How has the recession affected your family?

Question

So far we have stopped going out to eat, which we used to do often. My husband rides his bike to work, we now shop at garage sales for clothes for the kids, we started planting a vegetable garden in our backyard, and I am now going to start making my own baby food instead of buying it.....those are just some of the ways the recession has affected my family.

Answer 1

Not too badly. Just have to be wise with the money, drive less, work more, and pray hard!

Answer 2

well. my mum laughed when she saw the headline "weetabix up 21%"

recession doesnt count until its been there for 2 quarters THATS SIX MONTHES.

Answer 3

Amazingly, we're actually better off now than we were before this economic slow-down, because my mom started a full time job around the same time.

We're still hurting though, especially when it comes to gas prices. I'm taking the bus now instead of carpooling because it's cheaper, and we are learning to spend more time at home and in town, rather than traveling as much as we might.

I can't even remember the last t ime we went out to eat just because.

Answer 4

the recession is fine, but sounds good.

Answer 5

We no longer go on long car rides due to gas prices.  We no longer go out to eat, which we didn't do much before now we don't ever.  Started purchasing some of our groceries from angel food ministries.  Same groceries for half the price.

http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

Answer 6

OMG Pete I bet you don't have to grocery shop for a family or drive to work and back !

Changes have been made in our family:l

Avoid layoffs (4 in the last 5 years)by working for Municipalities instead of Corporations-less pay but stability is the key

Cut out unnecessary trips - this includes vacation none for several years now

Rarely eat out - if we do we split meals to make sure food is not wasted

Shop locally no Wal Marts- mainly food co ops and community gardens

Ride the bus or bike whenever we can

Sold the power boat and replaced it with a canoe to fish in the local rivers and lakes

Use less and less AC

Sell items on the net or at Garage Sales & Shop at the Thrift Store

Answer 7

I can't paticipate in school,We rarely go out to eat ,the beach,even sixfags , and pools etc. We didn't go to el salvador this year.

but we at least walk more, more healthy , and enjoy our time together.

Answer 8

We are more careful when when use the care.  We plan out or trips better and think about all off our outings more.  We try to ride share whenever possible.   And we are more aware of little wastes in electricity.  Thankfully we haven't really been affected by the rise in prices other than that.  We have always been very careful with our mortgage and we continue to do so.  We try more than ever to pay a little more than we have to on it each month.

Answer 9

we have stopped going out to eat. we h ave also looked for lots of savings, and we can't buy anything we don't need. For example, if we go to buy milk, we only buy milk only and nothing else, which we have never done. my mom is very depressed because she can't pay bills and some companies are asking for money that she doesn't owe.

Answer 10

We are feeling a bit of pinch these days as well, here a some things we have done:

stop eating out

stop extra spending

find things that are free for entertainment

searched garage sales, and consignment stores to supplement the new school clothes (50% new 50% used)

for school supplies this year we salvages some of the unused things from last year and washed up old back packs and pencil bags and lunch bags

we have started making our own laundry soap and fabric softener, which is saving us over $400 per year, we are also making our own cleaning supplies, and the benifits is it's all safe and natural and soooooo much cheaper and very easy to do

we have stopped food waste, it all gets eaten, or it's put in the freezer to use at a later date or it's turned into another meal

we are dabbling with a home garden, will do much more next year as this was my first time and wasn't sure I could do it

we have started canning

basically cutting corners where we can, and saving as much as we can

Answer 11

It hasn't other than having to spend more money for the same amount of gas and groceries. My grocery bill was $50/week for two of us and is now about $75. Gas was $60-70/month and is now $100 for me alone.

I always live as cheaply as feasible, saving everything I can, not buying luxury stuff no one really needs, buy things on sale, second hand, eat out maybe one time a month (then it's cheap family resaurants), might rent a movie or two a month but they are usually old releases,  saving the "treats" for birthdays and Christmas.

That's the way I was brought up, and it doesn't bother me one bit. Folks who aren't used to it suffer when they have to, and have little in reserve to keep things going.

Answer 12

Its killing us in a way to be completely honest. I am so glad though to read a refreshing hopeful topic. You state things and they are not so bad. :)

Perhaps the recession will force people to start living more like people again...and not so much like the commercialized world we live in now.

Answer 13

we have already done all of the above way before the recession and we are still feeling it :(

Answer 14

One thing I just want to add.  This just started.  It will get worse before it gets better so I ask everyone to think a longer term course of action.

Answer 15

we don't eat out

we walk most everywhere

my husband takes the bus to work

we buy secondhand (more then we did before)

we grow tomatoes and peppers

we recycle EVERYTHING (change adds up)

Answer 16

ugh. i hear ya. all our money goes to food and gas, and our lovely mortgage.

we havent made changes like you have......yet. but we have a little one on the way...and the cost of daycare to look forward to.

Basically we put all extra spending on hold. I want to redo the bathroom with our tax returns, but instead I am saving it....so when we dont have enough money coming in, we have some readily available.