Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group The Economy and AS

Hey Bill
Yes the economy is playing a big role in the way that I am dealing with everything. I haven't worked outside of home since October so money is an even bigger issue around us now. My home business is still going great guns, but it isn't going to make me wealthy. It is mainly something to keep me from going totally insane while I stay at home.

The area of Appalachia that I live in has been in a bad way for years so I guess that what is happening to the rest of the world is something that we have been dealing with for quite some time. Even at that, we are putting our hose on the market, both becase it is a big, two story house that is becoming hard for me to navigate, and because it is a black hole for utilities. While the wife and I are at that 50 mark in life, we also just want to down size.

Yes there are as many views and opinions about the political side to this problem, but the truth is, it happens. Its the cycle that finanace and politics take on occasion. The mid 70s, the mid 80s, were really rough spots too. Does government intervention help these banks and companies, or just put in a false fix to an already bleeding wound. And where are the governments all of the sudden coming up with this money, and what happens when those notes come due?

I haven't taken to the "End of the World" view that some have. Yes my investments have taken a huge hit. But I am going to try to hang in there, and not make any knee jerk decisions, and let things ride, and see where it all lands. Maybe take advantage and buy up some normally steady investments while they are at rock bottom prices. What else can we do? The banks are screaming that they need money, yet they have all bt shut down lending. and pay nothing for savings and CDs. A business cannot exsist by not doing business. And our economy cannot prosper while businesses are in this locked down state.

Hanging On
Keep Kickin'AS
Chris

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

Hi James,

Thank you for sharing this. I can fully understand what you are saying. I am not on any disability as of yet but I can see where this is becoming a big issue with anyone who is on disability or fixed income. I totally understand that adjusted cost of living for a small amount of disability you get does not do much for a real cost increase of utilities, food and medical costs.

Everyone has a different idea what poverty. Compared to the most of the world, we are very fortunate to live where we can have such things. And I certainly feel like the earlier post, that in this Western part of the world that anyone who has a true need should have the dignity of life by taking care of at the least basic needs such as a place to live, food, and the health care needed help make life comfortable. Unfortunately, it seems like this is a part of the system that gets glossed over.

Although I am still working at this point, I am truly humbled by the cost of my medical care I have had in the past few years. My actual medical costs exceed what I earn each year by a significant amount. Thankfully, my insurance has been covering a lot of it.

James, I do not see anything political about your statement.
I truly feel for you and your situation. And yet you are still keeping positive thoughts about you.
Again, thanks for your input.
Bill

Hi Kim,

I am glad things are going better for you now. Those are tough times when you are down to your last dollar. I know I have been in that position before. I was very concerned because our two kids were young at the time and the last thing I wanted to happen was to have my kids without meals. But fortunately things turned around in the nick of time.

I see you still have sacrifices to make and now with your husband's work is challenged with keeping busy. My workplace also has a major turn for the worse. So far we are going to be systematically laid off for a short time (I hope) just to keep the doors open.

I hate to hear when someone has to stop medications that are needed to help make ends meet. I know there was a string of posts giving places where you might be able to go to get some medication help. I am not sure if you looked at any of those options.

Yes, I think the future will be different from what we all have been used to. Maybe if there is any silver lining from this maybe fewer people will not be as concerned to keep up with the Jones and perhaps this might bring people a bit closer together.
Thanks for you input.
Bill

I am glad to hear you are doing well with your business. I would think this would be a service that would be wanted especially now. I would think the repair service industry would be one area that would shine.
I certainly hope your business will flourish well for you in all times.
Thanks,
Bill

just last night or this morning, i was reading on CNN how the auto repair industry is also doing better.......repairing old cars rather than replacing with new.

sue

Hi Lisa,
Yes, we have been through this downturn economy before but nothing of this magnitude. I know it seems like we are all just holding our breath hoping that no other big thing happens.

Lisa, I sure hope your husband lands the job. That would be something to celebrate and get you back to a normal living. This is a tough time for anyone to find work. I am a bit concerned because of the layoffs we all be having at my workplace. I am in my early 60's and I think it would take me longer even in a better economy to find work. What makes it hard is I feel it unfair to apply for work for a smaller company that offers health insurance because of how much I have to use it. I am in a company of 30 people and myself and a couple of us have been responsible for their insurance premiums to increase significantly recently.
Thanks for your input.
Bill

Hi Bill (ha..my husband's name is Bill)

I know it sure would be wonderful but like I told him and we have been in this position so many times not to get your hopes up...but it's hard not to when you see a salary that would not just pay the bills (which is nice) but I could actually do something like oh Sweetheart this month Im going to put $500.00 in our savings...instead of oh I am going to put $50.00 in savings and then 2 weeks later well gotta get that $50.00 back.

We have 4 children which our 2 oldest girls are married and gone so that helps they are both doing well but we also know that at any time that could change with the economy. Then we have Tori who will be 15 in April and Ethan is 11 so for there to still be 4 of us it is tough at times.

Our church group just went on a ski trip and Tori really wanted to go and it would have been about a total of $500.00 and we really wanted her to go AND we got our tax refund back so we had the money but we had to sit down and tell her that as much as we wanted her to go and as much as we know she wanted to THAT is alot of money and that it was going to have to go to those darn medical bills that we dont really want to pay but we have to. Luckily she is a good girl and didn't take it too hard but these kinds of things are hard when you have good kids and you just cant get it together.

Our church does its mission trips in Ukraine and I would like for me and Tori to go together I think it would be SO awesome for her and for me but it costs around $1500.00 apiece to go, I know we will never have that kind of money...even though it hurts it will be ok.

I feel for you in your 60's because I know how employers sometimes like to discriminate. Bill will be 52 this month and my Dad is 73 and he still has a full time job welding, although we know that any day it could end for him and he would have no other job and no recourse because of his age.

Oh and the insurance...yes I know, we have BCBS but we have a $5000.00 deductible tell me that doesn't suck..lol and Bill told me if I get a new job we will have to buy like probly 2 months of Cobra because if you want the new company to cover all the pre-existing conditions you can not have a break in coverage...I was like great!

It would just be so much easier if we could all just win the lottery wouldn't it?

Keep me updated on how things work out for you, please send some good thoughts our way, we aren't giving up hope yet...lol

Hugs,

Lisa

Hi Bill,
Thanks, and thanks for the pointing out that there is a difference between true poverty, and living in the US within the 'US poverty' levels. There is a big difference between the two. Some parts of the world would consider me as rich, but yet, it is still a struggle to keep head above water (US waters anyways lol).

Take care,
James.

Hi Tamara,
Wow, I am sorry you are in such a tough spot. Yes, the timing is definitely not on your side. I am sorry you were laid off in such a bad time. When will you be having the surgery? I take it that this is something you have to take care of right away. It would sure be a nice thing if you would be able to work things out ahead of time with your future employer but I can see where they would prefer to wait.

Would you still be able to collect unemployment if you have to go into surgery? I hope so.

I sure hope something will work out for you. This is a tough situation.
Bill