Economic Crisis

In a society where many people are trying to keep up with the Jones's the economic crisis is hitting people hard. Budget cuts are happening every where and people are getting laid off every time we turn around. People's houses are going into foreclosure because they can't make their monthly payments. Banks aren't able to give out loans to every Tom, Dick and Harry that applies.

We too have felt the ill effects of the failing economy. As someonne that works in the social service field and is married to an educator we know all too well how the failing economy works, as these fields are usually the first to take the cuts in Kansas. We are grateful that we both continue to be gainfully employed.

We are not a wealthy family, and never will be, we live comfortably, but that is because we (mostly Ryan) have worked at it. We live in a modest 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house (that I refer to as a cracker jack box), that will be paid off in six years. We have never purchased a new vehicle and we always pay our vehicles off within three years. I actually drive a car that has over 187,000 miles on it, although she looks like a derby car, she faithfully gets me to and from work. We have the cheapest cell phone without all the fancy bells and whistles and we have the most basic cable offered. We do not use credit cards unless they can be paid off the next month or we get 0% financing and we have it paid off before that ends. Our savings accounts, IRAs and Madelyn's college are always paid first.

I'm sometimes envious of people that have the huge houses, fancy vehicles, cell phones with all the bells and whistles and other cool toys and gadgets. I look at them and wonder how they are doing it when I know that some of them make the same or less than us. Then I'm reminded that we are not the norm, we are a small majority of Americans that live within our means. It is sometimes hard to swallow when people have all the fancy, cool stuff but can't afford to pay for it and that is one of the causes of the current economic crisis. Too many people live beyond their means and too many people rely on credit to live. The economy was bound to take a plunge eventually. I just hope it doesn't bring us down with it.

.......Stepping off my soap box.