally affected in some way by global economic woes.

And while it's easy to get mired in political rhetoric about the best way to go about fixing the problem, this week, we want to hear from our political bloggers -- and, of course, from you -- about how the current economic situation is affecting you personally. How has it changed your lifestyle? Your budget? Your outlook?

Our political bloggers will be answering this question all week long, and we'd like to hear from you as well in the comments.

Are you struggling now as a result of the economy? From your own personal perspective, is our nation in the midst of an economic crisis?

My husband and I have been fortunate in this recession to work in media -- no matter how bad it gets, people still want their news, so we've been able to stay employed. But we've definitely had to make some adjustments. Our retirement investments dropped dramatically and we've dealt with some income freezes, even as the price of pretty much everything else continues to rise.

But for many of you, the situation has been far worse. Here are just a few of the moms we've talked to over the last few months:

Chelsea and her family were hit particularly hard by the recession. They found themselves with a drastically lowered income and a modest dream house they could no longer afford.

 

Sarah's husband lost his job right before Christmas and her family had to learn how to spend next to nothing.

 

And Chantal's husband's student loan debt is literally crippling their family:

Can you relate to these women's stories? Do you have one of your own?

Here's what our political bloggers have to say:

Politicians Are Too Out of Touch With Moms' Economic Woes

Getting Personal About This Economy

The Economy Is Not Fine

How the Economy Affects One Mom

 

 

Image via yomanimus/Flickr

Filed Under: 2012 election

Comments

13
  • Graci...
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Graciesmom

    June 11, 2012 at 12:23 PM
    My husband and I have been really lucky. Mostly because we operate with no debt and have always saved a lot. We worked in real estate but got out before it was too bad. We moved and started a business which has been very successful. I went back to school and got my degree - we were able to live simply so I have no student debt. I got a promotion and raise at work. We are buying a house and getting an amazing deal. We make more now then we ever have. I almost feel guilty that the recession has worked in our favor....
  • mande...
    --

    manderspanders

    June 11, 2012 at 12:27 PM
    I'm a nurse (BSN RN) with a stable job and reasonable wage. However, because of the economy, I'm the primary breadwinner. My husband has a Bachelor's in Education (no teaching jobs around) and is a Navy veteran (served 6 years) and he cannot find permanent fulltime work at all. He works as a para in the middle school during the school year; and has a seasonal job with the City parks dept. He makes $6000- $10000/yr in a good year. He's a great guy, hard worker, and excellent employee - but he's over qualified for most jobs and no one will consider him. Our gross income is about $48000 (more if he has a good year), and we get by alright, but can't get ahead. We can't pay off student loans; we own a tiny house (850 sqft) because it was cheaper than renting. But we have indefinitely postponed trying for kids because we can't afford any hit to my income... If my hubby could work 40hr/wk at $8/hr, we'd be thrilled! It's sad that hard work, education, and swrving your country don't matter. And we live in one of the top 5 counties nationally for weathering the recession...
  • Kimbe...
    -- Facebook comment from

    Kimberly Coffey

    June 11, 2012 at 12:46 PM
    At the beginning, I was a single mother of three also raising my grand daughter. I had 2 jobs, and doing pretty well. Now I have 1 part time job, and can't seem to make ends meet. I bought an older mobile home because I could afford the payment better then rent, but now it has more issues then I can handle fixing, so might be loosing it as well..They say the recession is ending, but I have felt it worse in the last couple of months.
  • hanib...
    --

    hanibanani

    June 11, 2012 at 12:46 PM
    Like the commenter above's husband, I am overqualified for many positions in my town. I moved to a small town because my husband lived here and he couldn't find a job where I lived. I have a very good degree from an Ivy league university and nobody will even look at my resume. I was told by build-a-bear and Starbucks that I am not qualified for them. I finally (after 6 months) got a low paying part to e job where I'm lucky of I make 9000/ yr. I have been trying for 2 years to get a job but I am either looked over for not speaking Spanish fluently ( I live in a farming community with migrant workers so most positions that involve customer service, including fast food and retail want you to speak Spanish) or for being overqualified. Some companies aren't even hiring, they just keep habing interviews to use up budget money or keep people coming in. My husband and I are extremely unhappy where we live and want to love ASAP but we can't find jobs anywhere. This economy has taken away our chances at finding work and I am very worried about the next four years, regardless of who is the president. Everyone I know is having a difficult te right now.
  • hanib...
    --

    hanibanani

    June 11, 2012 at 12:46 PM
    My parents were an upper middle class, hard working family andyhey lost nearly everything. My brother speaks fluent Chinese in 6 dialects, has worked as a mediator in china for years, has a highly specialized lawful acne law degree from Boston university and was the second highest GPA in his class and he can't find a job anywhere, in any country. With his law degree from Jong kong university he is able to practice law in the US, England, China, Australia and the Carribbean but he can't find work. It is really awful.
  • Guest
    -- Nonmember comment from

    Guest

    June 11, 2012 at 12:50 PM
    Problem is, we are well past the tipping point. The liberals have condemned us to a debt spiral and default, and nothing can prevent it now. It is just a matter of time.
    Romney will likely win and the Republicans will likely take both houses of Congress. This will result in two things.
    1. A minor reduction in the level of fiscal insanity. This will delay but not prevent the inevitable. (Total democrat majorities may be better in the long run, it would continue their current policies, cause the crash to happen sooner, and allow us to get on with the process of rebuilding sooner)
    2. By having some somewhat conservatives in power, or at least some calling themselves that, there will be a band of idiots in the 85 and below IQ range that will be able to be convinced by left wing agit-prop that somehow the collapse is somehow not the fault of radical left wing /democrat policy. This could result in some very nasty changes in our future constitution and future government. Think 1930's Germany.
    See you in the soup lines!
  • Littl...
    --

    LittleFrogsMA

    June 11, 2012 at 12:51 PM

    I'm really struggling right now.  I have a job I could go back to but I can't pay for daycare and rent too without child support and my soon to be exhusband is so bat shit crazy I don't know if he's even working right now.  So I am living with my parents and have no job.

    Under normal conditions, this wouldn't be such an issue.  I have never had a problem finding a teaching job before; teaching positions in my field are usually pretty easy to find.  But thanks to the economy and the Republicans war on teachers, teaching jobs are hard to come by.  


  • eleph...
    --

    elephantmamaof2

    June 11, 2012 at 1:22 PM
    My husband and I are pretty lucky as we haven't really been affected- yet! My parents are another story. They always lived very comfortably, I'd say upper middle class, but my father lost his job after 25 years with the same company in 2009, and hasn't been able to find work since. He cashed in his retirement to buy 2 businesses, one failed within a year and the other doesn't bring in nearly what they are used to and need.
  • mustb...
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    mustbeGRACE

    June 11, 2012 at 2:48 PM

    Republicans have no "war on teachers"....................................

    WE know that education is a good thing.


  • kevobx
    -- Nonmember comment from

    kevobx

    June 11, 2012 at 4:19 PM
    Be content, God does every thing perfectly. You are exactly where God wants one to be at. Man gets his blessings and forgets *Psalm 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
1-10 of 13 comments

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