Global recession - Has it affected you? (It's not THAT boring!)

[Boneasse]

As most of you might know, in the end of 2007/beginning of 2008 the world was hit by a great recession.[footnote]In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity over a period of time for more than two consecutive quarters.During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way. Production, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment, investment spending, capacity utilization, household incomes, business profits and inflation all fall during recessions; while bankruptcies and the unemployment rate rise[/footnote] A rapid decline in the global economy has caused a tremendous debt for many countries as well as a rapid growth in unemployment.

However, that's not what we're going to talk about since it would bore most people to death!

What we are going to talk about (if you want to) is how the "economical disaster" has affected you;

• Lost a job?
  Can't find a job?
  Gone down in pay?
  Buying cheaper groceries?
  Can't buy pizza as often as you used to?

And so on and so forth. The above are just a couple of set examples, though you may have been affected in some other way.

Or, perhaps, it hasn't affected you at all?

 

[Nimcha]

As a student, I haven't noticed much. Although, because the government is cutting in their budget, they are going to take away my student benefits.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

It's made finding a job hard, when even over-qualified people are hunting for entry-level positions in retail against me.

 

[Boneasse]

As a student, I haven't noticed much. Although, because the government is cutting in their budget, they are going to take away my student benefits.

They're considering it here (Denmark) too, though it's "only" aimed at students 18-19 years old who still live at home. Still, it is rather weird to think about.

 

[Armored Prayer]

Its a lot harder for me finding a job. Lots of people both experienced and first timers are all scrambling for the same jobs. Meanwhile the retail stores are trying their best to conserve money buy not hiring many employees.

Its been tough for me, I've been searching for a job in my area but it seems like no one wants to hire and those who do are clogged up by people.

 

[RobCoxxy]

Unable to find work. My childhood bank acocunt (annual interest of £58 - which was nice) had the interest drop to SIX POUNDS.

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

Well, my mum and I are seriously ill and live off of governmental benefits. Plus, my sister is in the middle of going through college.
Yeah. We're pretty fucking heavily affected.

We're going to be pinching pennies even harder than usual in the coming years.
I'm just hoping it doesn't get back to like it was when I was a kid. Missing meals some nights simply because we can't afford the food.
I don't think it will get that bad. But I'd be lying if I said I don't worry about it a little bit.

 

[Tdc2182]

Not much for me.

My life was honestly much worse off a few years before the disaster. Now my parents and I are living rather comfortably. Finding a decent job is next to impossible though, and seeing how I move out in 6 months, I need to get my ass moving.

 

[Boneasse]

Well, my mum and I are seriously ill and live off of governmental benefits. Plus, my sister is in the middle of going through college.
Yeah. We're pretty fucking heavily affected.

We're going to be pinching pennies even harder than usual in the coming years.
I'm just hoping it doesn't get back to like it was when I was a kid. Missing meals some nights simply because we can't afford the food.
I don't think it will get that bad. But I'd be lying if I said I don't worry about it a little bit.

Damn dude, that sounds pretty bad. I hope you work something out!

 

[unicron44]

My grandfather used to work in the banking industry and had a lot of stock but didn't get completely destroyed. He was troubled at first, but he's good now.

My immediate family wasn't affected in the slightest. My parents can easily afford to send my brother to college and we still live comfortably. Personally I've tried to find a job for sometime now, but teenagers are struggling to get jobs. I'd rather someone who needs the job have it than me.

 

[Thedayrecker]

Can't find a job, don't go out to eat that much (although, I've become a vegetarian, since the begining of the recession, and the last time I went out I noticed there was only one item, on the menu, without meat, so it doesn't matter), and last Christmas, my family got squat.

 

[The Maddest March Hare]

I'm a student. I am, as it were, in a constant state of recession, repression and depression. And many other essions too, I'm sure.

The above are almost all caused by the wonders of the new "coalition" government. I was going to make some crass joke about how Clegg does despicable and demeaning things for Cameron, but the very fact that Cameron is clearly the only person doing anything to run this country means Clegg is more demeaned than I could ever make him out to be.

Fuck you, conservatives and you student tuition fee hike.

 

[Kevlar Eater]

Yep, the recession has affected me a lot, as it's basically impossible to find a job in my area. Hell, there are people as old as 80 that are returning to work because of this recession.

 

[Firoth]

It took me a year after graduating college to get a job, and the only reason I got it was because I made a good first impression and my employer knew that since I am new to the workplace he could hire me cheap.

BUT, now, because business is so slow we might be seeing cutbacks in hours at work, so...yeah.

 

[Hand-E-Food]

I have been completely unaffected. If anything, my mortgage repayments dropped.

1. I stayed gainfully employed. Work is hiring more staff.
2. My wife had options of which new job to take.
3. I received standard pay raises, at least CPI.
4. Grocery prices have gone up. I'm making more of an effort to get to a market to buy groceries.
5. Again, I'm trying to eat out less, but that hasn't really been happening.

I think a lot of it has to do with being in a niche industry, and not borrowing too much for cars and a big house.

 

[funguy2121]

I just started receiving unemployment benefits (one of the numerous things President Obama saved from being gutted or thrown out altogether by caving to the Republicans and extending the Bush tax cuts for everyone for 2 more years). In the next 5 weeks I will get caught up on my car payments, manage to keep my phone and probably internet on, and keep my apartment. I'm currently getting food from multiple charity food banks and buying as little groceries as possible.

But my situation is nothing. A friend is facing unemployment, foreclosure and divorce, and he has a kid less than a year old. Know it or not, the recession probably has an impact on you.

Oh, I forgot. No one will hire me. I graduated from a nursing program and everyone wants experience. Everyone else knows I won't stay if I get hired in my field, and even if I lie places like McDonald's and Starbucks don't want to hire someone so obviously overqualified.