How's your economic situation?

[swirling_vortex]

Hey all! I'm just wondering how we're all weathering the economic storm in 2011. For me, I've been lucky that I've been able to land a full-time position after graduation, but I have to be there at least 50 hours a week. I guess I was just spoiled with the free time I used to have in college, but I can't read as much Mises now as I used to be able to do.

 

[torchbearer]

making more but have lower standard of living.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

Self Employed. My business has reached it's market capacity only in the last year. I am actually just hitting my stride. My tax returns still show me as a pauper, but the reality is I am asset rich, just cash poor. My employees get consistent paychecks despite being partially commissioned, and once I've got a healthy cash safety net built up, I'll be able to offer benefits.

 

[pcosmar]

Surviving.
I own my home and land, But am unemployed.
My wife's income is at poverty level.

God provides and we survive.

 

[Travlyr]

If I was to try and work, then I would be looking at fines and possible jail time for carpentry services or hauling using my truck. It's not worth it for me. I refuse to take a government job, and I refuse to work for the corporatocracy only because I don't have too to survive. If I offer my services to the public, then I must buy licenses, permits, and pay the piper the ransom they demand. Employees are too expensive and as an employer I become responsible for them... which I was quite willing to do in the 80's and 90's, but I learned my lesson. I do recognize some opportunities available that the powers-that-be may not be able to detect my income. I may try the underground route. However, I refuse to earn and report income so that the illegitimate rulers can buy more drones for surveillance or killing purposes. F'em.

 

[torchbearer]

If I was to try and work, then I would be looking at fines and possible jail time for carpentry services or hauling using my truck. It's not worth it for me. I refuse to take a government job, and I refuse to work for the corporatocracy only because I don't have too to survive. If I offer my services to the public, then I must buy licenses, permits, and pay the piper the ransom they demand. Employees are too expensive and as an employer I become responsible for them... which I was quite willing to do in the 80's and 90's, but I learned my lesson. I do recognize some opportunities available that the powers-that-be may not be able to detect my income. I may try the underground route. However, I refuse to earn and report income so that the illegitimate rulers can buy more drones for surveillance or killing purposes. F'em.

i've been full blown agorist for awhile.
my business is my business.

 

[Icymudpuppy]

If I was to try and work, then I would be looking at fines and possible jail time for carpentry services or hauling using my truck. It's not worth it for me. I refuse to take a government job, and I refuse to work for the corporatocracy only because I don't have too to survive. If I offer my services to the public, then I must buy licenses, permits, and pay the piper the ransom they demand. Employees are too expensive and as an employer I become responsible for them... which I was quite willing to do in the 80's and 90's, but I learned my lesson. I do recognize some opportunities available that the powers-that-be may not be able to detect my income. I may try the underground route. However, I refuse to earn and report income so that the illegitimate rulers can buy more drones for surveillance or killing purposes. F'em.

i've been full blown agorist for awhile.
my business is my business.

Good for both of you.

I am a franchisee at the moment, so going off the register currently would violate my franchise contract. 1 more year above board. We'll see what Ron is looking like after Super Tuesday. If he gets the nomination, I'll stay plugged in. If not, I'll go to my employees and we'll make a decision together.

 

[MelissaWV]

I still have a regular job (been there over a year), and an additional income from my proofreading projects. Most of my money goes directly to family-related obligations like getting my parents out of credit card debt. There is also, sadly, a mortgage on this house and a loan out on the car (though not much of one; I've paid that down a great deal, too). That being said, it is a nice house in a promising neighborhood, a safe car that's been quite reliable, and a pair of niche jobs that I enjoy most days.

I still spend about the same on groceries every week, I still cook most of my food from ingredients I can easily recognize and trace, and I still don't have a bunch of gadgets or gizmos to occupy my time and wallet.

 

[oyarde]

About the same as ever , I guess ....

 

[Tunink]

I sell printing presses internationally, but prefer to sell them here in the US.

I have sold a few this year, but the business I work for is struggling. I think it has more to do with the management of the company than the actually lack of sales.

The printers that I have been talking to recently are very, very reluctant to do anything at all, most are just hanging on to their money and waiting to see what's going on.

All in all, the industry is booming everywhere but here.

*Edit- My personal income has fallen by a significant margin*

 

[CaptUSA]

I've never made more money in my life than what I'm making right now. That being said, I've never had less of a security blanket, either.

The out-go exceeds the income.

 

[JackieDan]

Pretty good. Got zero debts, I have a good income and I attend university.

 

[ctiger2]

I run a small business and sales are down 60% since '08. I can still make it, but if it gets worse I'll be in trouble. Business is overall very erratic.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

As y'all know, I got laid off a few weeks ago. Jobs have all but dried up in my area, and there are at least 2 people vying for every open position. Working on mastering Russian so I can freelance as a translator.

 

[Working Poor]

I live a simple life walk a lot, write a lot play a little music. Keep smiling.

 

[Johnny Appleseed]

Lost my 20 year job to the Mexicans the house of 13 years to Wells Fargo the wife of 22 years to some other guy and couldn't be happier. "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Lost my 20 year job to the Mexicans the house of 13 years to Wells Fargo the wife of 22 years to some other guy and couldn't be happier. "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

Now there's a trend I've seen a lot of. Our society has changed such that it is much easier for women to find and retain jobs. Men end up out of work, and some women find that to be grounds for dismissal (of their spouse).

 

[Philhelm]

Now there's a trend I've seen a lot of. Our society has changed such that it is much easier for women to find and retain jobs. Men end up out of work, and some women find that to be grounds for dismissal (of their spouse).

I'm glad someone brought this up. I've long held that we are heading into a disastrous social period. Having perused the online dating world, I noticed that one of the things that many women state in their profiles is that the man must be employed, have a house, car, etc. My thought is that they are coming across so many unemployed men that they feel the need to include that.

As we have it, more women are attending college, and for the first time there are more women in the workforce. However, there is still a majority of people who believe that men should be the bread-winner, should pay for dates, pay child support, etc. How is all of this going to be possible when men are crushed beneath the boot of feminist bigotry?

As for myself, I got back into the workforce (yay!), and while I make well above minimum wage (yay!), I'm forced to live with my family (boo!). Meanwhile, people on foodstamps and welfare have nicer things than I do it seems (boo!).

 

[Krugerrand]

I'm glad someone brought this up. I've long held that we are heading into a disastrous social period. Having perused the online dating world, I noticed that one of the things that many women state in their profiles is that the man must be employed, have a house, car, etc. My thought is that they are coming across so many unemployed men that they feel the need to include that.

As we have it, more women are attending college, and for the first time there are more women in the workforce. However, there is still a majority of people who believe that men should be the bread-winner, should pay for dates, pay child support, etc. How is all of this going to be possible when men are crushed beneath the boot of feminist bigotry?

As for myself, I got back into the workforce (yay!), and while I make well above minimum wage (yay!), I'm forced to live with my family (boo!). Meanwhile, people on foodstamps and welfare have nicer things than I do it seems (boo!).

I started dating my wife of 5+ years while I was unemployed.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Lost my 20 year job to the Mexicans the house of 13 years to Wells Fargo the wife of 22 years to some other guy and couldn't be happier. "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose."

You don't realize the weight until it's gone.

Just as government boils us slowly, like the proverbial frog, so does debt, work, social obligations and all the rest.

Before you know it, you're nothing but a barely tolerated slave, both at home and on the streets.