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The Recession
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
in General Chat
Is anyone actually feeling it?
Last year I got made redundant so I felt it big time! I've just been offered a new permanent job in the same industry though (after temping as a receptionist for a few months) so I'm back on my feet again.
Apart from that I've not felt it and actually I'm feeling the benefits of the sales in all the shops!
Last year I got made redundant so I felt it big time! I've just been offered a new permanent job in the same industry though (after temping as a receptionist for a few months) so I'm back on my feet again.
Apart from that I've not felt it and actually I'm feeling the benefits of the sales in all the shops!
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Well, I went from consulting to working permanently at a client. Meant a £60k pay cut, which is painful. The market is a bit flat, so getting back into consulting could take some time. It is nice having paid holidays though - first time in 9 years or so that I've had that!!
Apart from that, I've paid off £20k of personal debt in the last 3-4 months (car finance, credit card etc), and so I've certainly got myself in a much better position to ride this out, as my monthly outgoings are much lower. I just have to tighten the purse strings for a bit.
I've been to the sales, but typically have found very few clothes that I actually want that have been reduced, and so have still ended up paying full price on most items. I have found some bargains on cosmetics though, which is good to stock up on.
I've also noticed that there isn't anything i actually want in any of the sales as well.
Annoying, isn't it? Still, it's a chance to go shopping
Up yours Credit Crunch.
And if there is something it's only ever in XS or XXL (at least for men's anyway).
If you're super tiny or super fat, the sales must be great.
sound equipment has gone through the roof in price, i'm finding it hard to get things i need for uni. books seem to be really expencive right now as well. I'm not skint, but as i'm having to shell out a lot more in order to work at home whilst i'm in recovery, i'm thinking of seeing if i can have access to the hardship fund. But so many students seem to be doing the same.
Asides two friends being made redundant- one at zavvi, and she's still working until march, everyone else i know has pretty stable jobs in the police, schools or pubs-they seem to be having a bigger trade than ever, every pub i go into is always packed!
so generally, not really, last year food prices became unbearable for someone on an income of £45 a week, but they have gone down since august...
Although I've been finding it hard to find another part time job after finishing my xmas one
Had to move back in with my dad and currently have 5p and am overdrawn on my overdraft. Wish the fucker was over or I at least had SOME cash.
As for me:
Wages - no payrise since 2006, but it had nothing to do with the credit crunch.
Buying from America - Very good exchange rate in 2008 (£1=$2) but back to normal for 2009.
Buying from Europe - sucks big time! (£1=?1)
Food prices - actually gone up
Petrol prices - gone down (doesn't affect me but I have friends who drive)
Electrical goods - gown down, due to VAT cut.
CDs and DVDs - same.
Gas - The same, but due to go down 10% for me from Feb '09.
Mortgage - I renewed in Sep '08 and it went from £314 to £359. Interest rates going down? My ass!
I'm guaranteed a job back at the arcades in Haven, although I don't know whether I'm starting in February or March just yet. That job will last until mid-November, although I probably won't be there for that long. I have a girlfriend at the moment and things are getting quite serious. I was always planning to move away from home this year, starting afresh in a new part of the country on my own. (trust me to choose the year of a bloody recession to try and do it!) If things go well in my relationship however, it's more than likely that I will be moving to Northern Ireland to live with the missus.
Up until now, one definite upside of the recession for me is that the car has been cheaper to run. Over the summer, it would cost over £40 to fill my car, it now costs about £32 for a full tank. The price appears to have edged up about a penny or two recently, but it's still over 25% cheaper than it was last summer, so I'm not complaining. Food prices also seem to have come down slightly, which is also helpful. I suppose that the people who are best placed to ride out our current economic difficulties would be those with a reasonable amount of money set aside, those who are still in employment and those who have little or no debts.
I'm well-aware that I'm lucky in many ways. I knew several staff who worked at my local Woolworths store which closed at the start of the month. Most of them seem to be out of work now and one is facing a very uncertain future indeed.
Yep, it's true. I am now on £50k + £5 starting bonus, with another £5k bonus if I am still here in 6 months (as of 1st December). We'll see how it goes, as I like to live it up a little, and that was a huge drop to absorb (£3k-4k a month down, depending on number of days worked). :yeees:
I'd say unskilled and people in the construction industry are feeling it the most. There are still lots of jobs out there and it isn't as bad the Great Depression of the 30's, I think the media likes to make it out to be more bad than it is.
ETA: Sales are great, got a tracksuit top and bottoms for £21 reduced from £70. Yeha!
Other than that, 3 pairs of trainers for £70. :thumb:
I'm gonna have to sell my car too, which might be another sticking point.
same :yes:
i work for royal mail at the moment and all of the temp's permanant contracts have fallen through. not only that, they won't give any of the permanant staff their promised pay rises. i was expecting to go this month but thats not happened although some people have gone. i start a new job march 2nd so hopefully, thats a bit more job security for me.
food has become really pricey. toiletries have too
i can't afford anything at the moment so its making everything really hard.