Is the financial crisis affecting you?

[Starcadia]

The crisis isn't going to affect the public at large, aside from investors and people with retirement funds, for perhaps another 12 months. The economic system is kind of like outer space. The sun could explode right now and we wouldn't notice or care until about eight minutes later. It's kind of like going to the doctor and being told you have cancer. You can go home and say to yourself "well, I feel fine - no worse than yesterday, at least", but that doesn't really quantify the true degree of shit you're in.

Really, Zero? Really? I honestly can't trust anything you say from now on.

If you had a window in your lead lined cave, I'd suggest you stick your head out of it and take a look around. :?

[bearcat87]

The public is affected at large because prices are going up on many things, namely food. Though there are some good deals out there. But when you have had your paycheck cut or lost your job the deals don't matter.

Not to mention all the newspapers that are suffering. The media is a function of checks and balances (although most do a crappy job). The public suffers when fewer institutions can report/discover malfunction within the government.

[TBD]

The crisis isn't going to affect the public at large, aside from investors and people with retirement funds, for perhaps another 12 months. The economic system is kind of like outer space. The sun could explode right now and we wouldn't notice or care until about eight minutes later. It's kind of like going to the doctor and being told you have cancer. You can go home and say to yourself "well, I feel fine - no worse than yesterday, at least", but that doesn't really quantify the true degree of shit you're in.

I agree, with one small change. The public at large won't feel any major effects for a few months, and maybe not the worst of it for a year.

I'm a firm believer in trickle down economics. For good or bad, they both start at the top and hit the bottom eventually.I'm also a firm believer in "shit rolls down hill".

[Starcadia]

Both Ireland and Iceland have already collapsed economically. Are there "people at large" there, or only in other countries? I can even see the "people at large" suffering where I am. The blast of the supernova has already hit America. Perhaps there will be blasts to follow, but from my standpoint, "people at large" everywhere are already suffering major burns.

[Zero]

The party is only just getting started. Obviously there are some who have lost jobs already in a few sectors of the economy and in a few areas most immediately hit, but the worst is far from here, that's all I mean to say. Or, perhaps another way, if it hasn't hit you now, it doesn't mean it won't. If you post another thread like this by xmas this year, expect a lot of different answers.

[bearcat87]

If you post another thread like this by xmas this year, expect a lot of different answers.

Very true. Our answers really also depend on how we define at large, suffering. Lets not let this turn into another title changing thread and hope for the best for all but especially our fellow snusers!

[spirit72]

So far, so good here. I work in telecom, which right now does not seem to be at the forefront of bad times....at least not the one I'm with. But I'm always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Been through two layoffs during this decade already, 6 months each time, and had a daughter during each one, so believe me, I know what it's like.

Then again, in my case it taught us the importance of living within our means and spending less than we make. We rent rather than own(the BEST decision we've made to date, by far), drive used cars, and use credit very sparingly, so that little bit of discipline has paid off for us in a big way as things have gotten bad.

If the worst does come to pass, we can get rid of a lot of luxuries before we're really in trouble.

[Xobeloot]

Here is a run-down of what is happening on my end:

Phase 1: Our 401k match was stopped
Phase 2: All executive management took voluntary pay cuts
Phase 3a: All branch managers took involuntary pay cuts
Phase 3b: All previously mentioned management took additional involuntary pay cuts.
Phase 4a: All hourly employees are currently having to take one unpaid day off work each month (for me, this equates to -$1800 per year)
Phase 4b: (Pending) All hourly employees will have hours cut potentially to 32hr/week (for me, this will equate to -$7200 per year)
Phase 5: (Pending) If all previously mentioned steps fail to offset the amount of loss from our economy, layoffs will begin.

Some branches have already cut hours beyond what mine were cut, and some have gone as far as having to do layoffs. Fortunately, my location is a distribution center and is not in as much pain as some of the non-distribution locations.

My center is currently operating at 70% of what it was bringing in this same time last year.

Very scary times :cry:

I am glad I have as much snus as I do in my fridge, because I do not have any extra $$ to spare right now. That one day a month has pretty much taken away my paintball money which makes me very sad. All I can do is keep on truckin' and hope to weather the storm.

[Jason]

Fortunately, my location is a distribution center and is not in as much pain as some of the non-distribution locations.

Exactly why I am not too worried about my job; the dealership I work at is the only one in the area with a large-capacity warehouse. It is not a "distribution center" per se due to the fact that the inventory is technically owned by us, and other dealers purchase from us instead of ordering from GM or Chrysler. This means that we can charge over cost however we see fit, and somewhat regulate profit margin.

They did lay off a small chunk of people in the beginning of the year, but to be honest, I have to agree with every decision that was made. It sounds like an asshole thing to say, but those people's particular jobs just could not be justified in light of our current situation. We had guys that had capped out in pay and were collecting a commission, but were basically sitting around doing nothing.

[Xobeloot]

Aye.

I see everything that my employer is doing as smart steps to prevent unnecessary layoffs.

[texasmade]

i got layed off bastards...

[Xobeloot]

i got layed off bastards...

No... The military just kicked you out because they got sick of you being at first aid with a fresh case of crabs every other week :lol:

[texasmade]

no...that was because of my busted knee....i worked construction for a couple weeks and they were like all the new guys we have to let you go
****s...and atleast i dont have bears :lol:

[AZSnus]

Big time. I've been out of work for over a month now. I'm trying to get into IT, but I'm competing with people way more qualified than I am. I've done land surveying for more than 20 years now, and I'm tired of it. Luckily there's no civil engineering jobs either, so I don't feel I'm wasting time chasing jobs I'm not qualified for.

Right now the IT field is hard to get into in almost all states. I currently work in IT for the government as a Senior Network Engineer and hold multiple certifications including a MCSE, CCSP and CISSP. I would not give up on looking in the field because the pay is great and no most IT people don't hate their jobs but right now is a hard time to find a job in almost any field.

[GenuineSpirit]

Here is a run-down of what is happening on my end:

Phase 1: Our 401k match was stopped
Phase 2: All executive management took voluntary pay cuts
Phase 3a: All branch managers took involuntary pay cuts
Phase 3b: All previously mentioned management took additional involuntary pay cuts.
Phase 4a: All hourly employees are currently having to take one unpaid day off work each month (for me, this equates to -$1800 per year)
Phase 4b: (Pending) All hourly employees will have hours cut potentially to 32hr/week (for me, this will equate to -$7200 per year)
Phase 5: (Pending) If all previously mentioned steps fail to offset the amount of loss from our economy, layoffs will begin.

Some branches have already cut hours beyond what mine were cut, and some have gone as far as having to do layoffs. Fortunately, my location is a distribution center and is not in as much pain as some of the non-distribution locations.

My center is currently operating at 70% of what it was bringing in this same time last year.

Very scary times :cry:

I am glad I have as much snus as I do in my fridge, because I do not have any extra $$ to spare right now. That one day a month has pretty much taken away my paintball money which makes me very sad. All I can do is keep on truckin' and hope to weather the storm.

Wow, our company is between 3b and 4b with a twist. The company told us not to report for 2 days and are evaluating the 32hr work week. They also said that 1 week a month layoffs may be one of the next steps before longterm layoffs.

Along with this, I just wonder what the price of essential household staples will be a year from now.

(Milk,Eggs,Bread and Fruit)???