Everything Is Going Up Except Our Paychecks. What Are The Less Fortunate To Do?

i work 2 jobs; cell phone agent and personal fitness trainer.
i live in a small town that has one of the highest unemployment rates in all of Virginia. there are store/maunfacturing/business closings or layoffs nearly every week.
most of my friends have recently been laid off (i’m not exaggerating) and things are just looking very gloomy.
so groceries are going up… electric is going up… gas goes up sporadically… it seems like everything is going up except the paychecks (for those of us lucky enough to have a job).
i have lost alot of my personal training clients due to these job losses and there has been alot of people cancelling their cell phone service also due to these job losses (putting me at risk of losing my job as well).
i have even completely turned off my heat because i can’t afford to heat my very small apartment.
i live alone and trying to make it but sometimes i feel it would be easier to just curl up and die.
i feel such doom and gloom i don’t even want to live anymore because it’s just a miserable feeling not to be able to live comfortably when you are very physically and mentally ABLE to work and very WILLING to work but just CAN’T FIND enough work.
am i alone or does anyone feel as miserable about our economic status as i do?

Posted On: July 4th, 2009
Posted In: Personal Fitness
Tags: , , , , , ,
  1. Free Wordpress Plugins -

    I am with you!
    We’ve been cut back to 32 hours a week in my job (construction). I’ve been looking for a second job since September, but can’t find one around here that will work with my primary work schedule. I certainly don’t want to quit, as I need the health insurance.
    My boyfriend and I keep the thermostat off entirely – we use a space heater that we move from room to room (we’ve covered the walls in blankets on colder days, to help keep the heat in) because it uses less electricity.
    Sometimes we get free wood from my parents, and then we have a fire in the fireplace.
    We’ve even gotten to the point where we shower together or share bathwater because of the energy it takes to heat the water to a tolerable temperature.
    And we live just outside DC – I can’t imagine what people in this situatution are doing in places like Maine or Minnesota or North Dakota.
    Hang in there – it’s gotta get better some time.
    Have you thought about getting a roommate?

    July 4th, 2009 at 7:11 pm

  2. jack -

    you don’t have any friends? to talk too?… sometimes friends are over rated..sounds like you are going through a really tough time…did you lose your girlfriend or family and or friends?… a lot of small towns look like ghost towns… things will get better you can e-mail me if you want…

    July 5th, 2009 at 12:37 am

  3. Widget Maker -

    I read these yesterday. I think it describes the worst case scenario but Unfortunately I think we are in the worst case scenario.http://www.energybulletin.net/node/23259http://www.energybulletin.net/node/47157

    July 5th, 2009 at 5:52 am

  4. I have the best husband ever -

    It can always be worse.. you could have 1 arm or 1 leg or be blind or have cancer.. but you are healthy so suck it up and get a job, save and be grateful

    July 5th, 2009 at 8:32 am

  5. racingdi -

    Pres Obama is saving “the less fortunate”! Giving them checks from US! Dont worry about them!!

    July 5th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

  6. pedro7of -

    Let them eat cake…..

    July 5th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

  7. Jessie K -

    You should buy less and they will have to lower the price.
    What should I do about flabby arms?

    July 5th, 2009 at 3:53 pm

  8. Ugly Videos -

    At least you still have a job

    July 5th, 2009 at 10:31 pm

  9. Wicked Wanda -

    It is a miserable time for all of us right now but instead of getting depressed about it you have to remember that there are a lot of people around the world who don’t even have clean running water or a car to put gas in. You may have it tougher than you have in the past but you don’t have it as tough as some people do or as tough as some people did years ago.
    Uh…killing oneself is never the answer. Living in a country that has a bad economy is not a good reason to kill yourself.

    July 6th, 2009 at 12:02 am

  10. pink spinel -

    I’m so scared me and my husband won’t be able to pay the rent and since we don’t own a home we will be homeless because it takes $1,500.00 in texas approximatley for another place to rent,i’ve turned off my heat too,my last gas bill was $226.00,i’ve been cold in this house for months,and i will be burning up come summer,we can barely afoord to eat,buying ramen noodles again like i did when i was on my own right out of high school,hell i think i was doing better then and we make better money now.

    July 6th, 2009 at 6:55 am

  11. Anjela -

    I completely agree with you. My husband and I are struggling too up here in Michigan – and we both work full time jobs. There are 2 of us and we still don’t have enough money – I hate living paycheck to paycheck. And furthermore, I really don’t want to get a second job or for him too. 40 hrs a week is ENOUGH – I can barely stand doing that, let alone taking on anything more.
    We just have to hope things get better. Don’t give up – hang in there.

    July 6th, 2009 at 7:39 am

  12. Smartphone Remote Control -

    You are not alone, a lot of people feel like that at the moment, and just as you think you are ok something happens to tell you otherwise. Unfortunately all we can do is weather the storm and manage as best we can. We have cut down on going out,and unnecessary expenses and it has helped, we have other ways of having fun that doesnt cost as much.
    Please dont think of not wanting to live, at the end of the day its only money, i know thats easy to say but there are more important things like your family and friends.

    July 6th, 2009 at 10:24 am

  13. Sahara -

    The elites that caused this mess wouldn’t care if you did. In fact that might be what they want if they think about it all which they don’t. They don’t care about us. They care about themselves and stocking their oversized egos. They are playing politics with Obama and the Democrats. I would contact CNN and MSNBC and other news outlets. Tell them your story. Cut back on what you can. To fill in free time, you can always read books from the library to gain new knowledge that might help down the road.
    Many of us are in a difficult position. My job seems safe but I don’t know. The same goes for my husband. I’m not taking anything for granted. I have step kids and by all accounts – their mom and step dad are idiots. They are spending like they always have. Their step dad lost his job. Talk about pressure. My husband and I are trying to save and cut back just because we don’t know. But the kids don’t get it. They see their mom and she’s making it tough on us with the potential more driving my husband will have to do for these new activities. She’s a quitter so it may not last – probably won’t. She’s weak. It’s stress.
    The unknown stresses me out. People putting other people down does not help. It’s not fair. Do we have complete control? NO!!!!!
    Most people have not received any kind of financial education. To try to educate them when they are adults is just about too late. They don’t get it. They are too used to their bad habits. They are overly optimistic.
    Push for financial education to ALL kids starting as early as possible – keep it ongoing.

    July 6th, 2009 at 10:47 am

  14. Zeyaad A -

    I’m not trying to be a smart-*** or be funny. I’m not being sarcastic, kill yourself. That’s what I’m going to do when i can’t pay for my home and stuff. What’s the point of living, if it’s going to be on the streets? Just kill yourself. Death isn’t frightening it’s living that’s treacherous.

    July 6th, 2009 at 5:36 pm