Is anyone else here stressing out about the country’s economy???
One of my biggest triggers for eating everything in the house is fear of not having enough money. It’s stressing me out to keep hearing about the stock market being so volatile, banks closing up, and then the government giving money to corporations to bail them out. I know we are living paycheck to paycheck and buying healthy food is getting harder and harder to afford. I coupon shop, buy the reduced meats, yogurt, and whatever else I can. I am trying to add more produce but it’s so expensive! I guess it’s good because we won’t be having so much food around for me to graze on, but it’s very scary! My husband worries everyday that he will be laid off.
My solution is to just take it one day at a time. I do hope I can get a part time job in 2009 to assist with some of the bills around here, and that is a driving force that keeps me motivated to lose weight. Every pound I lose helps my diabetes to get more under control, and I need that to return to work. I go for walks every night and I am seeing more homes in my neighborhood being moved out of and more foreclosures. It just gets to me and I feel sorry for these families. It could be us as we have no savings. So, I am just wondering how you are all handling this and not overeating comfort foods. I am trying to not turn to food for this, and believe me the walks really help! Thanks for listening.
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I am stressed out about the economy, personal, those of my loved ones and national. You live in Apple Valley so you’re in So Cal as well. Yes, foreclosures, business closing shop like no tomorow….I deal with it the best way I know how - to work it out. I exercise to relieve stress and it helps tremendously.
Great job in using walking to relieve stress.
Stacey,
Thank you for your blog. I think this is on the minds of many people…and not just in the U.S.
You are not alone.
Yes. As a matter of fact I am. Currently listening and reading up on all I can about it…Its sooo not a good time for our country in soooo many ways…
Me - no. I’ve been through too many years already of doing without, of having to ask for handouts when things got so bad we couldn’t even pay our electric bill, when I had to ask my MOTHER to refinance a vehicle for us so we could miss a payment before paying a lower amount, of asking our landlord to take half the rent and we’d get him the other half in two weeks, of signing up for foodstamps and medicaid, of eating peanut butter on crackers for three months straight when we lived overseas and couldn’t GET foodstamps…
Now, yes, the groceries have gotten more expensive, the bills are higher, it costs more to keep gas in the tank, but all those years of being flat-assed-BROKE taught me something: God will provide. Even when it looks like there’s no tomorrow, even when you get evicted, even when your car gets re-po’d, you survive and you get stronger.
Rather than being bitter that I never could afford to spoil my kids, I’m grateful that my kids aren’t spoiled. Rather than being sorry I couldn’t go to college right away, I’m grateful I waited until I was mature enough to value the education I was getting. Rather than be angry that things didn’t turn out the way I wanted, I’m grateful things turn out the way God plans. I’ve learned it is possible to “bloom where you are planted.” It is okay to be content even when you’re not entirely comfortable.
Hang in there - it won’t be bad forever! You’re on the right track taking your life one day at a time. It’s all you can do! Sit down and take stock of where you are now, and where you want to be, and figure out how to get there. My solution was to go back to college - it meant more years of hardship and more stress than I thought possible, but the outcome is that I now make enough money that we can pay the bills AND eat every month and my kids have health insurance. We’re not wealthy, we’re still living paycheck to paycheck, but when those emergencies pop up (like Becca’s glasses breaking, or a hurricane coming and we need stuff) we can take care of it without sticking our hands out.
You’re going to be okay! Just don’t forget to breathe.
I have more personal stress than that of the stock market. Mostly I am able to be this way because I am single, I rent my apartment, and I have a fuel efficient car (a grad gift from my parents). My biggest concern money wise is the high heating oil prices. But I locked in for the year back when they were a little lower, and I have a roommate who shares half the bills.
I am still contributing a lot to my 401k (which invests in stocks and such) and am still contributing to my own personal stock portfolio. I am already living below the poverty level, but my company is thriving and my job is secure. It’s sad, but I will actually benefit from this downturn, since I am able to buy all the stocks so cheap right now in the next few weeks/months/years when this gets better and things go up I’ll make money.
I do understand how stressful it is. Since I am within the poverty level I do have to watch what I buy/spend, and I do have a budget. Also, if I did not have a roommate to share the housing costs with I would’ve had to quit my job and move back in with my parents. So I recognize that I’m walking on a fine line.
My personal stress does make me want to eat, and eat, and eat exactly what I want (hence why I had pizza last night). So I’m hoping to follow in khmerbeauty’s footsteps and work out my frustrations at the gym this weekend.
Best of luck everyone!
Yeah, I am definitely feeling the crunch also. My electric bills are like 470 + dollars a month and my food bills have increased significantly as has the price of fuel. Our mortgage is high. It is a scary time and for the first time in a long time I am watching every penny. I wish everyone the best as we navigate through this rough period in our history.
Tell you what Stacey, I’m feeling like that alot lately. We are hardly keeping up on our bills.
We worry too about my husbands job, people that have been with his company have been let go after 25 years of good work. So many are just leaving for other jobs. Were afraid his company will shut down
I used to always turn to comfort food, but now now. Can’t afford to…although I’ve been having this huge Big Mac Craving!!!
Thank you for your blog, it really makes you look at things differently.
One day at a time!!
Hugs
Jane
I think everything that is going on with our country is very scary right now…money is tight for us too…and we cut back on things I never thought I could do with out but you learn real quick what is a necessity and what is not. The best thing about keeping a tight reign on my money is that we don’t eat out hardly at all and since that is one of my biggest downfalls it helps in that aspect as far as a weight loss perspective. If fresh fruit is too expensive you could look for things like canned peaches and pears I know it is not as good but they are still healthy if you don’t eat the syrup and alot cheaper.
Yess! Upset is more like it. Especially since my husband and I own our own small business… we see and feel the effects of it daily. We can only pray that things start to look up and whoever gets into office knows how to help change things around.
I finally had to quit reading the news. Just a few weeks ago I was a news junkie, reading it 10 times or more every day. Finally I realized how stressed I was getting. I’m still worried about it, but no longer obsessing, and have decided to change my lifestyle a bit to try to alleviate some of my fears. I’ve decided to really buckle down and start trying to save some money. I dont drive too much anymore and I walk when I want to go places in town. No more shopping for fun.
I dont nibble on too many foods because, I havent really been doing that great with my budget and I find that we run out of most foods a week before the next payday. I’ll go into the kitchen to forage and find that there’s nothing worth eating in there.
Just saw this. I am tempted to worry, but I know we have been here before, I am like you, trying to just take it one day a time. I do know God will provide, and I trust in that.
It’s so hard I know the US economy is going down the toilet and I’m sure Canada’s won’t be to far behind. We’ve been lucky, our oil sands in Alberta are profitable considering the world price of oil. Things will get better this is a downturn and only temporary. You can improve your county on Nov. 4th!!! Vote and have your say! Today is our election day and I’m on my way to the polls!
Yes I def worry about it. I actually feel guilty when I DO eat knowing that we can’t hardly afford to keep the fridge full at this point. Everything is so expensive, & there just doesn’t seem to be a relief anywhere in the near future. Gas is coming down, so that’s a huge relief! Good luck in the coming week!
I missed this blog somehow but I’m stressed about finances and we live paycheck to paycheck too. I think many people do. Texas is cheaper than CA and it is bad here too. Lucikily I took my stimulus check and bought my house. Not in an upscale neighborhood, but not in the ghetto either. Lower middle of the road. But it’s what we can afford instead of wasting the $1000 on a 3 bedroom apt. I’m trying to invest and get out of debt. The truck is almost paid off and I think I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. That truck payment gone is $400 extra a month. I just downgraded my daycare by $50 a week. And I loved the old babysitter but just couldnt’ afford it anymore and she wasn’t overpriced!
Houses are up for sale all over the place here and empty too. It’s everywhere. I have learned to not go hardly anywhere on the weekends and ride the train to work. I use half the gas a month I used to cause I just can’t afford to use more. I use coupons from “The grocery game” and it helps. Produce…well we buy frozen and the sales. Fruit…sales also and sometimes frozen, depending on what they are used for. Milk is outragous. I used to buy 2 gallons (one fat free and whole for the baby). Thank goodness milk has lots of carbs so I don’t drink it on my low carb and eat cheese for my dairy. It’s just hard. I hope things get better and I am sure they will over time but I want to get a break!!!
Hang in there girl…we’re the little people and the ones that suffer at the hands of the ones in charge.