Anyone here feeling the economic crunch?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Yes, the types of jobs I am looking for are pretty much frozen in California because the state economy is in the poo-poo.

This means I have to move elsewhere. Oh well! :D
 
Let me put it this way. There's a big gun show in Bozeman next weekend (21-23). I'll be looking, not buying. I could say more but it would belong in Legal and Political. Or at bladeforums under whine and cheese. :D
 
Well, yes. I just figured out my taxes and Uncle Sugar is going to be very happy with me this year. :( A least a quality gun or two's value going "for the children." :barf:
 
I do access control; keypads, card readers, electric locking, etc. I have had a surge of work since 9/11. Guess I'm in one of the few industries that does well in bad times.....mixed blessing.

BamBam
 
Death and Taxes

Well, working in the tax prep business has its perks. There is never a chance of the government stopping the income tax. That being said, we have seen better years.
 
Mine's a little self imposed (getting financial house in order) but three freaking years without a raise and high gas prices has hit hard.

Gun show this weekend and I'm not even going. Shooting what I've already got ammo for instead of buying ammo for guns I'd rather shoot (4506 getting a rest). Even sold quite a few guns...

If gas hits $3 a gallon I'm voting for Saddam in '04.
 
Let's face it the Economy is shot to Shi'ite and ain't getting any better.

I get around on the internet and checko out all the sites that list the latest Layoffs and it's really getting worse.

If you have a job, good for your side, but as the downward slide of the economy continues, don't know for how much longer your job will last....:eek:

Also, all the Citizens in the Reserves who got called up for Iraq Duty? While they're gone those Reservists in IT are being replaced by Foreign Talent who also work a lot cheaper, so if they are lucky to make it outta Saddam Land alive, when they come back they may not exactlly be welcome by the Boss....:what:

Anyhoo, checking out the Unemployment Stats gives you an eye opener, especially when Chemical Factories, Mines, Lumber Co's and now Ford & GM are shutting down some factories because of lack of demand.

When a Mine or Lumber Mill or Chemical Factory folds and closes their doors, it shows that things ain't gonna improve any time soon.

Stinking Motorola alone is building a $5 Billion Factory in Commie China and in the past year and a half they've fired tens of thousands of american employees. Motorola luvs the Chi-Coms so much....:cuss: Don't buy any Motorola Products, let 'em rot...

And there is talk about the value of housing, real estate, starting to take that early path down the shute to the crapper as housing has now stalled and is beginning to waver...just a bit, sorta like the hi-tech stocks did in early 2000, jsut before all hell broke out in that sector of the economy.

And of course our wonderful Fearless El Presidente El Hefe, Senor Jorge Bush, recently allowed Mexican Truck Drivers to drive all over the 48 states and compete with American Truck Drivers. Can y'all say " Slave Labor"? They work for $4.00 per hour, can American Truckers compete with that?:fire:

Oh, yeah, I'm just the Tider of Bad News, but the Truth is the Truth....

Things are gonna get tougher if Iraq is invaded, expect Domestic Terror on a Grand Scale in retalliation. Hope you're all ready to go if TSHTF....

Good Luck to all...:(
 
Some diversity here. Commercial constuction, telecom and small gun range. First one down and muddling thru after a pretty good run. Telecom crashed bigtime, but survivable (I think!).

CHL training soared for a while after 9/11 then got back to semi-slow normal. Due to cutbacks, layoffs, ect., lots of pistol people do not have disposable income for training, license and/or desired trigger time at range. But the bills go on. Electricity up again and property taxes soaring.

I saw somewhat of an unusual "lull" in demand for hunter ed. classes last fall. Offered more classes last year than ever, yet fewer students per class. Talked with quite a few folks who said they were not going to get to go deer hunting, unless on public lands (where I went yesterday). Many guys said unable to afford the leases, ammo, new toys, etc. (Gun related enough to keep going, Tam?)

Last night's coyote hunting was with a buddy who got laid off last year from big-salary + bous job in telecom industry. He invested part of his severance pay in welding equipment to work as an independent while going back to school - to become a doctor - and praying the feds will do something about the lawyers (ya readin' this, El Tejon ? :D ) and malpractice insurance premiums. Go figure. :confused:
 
Last edited:
Oh Christ...let's see. Still living with my parents at 30+, no money in the bank, unemployed for three years, can't get a job with a M.Ed in English as a Second Language and five month computer training certificate under my belt, considering training as a bartending to find SOMETHING...uh, yes.:rolleyes:
 
Despite what I said above, it may be appropriate to also point out that we have much to be thankful for here. Our worst times are far better than the best times of some people on this earth!!!

Before this thread takes a more whiney path (to which I admiittedly contributed), think a bit about what they would give to be able to have a roof over their heads and guns to discuss with friends? Much less to have a full belly, computers and be literate enough to use them??? :)
 
And parents that love us and let us live with them for free while they help us find work, and pay for our bills, food, clothes, and give us an allowance for helping out that allows us to buy guns which they support including the range time....:D
 
Mastrogiacomo

Yeah, I know the feeling, especially about the computer certs.

I went to a school that closed before I got the certs that I wanted (Cisco). Got left with a tuition bill of $22,600. That sucks!!!!

At least I've got a job that helps to pay the bills, keeps a roof over my and the misses heads, and doesn't make me travel far to work.

Aside from that, I have no investments (all gone) and the kids are out on their own.

I still have my health, my parents are still alive, my wife and kids still(?) love me, I can hunt and fish to subsist (did that in '82-'85), I still have my "freedoms" and I live in a free country that let's me be what I want to be, sorta.

Hope everyone survives to make it to the next level.
 
Out of work going on 13 months. Can't get a job as a delivery driver (BSME, overqualified), Every opening has 300+ applicants, all younger than me. I'm guessing the economy won't start to perk up 'till after Iraq, so I'm anxious that we get on with it.

This, too, will pass eventually.
 
Count me in, funding for my last semester of college (next spring) is going to require a lot of penny-pinching. I picked up an on-campus job to fund my shooting, so I can devote my summer/winter break cash towards tuition.

Kharn
 
Last edited:
The only thing I feel is the bite at the gas pumps. As for my job? well, lets just say I have a recession proof profession.

Too bad it pays like $**t

I have had to put off buying an AR cause my wife got layed off from her private sector job.
 
I still have my job, but I have "lost" about 30% of the value of my meager retirement plan. I'm definately on a much tighter gun buying and shooting budget these days as well. There's just too much uncertainty, on so many fronts, right now.
 
My wife and I seem to be a contra indicator of some sort.
When everyone else is doing well, we don't do so well. Recently we were both making seeing more income than usual. My wife's job is fairly downturn proof. I 've been working harder, and trying to work smarter.

We've taken a hit in my IRA and a couple of mutual funds, but that was never money we intended to use now.

We have had to get some work done on the house this year, and buy a new computer since the old one self-destructed. I have a couple of gun purchases in mind. One of my arguments for buying them is going to be: "Honey, it'll help the economy if I buy them."

When the economy turns around we'll probably be broke, or at least badly bent, again.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top