America is in an economic tailspin. Why does life feel so normal?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Depression didn’t touch everyone. I kept asking my grandparents what it was like and all they said was they took in borders.

True, DH's family owned a farm, and their stories were all about feeling bad having to turn so many people away offering to work for food. There were just too many to be able to help them all.

no one discusses the small few that benefit from economic tragedy, outside of enemies of the state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think that the economic downturn is hitting all sectors equally. Some businesses are really hurting and some are going gangbusters. My company is insane with work right now. My mom's company laid off a lot of people in one section but the other sections are firmly afloat. It just depends.

Manufacturers that feed into the civilian airline industry are troubled. Those that feed into the military side are more confident. Other manufacturers are doing very well.

Some agricultural products are struggling (soybeans, China) but others are selling out.

The small economy (tiny start-ups, people switching their small businesses over to something currently marketable) is doing quite well. People are adaptable.

It's a mixed picture but it certainly isn't all bad or all good.

Agree.

- Senator Loeffler

[Anonymous]

I lost my job after the economy tanked in 2008. I really never recovered. But at the time we lived in a house in a nice neighborhood and drove a fancy car, and wore nice clothes, ate good food. You would never have known I was absolutely desperate. As my money ran out, I could only buy clothes for my kids, not myself, so I wore my old work wardrobe. So I might have looked like I dressed well, but it was because I had nothing else to wear. Then when those clothes eventually fell apart, I looked pretty sad. The first big repair our nice car needed that I couldn't afford was the end of us owning a good car. We went through a series of beaters off of craigslist after that. It's shocking how little time it takes for a beater to need repairs that cost more than a new beater would cost. Lather, rinse, repeat. We moved from a house to an apartment to an apartment in an income-bracket building.

My point is, these are early days. Only 4 months in. Things will get noticeably worse. Soon you will see people getting free food wearing rags but driving nice cars, or holding nice phones with chipped fingernails. Then you will see the same people wearing cheap clothes and in a nice car. Then wearing rags. Then showing up in a beater, kids in the back seat because they can't afford a babysitter. Same people.

You don't get from Point A to Point B in the blinking of an eye, but we are on our way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Depression didn’t touch everyone. I kept asking my grandparents what it was like and all they said was they took in borders.

True, DH's family owned a farm, and their stories were all about feeling bad having to turn so many people away offering to work for food. There were just too many to be able to help them all.

no one discusses the small few that benefit from economic tragedy, outside of enemies of the state.

Trump and his buddies have all said they welcome a bad economy so they can make money. They have stated it on the record.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lost my job after the economy tanked in 2008. I really never recovered. But at the time we lived in a house in a nice neighborhood and drove a fancy car, and wore nice clothes, ate good food. You would never have known I was absolutely desperate. As my money ran out, I could only buy clothes for my kids, not myself, so I wore my old work wardrobe. So I might have looked like I dressed well, but it was because I had nothing else to wear. Then when those clothes eventually fell apart, I looked pretty sad. The first big repair our nice car needed that I couldn't afford was the end of us owning a good car. We went through a series of beaters off of craigslist after that. It's shocking how little time it takes for a beater to need repairs that cost more than a new beater would cost. Lather, rinse, repeat. We moved from a house to an apartment to an apartment in an income-bracket building.

My point is, these are early days. Only 4 months in. Things will get noticeably worse. Soon you will see people getting free food wearing rags but driving nice cars, or holding nice phones with chipped fingernails. Then you will see the same people wearing cheap clothes and in a nice car. Then wearing rags. Then showing up in a beater, kids in the back seat because they can't afford a babysitter. Same people.

You don't get from Point A to Point B in the blinking of an eye, but we are on our way.

Unless we correct course, and quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The Great Depression didn’t touch everyone. I kept asking my grandparents what it was like and all they said was they took in borders.

True, DH's family owned a farm, and their stories were all about feeling bad having to turn so many people away offering to work for food. There were just too many to be able to help them all.

no one discusses the small few that benefit from economic tragedy, outside of enemies of the state.

Trump and his buddies have all said they welcome a bad economy so they can make money. They have stated it on the record.

Sleeping with the enemy, literally. Feels like a nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost my job after the economy tanked in 2008. I really never recovered. But at the time we lived in a house in a nice neighborhood and drove a fancy car, and wore nice clothes, ate good food. You would never have known I was absolutely desperate. As my money ran out, I could only buy clothes for my kids, not myself, so I wore my old work wardrobe. So I might have looked like I dressed well, but it was because I had nothing else to wear. Then when those clothes eventually fell apart, I looked pretty sad. The first big repair our nice car needed that I couldn't afford was the end of us owning a good car. We went through a series of beaters off of craigslist after that. It's shocking how little time it takes for a beater to need repairs that cost more than a new beater would cost. Lather, rinse, repeat. We moved from a house to an apartment to an apartment in an income-bracket building.

My point is, these are early days. Only 4 months in. Things will get noticeably worse. Soon you will see people getting free food wearing rags but driving nice cars, or holding nice phones with chipped fingernails. Then you will see the same people wearing cheap clothes and in a nice car. Then wearing rags. Then showing up in a beater, kids in the back seat because they can't afford a babysitter. Same people.

You don't get from Point A to Point B in the blinking of an eye, but we are on our way.

Unless we correct course, and quickly.

Depending on age and job title, once you fall off the ladder, you’re not getting back on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost my job after the economy tanked in 2008. I really never recovered. But at the time we lived in a house in a nice neighborhood and drove a fancy car, and wore nice clothes, ate good food. You would never have known I was absolutely desperate. As my money ran out, I could only buy clothes for my kids, not myself, so I wore my old work wardrobe. So I might have looked like I dressed well, but it was because I had nothing else to wear. Then when those clothes eventually fell apart, I looked pretty sad. The first big repair our nice car needed that I couldn't afford was the end of us owning a good car. We went through a series of beaters off of craigslist after that. It's shocking how little time it takes for a beater to need repairs that cost more than a new beater would cost. Lather, rinse, repeat. We moved from a house to an apartment to an apartment in an income-bracket building.

My point is, these are early days. Only 4 months in. Things will get noticeably worse. Soon you will see people getting free food wearing rags but driving nice cars, or holding nice phones with chipped fingernails. Then you will see the same people wearing cheap clothes and in a nice car. Then wearing rags. Then showing up in a beater, kids in the back seat because they can't afford a babysitter. Same people.

You don't get from Point A to Point B in the blinking of an eye, but we are on our way.

That was my experience. I thought I was going through a temporary hard time. nope.

Unless we correct course, and quickly.

Depending on age and job title, once you fall off the ladder, you’re not getting back on

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lost my job after the economy tanked in 2008. I really never recovered. But at the time we lived in a house in a nice neighborhood and drove a fancy car, and wore nice clothes, ate good food. You would never have known I was absolutely desperate. As my money ran out, I could only buy clothes for my kids, not myself, so I wore my old work wardrobe. So I might have looked like I dressed well, but it was because I had nothing else to wear. Then when those clothes eventually fell apart, I looked pretty sad. The first big repair our nice car needed that I couldn't afford was the end of us owning a good car. We went through a series of beaters off of craigslist after that. It's shocking how little time it takes for a beater to need repairs that cost more than a new beater would cost. Lather, rinse, repeat. We moved from a house to an apartment to an apartment in an income-bracket building.

My point is, these are early days. Only 4 months in. Things will get noticeably worse. Soon you will see people getting free food wearing rags but driving nice cars, or holding nice phones with chipped fingernails. Then you will see the same people wearing cheap clothes and in a nice car. Then wearing rags. Then showing up in a beater, kids in the back seat because they can't afford a babysitter. Same people.

You don't get from Point A to Point B in the blinking of an eye, but we are on our way.

That was my experience. I thought I was going through a temporary hard time. nope.

Unless we correct course, and quickly.

Depending on age and job title, once you fall off the ladder, you’re not getting back on

That was my experience. I thought I was going through a temporary hard time. nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I paid my house off last year. Nothing fancy, bought it 18 years ago and added onto it, mostly myself. Its far better than I could live in if I had to pay someone else to do it for me. We live on one salary, mine, albeit its GS-15. I'm 42. I have 150 grand in the bank, cash savings. We drive old cars, clean our own house, and cook our own meals at home. I repair my own older iphone when it breaks (they do). I'm having to telework but grateful to have a job. (Just because I'm debt free doesnt mean I'm expense free.) People in bread lines in BMWs had the income, they just chose to spend it and not build up a 6-8 month savings. Maybe now they'll learn.

: Yes, PP, surely the economic hardship millions of Americans face is a reminder to look in the mirror and consider how much more virtuous and deserving you are.

Since the book of Job. Some things never change.

[Anonymous]

I live near a church that apparently gives out food on Thursdays - but I’d never realized it before a few weeks ago, because now the lines are so long and people show up really early to get some before it runs out.

[Anonymous]

I’m scared. I honestly don’t know what I would do if I lost my job. I bought a house last year and am still rebuilding my savings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I paid my house off last year. Nothing fancy, bought it 18 years ago and added onto it, mostly myself. Its far better than I could live in if I had to pay someone else to do it for me. We live on one salary, mine, albeit its GS-15. I'm 42. I have 150 grand in the bank, cash savings. We drive old cars, clean our own house, and cook our own meals at home. I repair my own older iphone when it breaks (they do). I'm having to telework but grateful to have a job. (Just because I'm debt free doesnt mean I'm expense free.) People in bread lines in BMWs had the income, they just chose to spend it and not build up a 6-8 month savings. Maybe now they'll learn.

This is irresponsible corporate spending that got us here, and that takes most of the $2T relief. Not the financially ignorant with their chump change in the thousands.

Its funny how theres enough to bomb any country we want, but not to educate people here. Been that way forever.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I paid my house off last year. Nothing fancy, bought it 18 years ago and added onto it, mostly myself. Its far better than I could live in if I had to pay someone else to do it for me. We live on one salary, mine, albeit its GS-15. I'm 42. I have 150 grand in the bank, cash savings. We drive old cars, clean our own house, and cook our own meals at home. I repair my own older iphone when it breaks (they do). I'm having to telework but grateful to have a job. (Just because I'm debt free doesnt mean I'm expense free.) People in bread lines in BMWs had the income, they just chose to spend it and not build up a 6-8 month savings. Maybe now they'll learn.

: Yes, PP, surely the economic hardship millions of Americans face is a reminder to look in the mirror and consider how much more virtuous and deserving you are.

Since the book of Job. Some things never change.

+1. And while I don't begrudge anyone their GS-15, a GS-15 salary puts you in the top 5% of earners in the country. And it's unlikely that GS-15 will ever have to worry about being laid off or losing their job due to economic concerns.

[Anonymous]

all I know is that I am so thankful that we are still employed, so we are giving as we can.

We just recently sent a very nice check to our nephew, who had a baby with his fiancé at the very beginning of the pandemic and of course then lost all their income as they worked in restaurants. They moved in with her family in a different state to try to start over.