back in the mid 70s, my stepfather was laid off work and our family of 5 was getting by on my mothers minimum wage factory job and my stepfather's unemployment. my father was so bad about child support that finally the courts had to take it out of his pay....when he had a paying job that is. those times were tough. my parents really tightened their belts, but some money was coming into the house, so it was just a matter of weathering the storm.
right now, i don't feel it the way others do. i think its because i have my job. i think maybe that's the difference. things are going to feel a lot different if one is being laid off of work and not being able to find work. i can see that from what we went through as a family in the 70s. so do i feel fortunate? you bet i do. our retirement may have been hit hard, but as chris said, it should bounce back if we just sit tight. we've always lived below our means, so as long as i have my job, i think we should be OK.
sue
