I just needed to post something. I’m just sitting here shaking my head in disbelief and frustration. For those that know a little about me I’m a manager in a construction company and I have to lay off another 4 people today. It’s getting really hard out there and I can’t take it.

I’m getting tired of these economic time, I know it’s not going to get any better. It seems like I’m laying people off every month now and our sales number are dropping. I see this whole stupid debt limit mess in Washington and they just don’t get it. They need to cut 1.6 Trillion now! Not 4 trillion over 10 years. Don’t these guys understand compounding interest and debt. It’s never going to get paid off.

I can barely cope any more but I must stay strong for my family. I’m the anchor and if they see me depressed or drained it’s going to scare them. It’s so hard to come home happy anymore with all the bad news. But I want them to live a “normal life” as long as they can because we don’t know when this “normal” will be taken away from us. That’s why I like to get it all out here.

I know what’s coming, an all out economic collapse. I just thought I could emotionally make it through better than I am. I can’t imagine how I would feel if I never started preparing like I did 7 months ago. How are the rest of you on ATS holding up? I would like to make this thread a lean on me type of thread. One where we can all come together, shear our stores and help each other through them. I need an outlet and I don’t want to start scaring my family but things look bleak for the United States and its economy.

I know how you feel and letting people go is awful knowing there is nothing out there for them..

I got really bitter recently almost to point of being anti just about everyone and everything. while craving the crash to come now just to get this pain over with...

But I sat down with my partner and talked things through.. went for a long walk beside the river. and it really helped getting the feelings off my chest...

I hope you find some way if getting the things that are dragging you down off your chest..

regards and best wishes from across the pond.

Originally posted by thoughtsfull
I know how you feel and letting people go is awful knowing there is nothing out there for them..

I got really bitter recently almost to point of being anti just about everyone and everything. while craving the crash to come now just to get this pain over with...

But I sat down with my partner and talked things through.. went for a long walk beside the river. and it really helped getting the feelings off my chest...

I hope you find some way if getting the things that are dragging you down off your chest..

regards and best wishes from across the pond.

edit on 27/7/11 by thoughtsfull because: (no reason given)

I workout alot and run. two days ago i lost track of time and ran for 4 miles, thats long for me. Its scary and i feel bad for all those without jobs and are hopeless

I'm single, nearly 60 and have a widowed father in assisted living (to the tune of $2000 a month). At this rate, he will be completely out of money and so will I (savings, CD, everything) in a year (that is, if the economy doesn't completely melt down...if it does we're both basically SCREWED). I'm trying to sell his house (where I am currently living) but with the market as it is even if I do manage to find a buyer, I won't get nearly what it's worth. When I do sell...where will I go? I've tried to prepare as best I can...food storage, water, firearms and ammunition...but the SHTF scenario is a pretty scary proposition for someone like me. I've always joked that my Emergency Preparedness Plan is to NOT survive...and hey, maybe that's what'll happen.

I try to stay positive, try to maintain a semblance of normalcy...and of course need to stay upbeat for my dad because he still "gets" stuff and would worry endlessly, and fruitlessly, since he can't do anything.

I know that getting a handle on the economy and the completely out-of-sight spend-a-thon that the Government's been running for decades, won't be easy by any means...but don't those guys GET ANYTHING??? Are they living in some kind of fool's paradise, where they think they can just keep on doing what they've been doing and have nothing happen??? (Of course, no one in government really has to WORRY about the things that most of us "little people" have to worry about, do they?? Paycheck always on time - even if SS gets cut, or the military's checks get held up...no problems with healthcare, it's all paid for with OUR tax dollars...retirement a piece of cake - they're on the gravy train for life. (Unless, of course, if the gravy train derails...which seems pretty danged likely lately.)

Okay, sorry, rant over. I'll go back to reading up on medicinal herbs and how to purify gutter water...

I can relate to your distress and frustration. Nothing is more difficult to accept than being forced to just deal with whatever or government decides to heap on us. It leaves me feeling that I have worked my entire life for nothing, because I cannot survive in this economy.

After hearing about the possibility that my social security check would stop, I gave up my part time job and went to work full time in hopes of avoiding being kicked out of my apartment or starving. I was extremely fortunate to have a relative who could give an old lady like me a job! My heart goes out to those who are not as lucky, especially those who have children.

This whole sham our government is orchestrating now is destroying the quality of life for millions of people and we will certainly need all the kindness, understanding and support that we can get. Thank you for this thread, OP. I will visit regularly to see how everyone is coping.

Chins up everyone. At some point, we will find a way to take back our rights and our lives.

I just got layed off on Monday. Im busy this week with making resume's and looking for side jobs to get me through. There's money to be made if your creative enough and willing to humble yourself to work your not use to. What makes it hard is when you have 3 kids, wife, credit card debt and a morgage.

For the past two years I have felt like Indiana Jones reaching back to grab my hat before the boulder squishes me. But my "holy grail" is the attemt to remain firmly rooted in the middle class before the wall springs up that makes movement impossible. And that wall, as it is built, is pushing people out of that class. My mom's folks were self made wealthy. My Dad's were working class. We were poor when I was little. My Dad was a self made man and we were very upper middle class by the peak of his career. And me, I am just trying to hold onto it.
I don't have a whole ton of materialistic needs. But I do like security. My heart is breaking for so many who don't have that security right now.
20 percent of U.S. children live in poverty. That is just wrong.

So, I work very hard, and I work every angle. When my focus slips I remind myself that I think the stakes are long term. And then I get back to it.

On the up side.
I think how bad it gets can be up to us to some degree.
Offer a drink to the men working on your road when it's hot.
Smile at your neighbor.
Help and old lady cross the street.

I know it sounds so silly and light right? But it is how it used to be. We used to take that stuff for granted because everyone knew everyone and if you didn't do that stuff people would think less of you. But now everyone has moved from where they were born. They fear their neighbors instead of asking them to pick up their mail if they are going to be away. These are the changes we can make that don't cost money. These are the ways that we can reconnect to the world of our grandparents. These things will make us better people. Better citizens. They will make us happier. And, they will make us more united. And it is harder to take down anything that is united.
My best to all of you as you find your way through these times.

Get your house ready. But be open to helping others. Together is how we will make it through to another golden age.

This is the case all over I think. We moved out to Mexico a couple of years ago for a "better standard of living" as the ork I had (self employed) was constant and promised long into the future.

Shortly after we arrived, the work started drying up, and became patchy. Now I have had to retake work in Europe while the family is in the Americas which leads to longs stints away from home, which isn't good mentally for any of us. But at the moment it is all I can do to keep the boats floating and to still try and achive what we set out to do.

But things down there cost wise are getting mental also. easily now 1:1 if not more expensive than in the US. We went to a street market the other day to get some fruit and veg, the guy on the stall was asking 35 pesos for a curly lettuce. that around $3.00 of 1.90 GBP in a STREET MARKET. it get worse when you go to the local Walmart!!

So the survival bin keeps getting topped up with rice and pulses, canned and long life food. Just for the times when we can't afford to buy fresh, or, its just not available.

If things really go down the swanny next week, i don't know what will happen, but it will be worse than 2008, but the good news is. It can;t last forever. but IMO it;s then up to use to reject whatever fiat rubbish they propose. and I just hope it all back together again by the time my son wants to start looking for a job.

The last time this crap happened it took the second world war to kick start everything. But would that work now in this saturated market? I don't think so. but would it stop then from trying? hmmmm