Response To Readers, And a Question (Category: Economy)
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November 18, 2008 |
4:24 PM
Looks like my pithy commentary about Starbucks woes got more than a few folks fired up! I, like a few of you who commented earlier, count myself among the lucky. I have another 30 years more in the workforce and am taking care of myself, not a family or even my parents...yet.
I think the most important point here, is that we're all feeling the pain...in our own ways. My mom feels it when she goes to fill up the gas tank. My father feels it when his company (where he's worked for 30 years) announces yet another round of lay-offs or buy-out opportunities.
From the comments posted, everyone's feeling the pinch everywhere you can possibly think of spending money. One reader, Peggy, left a note that struck a chord:
People having to move in with other family members or even strangers just to try to make ends meet. I for one just moved in with my daughter and grandkids hoping to be able to survive. Between the high cost of rent (even though the housing has gone down) and going to the grocrey store there goes everything. Forget trying to save a dime for retirement. Where oh where is this world going to.
So what now? If you could tell President-elect Obama to do one thing in his first 100 days...what would you tell him to do?
Comments
Roger Parsons says:
Fix the health care problem.
11/18/08 5:21 PM
Tom says:
Please pursue ALL sources of fuel aggressively. Not just wind and solar but nuclear and oil until you get the wind and solar up to speed.
11/18/08 6:46 PM
Linda says:
Please quit giving our hard earned money away to the people who got us into this mess! Do something truly innovative...give it to us and let us spend it. We will put it where it will do the most good back into the economy.
11/18/08 6:51 PM
Betty Ann Scimeca says:
Don't raise taxes exorbantly. Don't increase the Welfare recipients and investigate the people now receiving Govt. help. Help those who help themselves! Not those who sit around all day and wait for their check to arrive, everyone should do some job, however menial. Do not give Soc. Sec. cards to immigrants just because they came to our country, realize that's why so many more arrive, to get the FREEBIES! English has to be the U,S, Official language! My grandparents had to learn English, I HAD TO LEARN SPANISH WHEN I CAME TO P.R., if I wanted to be a part of it!!! I adore Spanish, but Number One for me is the English Idiom! (I am 100% Italian, proud of it, love the music and ballads, but cannot speak it. My loss!) The more languages a person is fluent in, the better off that person is, but each country should be proud of their OFFICIAL LANGUAGE AND dare ANYONE TO INSIST THAT THEIR LANGUAGE IS BETTER!!!!
AMERICAN ENGLISH IS NUMBER ONE!! A L W A Y S !!! THANK YOU!!!
11/18/08 7:22 PM
Jeane Johnson says:
Help create jobs in the US so that families may keep their homes, educate their children and have health care available.
I am very hopeful that President Obama will make a difference in these situations, although I know it will take some time to undo the last 8 years.
11/18/08 7:45 PM
Frances says:
Stop the bleeding of the retirement funds and fix the health care system and in a bold significant way.
11/18/08 10:51 PM
Mike says:
I would ask our president elect to pay our IRA's and 401k's back, to make us whole.
11/19/08 1:08 AM
Bill says:
Alejandra,
We are going through an economic detox now due to the blind drunk spending habits of the past decades. Just like checking into a inner city detox unit, this ain't the Betty Ford clinic. Things are going to have to get pretty austere and back to the basic needs of life before we will be able to start rebuilding our economic strength and stamina.
This is a great time to start looking within for the strength that resides in each of us and build on our own personal gifts and abilities.
America had always been a nation of entrepreneurs until the industrial revolution took the farmers out of the countryside luring them into the cities to be a part of the 'workforce'. The promise of the industrialist era to come to work for them for your entire life and they will care for you until death is past. And we as workers are having to reinvent ourselves again as entrepreneurs. We are being replaced by technology and by economy, but, we are more free today because of technology and economy to become whatever we are within us.
The demand for more innovative solutions to the population's problems is a driving force. And when we see how that our gifts and abilities mesh with the needs and desires of others, we will find a rewarding career path that will be fulfilling both monetarily and spiritually.
The future may look bleak for us in the short term, but I know that the American spirit will not be thwarted and what doesn't kill us will make us stronger.
Thank you
EcoBill
11/19/08 8:17 AM
Jack M says:
I attempted top comment about yesterdays story, "A Moment Of Silence For My Pocketbook", but apparently couldn't... must be a glitch, not sure what's going on there, but no matter here's my comment now...
I can't afford Starbucks coffee much less a muffin and can't afford to buy anything special, even cereal or chips, for my holiday meal... no one will be visiting my camp under this bridge anyway, so no need for anything special... going to go dig a few roots, catch a few rodents and roast them over the fire on a stick... anyone got a match?
A Moment Of Silence For My Pocketbook (Category: Economy)
Alejandra Owens | November 18, 2008 | 9:22 AM
Alejandra Owens
305 Comments
I went for my usual before work Starbucks run this morning and while I was standing in line I had a moment of pause. Do I really need a muffin? Aside from trying to be healthier, is it really worth the $1.65? Maybe I should get a grande instead of a venti?
Seems like these days every where I go I'm taking an extra moment to think about my purchases. I'm not planning my retirement, or even working toward buying a home right now...I'm just trying to make my dollar stretch a little further so I can see a movie this weekend!
Where are you feeling the pinch the most? Is it your utility bills? Or maybe at the grocery store (I feel your pain there!)? Share with us and I'll pull some of your stories up for highlights later today and tomorrow!
Tags: budget, economy, money
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Comments
Sharon Brudzinski says:
Went grocery shopping last night and was shocked at the size of the cereal boxes and their prices. I usually make a snack every year using cereal, but this year I may just have chips!
11/26/08 1:41 PM