A woman having a conversation with her seatmate about her husband, who was laid off months ago, and hasn't been able to find a job since. She talked about the "tight market", meaning that even though he has years of experience (in what, she didn't mention) he's not receiving many responses to his resume.
She commented that she hadn't been sure they could live on just her salary, and that they were making drastic changes in what they spend money on. It appears that they're 'making it', for now, but if her partner doesn't find a job soon, they could be in trouble.
It was interesting to hear this firsthand account of the troubles that Oregonians (and Americans) are facing right now. As I wrote on Tuesday, I feel somewhat insulated from economic woe because I work for a large public university. Barring a complete meltdown in the government, my job is fairly safe.
My eavesdropping emphasized (for me, at least), the reality that folks are struggling. They're losing jobs they've held for years. They're having a lot of difficulty finding other work. Hopefully, this new economic reality will force all of us to think twice before pulling out the credit card and making unnecessary purchases; especially when that credit card might be needed for a true emergency sometime in the future (I wish they were called 'emergency cards').
Friday, October 24, 2008
Overheard on the Max. . . .
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4 comments:
I agree. Lately I've been re-examining and thinking about my needs versus my wants. We need to live with a needs mentality right now, for the most part. And examine what is a need, and what is a want or even a "luxury." When my dh was out of work several years ago, even a can of olives or a bag of chips was a luxury!
Emergency card would be a good name for them :)
Again, i will say, being debt free is the nicest sleeping aid ever invented!.
I know you are almost there with another credit card paid off soon - way to go!
So true, about needs and wants: I stand in the grocery store and hem and haw about the 83 cent loaf of generic (and somewhat boring) bread and the nutty, fancy organic super-bread that costs $3 more. I guess it's all about what's important to you RIGHT NOW. For me, it's eating boring bread and getting out of debt.
p.s. I think I WILL start calling my credit card an 'emergency card' and see if my desire to use credit (it's a constant struggle, even now) decreases a bit.
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