Times, They Are Tough

As we are all well aware, well except Josh, that the job market is reall, really tough right now.

Several corporations are laying off 1,000's, others are mandating week long unpaid furlows and some even longer. Refinancing is in a boom period and wages and hiring have been frozen across the planet.

Housing is shit, GM is dying, and so are your beloved japanese cars companies.

Unemployment strains statewide budgets and restaurants, once an easy out for the underemployed are shutter by the 100's every day.

mom and pop shops are gone, malls are empty, and even plaoff games in professional leagues have vacancy.

So,how is our generation and our TNL brethren holding up? I'm doing fine, savings and investments are stabilizing, but let's be honest, my stock option is shit.

Hanging in there. Steady employment! Predicated on sheer terror!

I can't complain.

I've talked about this before. Low ad revenue has constrained budgets in the media industry, so it's harder for me to get work. I'm still making ends meet, but I miss having multiple articles go up each week.

Even beyond the money (which I never spent when I was making it anyway) I miss being busy all the time. I love my work, and I get very energized by throwing myself into an assignment. I'm thinking about taking on a larger project on my own and seeing where it takes me. I've got something pretty specific in mind, but I'm not 100% sure if it'll be viable just yet.

I was laid off earlier this month after almost six years, given a severance package. The only debt I have is in student loans, but I rent an apartment and my lease is up at the end of May. After the severance money runs out, if I'm still out of work, I can go on unemployment.

What if life were more like RPGs, where you could step outside your town and fight monsters for gold, then travel to the next town to find harder monsters and more gold, and you would always have a place to sleep and food to eat? I was kind of thinking of moving out of the country for a couple of years for a change of scenery, since I have hardly traveled at all, but it's not like Flammie or a warp whistle can whisk me back and forth.

GEARS!

So I'm fine.

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Originally Posted by Frogacuda

I'm thinking about taking on a larger project on my own and seeing where it takes me. I've got something pretty specific in mind, but I'm not 100% sure if it'll be viable just yet.

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I'm always thinking about writing something, and I have a lot of ideas of what might make an interesting book or an interesting series on TNL. If my next job doesn't involve as much writing as my last one, I might try to make some money that way, but with all the writing I've been doing, I don't really mind the break. Also, the majority of practice I've had over the past few years has been very dry and technical stuff, so gotta get fun in my prose again. Thanks to subscriptions, ads, and my friend Paul, TNL will be running all right for the foreseeable future.

I haven't worked since 06, so now that I'm done with school and FREE I've been job hunting. I got a temp job in a law office, and an interview tomorrow, but it sucks ass out there.

I teach music. In Texas. I will never not have a job (short of punching a child in the throat and even then it's possible).

Our area is "shielded" from the "economic downturn" (or so they tell us) and things are about ok around here (not counting investments). Everything is ok except for the constant wind and mud storms. And hail. And tornadoes. and mexicans

Yeah but you live in Texas. Fail.

Money's tight but whatever. I'm smoking more weed lately.

It hasn't been good to me, we'll just leave it at that.

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Originally Posted by YellerDog

Hanging in there. Steady employment! Predicated on sheer terror!

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This is true for about 90% of the country. I'm good, my president, who makes about 3x what I do is 73, so I'm in good shape to pull the reigns. Plus I live on a 40k budget a year and squeak out a bit more than that is untouched savings while putting the rest of my cash into long term low risk investments. My portfolio took a significant hit, over 50, but based on my revised financial agenda, I have stopped the bleeding and posted black numbers since january. Those in the know are well advised to tell you this economic climate started turning sour in Q3 '07, not 6 months ago.

I "work" at a bar. I don't make much, but I get by. In the fall Rebecca goes back to school full time. I have to pick up a day job or we are fucked. GREAT TIME TO BE LOOKING HUH?

I'll teach you how to trade.

I'm a student with grad school still to do, considering going for the PhD straight out instead of my MA then PhD later plan, mostly to put off having to deal with the job market. 4+ years seems more promising than 2. I'll have all undergrad debt paid off by the time I graduate, but bleh, still.

Even as a fucking undergrad it sucks. I work in the single most unnecessary job on campus, and it's the third highest student position for base pay, so I keep thinking we'll get cut. Hoping the student supervisor application goes through since I'd be more secure for next year. It's all a bunch of minor shit compared to you guys losing actual careers though, I can't imagine.

It's not atypical for companies in my field here to have laid off half their staff. So not only is it impossible to find work in my field to start, but now I'm competing against all the desperate laid off people willing to take crap salaries (which I would of course be one of). I'm getting slammed with taxes for being "self-employed", and while I could go back to Oregon, unemployment is like 12% there and I could never get health care.

My only chance right now is that the government funds certain arts projects (including graphic novels and the like), and this is the time of the year to make pitches. Meanwhile, bums asking for handouts on the corner make more than I do (substantially more if you count debt as negative dollars).

Nick, I am sorry to hear about your job loss man, despite not knowing you personally because you blew me off in chi-town ;) I think of you as a pretty good guy. When my ass has time to drive me to mail you RE5, look for some TNL love in the cardboard box man.

I was ready and waiting in Chicago, but you were suddenly in some backwater suburb. I'm here in the city if you want to grab a Pepsi, but I ain't driving to some shithole at the last minute.

Aren't you Mr. Bright Lights, Big City?

Times suck ass right now work wise. The freelance market in NYC is not what it was, companies just aren't making as many, and aren't spending as much on, commercials as they were in the past. I knew it would be hard for some one trying to break into the industry but even talking to some people I know who are veterans of the industry with feature experience and they're having a hard time finding work. So for me I'm just trying to animate new shots of my own, trying to get better, and desperately hoping to break into feature work for a secure job.

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Originally Posted by Nick

Aren't you Mr. Bright Lights, Big City?

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More like No Lights, Big Clitty.

HOOOOOOOOOO

I had to lay off a few guys from my department and I may have to lay more off depending on how things go. I'm not kidding myself into thinking my job is secure but as of now it seems to be. Unless they decide to get rid of my department all together, I should be alright (for now). I know the timing sucks but I'm going to try and make my move to get out of my current company within' the next 2-3 years... I've been here for almost 5 now and don't see much more room to grow.

Nick: I live in Cleveland full time, we have 2 big buildings and one is a jail.

Shin: we had a guy who did commercials FEATURED in superbowl and nba finals ad space apply for a job as a graphic designer for our product manuals last week for about 1/10th of what he was making, I green lighted him for hire but he got a gig at a large sports marketing firm in Cleveland, I was happy for him and ready to eek out money I did not have to employ him as he had 4 kids. Keep your head up man, guys like me are out there looking for talent, just not in big swaths anymore.

Josh: hospitals generally rehire, perhaps you should go that route for now??

Stop talking about you portfolio Biff and get on Gears, now.

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Originally Posted by FuryFox

I'm getting slammed with taxes for being "self-employed",

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Can I just say MOTHERFUCK this practice. I'm really not the kind of guy who usually bitches about taxes, but I don't see why I should have to pay thousands of dollars a year more in taxes than someone who makes the exact same amount as me, just because I'm self employed. Lucky me, I have no job security, no benefits, so clearly I'm living the high life and should have to fork over $3000 in "self-employment tax" on top of my federal income tax. It's really bullshit.

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Originally Posted by Nomi

I'm a student with grad school still to do, considering going for the PhD straight out instead of my MA then PhD later plan, mostly to put off having to deal with the job market. 4+ years seems more promising than 2. I'll have all undergrad debt paid off by the time I graduate, but bleh, still.

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I don't know what your degree will be in, but a word of caution on the PhD route.

As for myself, I work for the G, and cuts are coming for us, too.

The g/f is getting out of law school this summer. That's good!

The g/f has to pass the bar b/4 getting hired. That's bad!

The g/f has an internship lined up getting awesome courtroom experience. That's good!

The internship pays $15/hr. That's bad.

The job market for lawyers is flooded w/douchebags from back East coming West to snag even the lowest entry-level positions.

...

Can I go now?

My wife finishes her MA in September, so I would like to begin my Ed.D, but that might not be possible for at least another year or two. Classes are good so far, but the job market here is such shit that I don't know how long that will last. The government here is going to lay off 30,000-45,000 employees, assuming the private sector will absorb them (LOL), so I'm hoping they all decide to go back to college! :(

I'd like to know what everyone's cutting back on (if anything).

I've canceled my cable and GameFly accounts, and have been doing the Grocery Game.

I don't eat out nearly as much and I don't go to movies at all. Also: no new video games unless they're under $20.

Entertainment is restricted to the library, Netflix, and hanging out with friends. I'm also not buying UFC PPVs anymore, opting to go to the bar and the $5 cover. When summer gets here, I'll be doing simple camping instead of a nice destination vacation.

I bought a bike and ride to work on nice days and have delayed buying a new car until the economy turns around.

Anyone else?

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Originally Posted by youandwhosearmy

It hasn't been good to me, we'll just leave it at that.

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Same here.

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Originally Posted by The_Meach

I'd like to know what everyone's cutting back on (if anything).

Anyone else?

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I've stopped buying anything that isn't a necessity and stopped going out. I've also cut my eating from 5-6 meals a day to 2-3 meals a day.

Everything's great.

I'm buying a scooter tomorrow.

Thursday I'm getting a 10% raise at work.

Friday I'm getting another 10% raise at work.

Getting a house.

The Economy can suck my dick.

im doing okay, im going to college and working, had to move back in with my parents... D:
that aside, ill get by.... hopefully...

I'm in about as good of a position as I can be in.

Halfway through college, my student loans up to date have been paid off, I'm taking time off school, and I don't own hardly anything. I didn't have any job experience other than working menial jobs over summer, so when I was looking for a job I started looking at a lot of places, but I got hired right away by Washington Mutual. Now as the economy gets worse and worse, I hate to say it, but I actually kind of enjoy it. To me, it's just something new, something different. I've always enjoyed when we get hit with huge storms and things get shut down, something about it always excited me, so this just kind of seems like a lengthier version. Plus, I've always lived pretty frugally (nevermind when I was in junior high dreaming about hummers) and my parents rarely bought me anything, so I somewhat enjoy watching everyone get evened out and back into reality.

I do understand that most people got fucked/are getting fucked and I'm sorry to hear about everyone's jobs and investments. But hey, now is the perfect time to drop what you're doing and try something new. What a great time to be an optimist!

My family's been getting hit pretty hard lately. We've cut the cable and land-line phone. Also getting our internet from an unsecured network from the church across the street. We get a few channels on our antennae, but that's hit or miss. Job market sucks ass. NGE got laid off in CA then we moved out here to IL where he was laid off from his job here a week after we moved into our new house. When it rains, it pours I guess. Also, being 8 months pregnant on bedrest makes it hard for me to go out and get a job. [/crybaby]

I'm doing ok, oddly enough. I've got a job I'm good at that pays decently, although I won't be living the high life any time soon. I haven't had to cut down my gaming any, but with XBLA/PSN, Steam specials (and King's Bounty at $10), and the incredibly boring release schedule this spring I'm spending less than ever. I won't be dying rich but I'm not worried about drowning in debt either. I work for the cable company so tv and internet is part of the job perks.

I can also afford movies, but that's helped by an ex-girlfriend who I'm still good friends with being a theater manager.

James

I got laid off the week Lehman Brothers went under (I'm assuming the big wigs at the company I worked out had some investments with them) back in September of last year. I went on unemployment and have been looking for ANY part-time job that would work around my school schedule since then, and have found nothing. I got my last unemployment check in the mail today, but I'm hoping I qualify for the federal extension, but I won't find out for a couple weeks (meanwhile, having a lapse in the checks).

I graduate with a BA in Film in exactly one month, and jobs in the entertainment industry have followed suite with the rest of the country.

Hopefully with the fact that I'll be able to accept (ANY) full time work, I'm optimistic that I'll be able to find a job at the end of May to help pay of my increasing credit card debt.

I could be worse off, but not being able to pay down my credit cards is weighing heavy on my mind.

I'm lucky enough to work in an industry which is almost immune to this kind of shit (people don't stop having kids - in fact, when times are tough, we often see an increase in sales). I'm lucky to have a very stable, well paying job, which I like.

I just bought a house, because the market is so retarded now, and all the stimulus shit our government is throwing at us really made it a no-brainer.

I've certainly learned to be far more frugal in my spending. I'm actually kinda amazed by how much money I was blowing away on useless bullshit. Things are tight at the moment, but I'm getting my bills paid and am even managing to put some dough in the bank.

Bought my house for 300
House appraised at 320
House valued at 195

YAY me

being a consultant, im used to being threatened for work on a moments notice, so this economy situation is no different than any other day job-wise.

my family lives fairly frugally, and we dont keep up with the jonses (even though i have a larger salary than most of the jonses). thanks to good planning, no cutbacks anywhere.

starting in 2006, saw things starting to get out of hand economically, so made a concerted effort to pay off all debt (aside from mortgage) within a years time.

now have 0 debt, squirrel away 30-40%+ of my income, have enough to pay bills and buy toys (having money now is nice as there are lots of deals/investments to be had). also have a sizeable down payment for a new home which hopefully can take advantage of within the next year.

if things go bad, can live off other money for quite some time without worries. as a rule ive always kept 6 months of essential living expenses in a separate account. this has helped with the pressures of the consultant life, and is a nice security blanket in times like this

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Originally Posted by Umbra Flamma

im doing okay, im going to college and working, had to move back in with my parents... D:
that aside, ill get by.... hopefully...

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And you made your first post on the Internet's premiere gaming forum.:p Welcome.

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Originally Posted by Othello Harrington

As we are all well aware, well except Josh, that the job market is reall, really tough right now.

Several corporations are laying off 1,000's, others are mandating week long unpaid furlows and some even longer. Refinancing is in a boom period and wages and hiring have been frozen across the planet.

Housing is shit, GM is dying, and so are your beloved japanese cars companies.

Unemployment strains statewide budgets and restaurants, once an easy out for the underemployed are shutter by the 100's every day.

mom and pop shops are gone, malls are empty, and even plaoff games in professional leagues have vacancy.

So,how is our generation and our TNL brethren holding up? I'm doing fine, savings and investments are stabilizing, but let's be honest, my stock option is shit.

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old.

I'm doing just dandy. I got a nice raise a few months ago and I'm getting more hours because business is up. Huge decrease in gas prices have helped me to better hold onto money as well.

I'm full-time employed and my freelance is going well. I just sent out a bill to one client tonight, which they've been paying readily every time I bill them. Some of my clients are behind on their payments, which is to be expected. But because I do it after-hours it's all gravy. I'm also finding doors opening to bigger companies because they're all looking to trim budgets, and due to my low overhead I'm able to offer the same creative results for much less money (but a lot MORE money from my perspective). There is opportunity in this. I'm also looking to move in the next 3 months. To the same size place, but because the market is a little weaker I can buy in to a nicer place with the same payments. We'll see how it works this year.

I'm finding new ways to expand my business without growing costs astronomically. If all goes well I'm hoping to cut ties with full-time employment and get my business going full-time by the end of the year. (end of the summer ideally) I hope to be sustainable with a staff of 2 (me included).

I have no debt and I haven't put all of my eggs in one basket.

DNG, what kind of consulting do you do?

I am in the consulting field as well, but on human resource/benefits so the fact that all these companies buying each other out actually creates alot of work for us. Laying off people also create work for us (in the short term), as does modifying benefit plans. So in terms of job security, I feel pretty good in this awful economy. But I am not as naive/idiotic as a particular TNLer to ignore the economy and think everything is great just because I am okay.

I scaled back in most of my recreational purchases (Movies/Games/Toys). I had a rental storage unit that cost me about $200 a month, I moved all my shit out last weekend so my living room is now storage. It isn't pretty but that's a big chunk of change saved. Wife is being very frugal in grocery shopping but we don't even want to pay for the Grocergy game, so we just go through the weekly circulars and buy whatever is on sale. I have a budget for lunch spending limited to $100/month. That's not that easy to do in NYC (I would say average $10/lunch), so I bring alot of lunches to work or buy something I can eat for 2 days (yay cheap Chinese food).

Certainly it is not easy in these tough times, especially with a toddler who demands alot of food and toys. I ration out the Xmas gifts to keep her entertained and download alot of chidlren shows instead of buying DVDs. We already cut back on all non-essentials (gym membership, cheapest cell plan, no cable except internet). It is alright, we will weather this and be okay.

Things got pretty hard when I lost my job, I couldn't go back to school for the spring semester. (Though I plan on picking back up this summer.)

I notice it more with the people around me rather than myself. I'm really good at spending money where it counts and saving a lot of it with smart-shopping. People in general need to learn not to waste so much, or to appreciate what they have...realizing this is at least one good thing that can come from this financial stress everyone's under.


My poor mom got it the worse though: lost job, bankruptcy, and looks like shes losing the house this summer.


I manage to pay my bills every month, with a little bit of extra cash, so I don't feel like I should complain. Actually, things should start picking up because I got moved up to full-time at my job and think I'm due for a pay raise. (Maybe now I can save.)

Grocery Game saves me $$$ each trip. The best part is that it tells me when to buy stuff (sometimes store "sales" really aren't that great a deal). Just sayin.

Viral marketer.

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Originally Posted by Rated E

My poor mom got it the worse though: lost job, bankruptcy, and looks like shes losing the house this summer.

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My family went through bankruptcy last year and lost their farm (literally, they had a farm) and house but luckily they still had another house they were unsuccessful in selling that is a nice place and didn't get affected by the whole thing.

Last week my dad lost his job. He's a carpenter so building is obviously really hurting right now. He's staying positive and hoping to get back into restoration, which might be viable even as new construction is hurting. But it's rough right now for sure. I feel worse for our parents' generation that for folks like us who know we will be able to ride this one out eventually.

I'm actually doing okay. I have four job offers to mull over and enough money in the bank to coast until I make up my mind.
I won't be able to collect on a personal loan I made to my brother until his financial situation improves, but that's about the worst of it for me.

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

DNG, what kind of consulting do you do?

I am in the consulting field as well, but on human resource/benefits so the fact that all these companies buying each other out actually creates alot of work for us. Laying off people also create work for us (in the short term), as does modifying benefit plans. So in terms of job security, I feel pretty good in this awful economy. But I am not as naive/idiotic as a particular TNLer to ignore the economy and think everything is great just because I am okay.

I scaled back in most of my recreational purchases (Movies/Games/Toys). I had a rental storage unit that cost me about $200 a month, I moved all my shit out last weekend so my living room is now storage. It isn't pretty but that's a big chunk of change saved. Wife is being very frugal in grocery shopping but we don't even want to pay for the Grocergy game, so we just go through the weekly circulars and buy whatever is on sale. I have a budget for lunch spending limited to $100/month. That's not that easy to do in NYC (I would say average $10/lunch), so I bring alot of lunches to work or buy something I can eat for 2 days (yay cheap Chinese food).

Certainly it is not easy in these tough times, especially with a toddler who demands alot of food and toys. I ration out the Xmas gifts to keep her entertained and download alot of chidlren shows instead of buying DVDs. We already cut back on all non-essentials (gym membership, cheapest cell plan, no cable except internet). It is alright, we will weather this and be okay.

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And this is a great case study displaying the self-fulfilling prophecy the Fed and Barack are afraid of. Even someone who is still as financially strong as he was prior to this crisis as KoF has had his psychology affected resulting in reduced consumption. Now add the multiplier effect to this and you can see how devastating recessions and depressions can be. But good news for those who don't have debt: deflation has made your dollars rise in value against nearly every currency except the Yen (as of the past week that is). Essentially, there is a shortage of dollars. Ignore the Fed's printing of dollars since there is no velocity to that money, there is no inflationary impact yet.

I'm doing well, but could be doing better. I work for an ad monitoring company but it's pretty much dead-end. There's nowhere for me to go and the skills I've picked up there are useless for pretty much any other job. On the bright side, I get paid a ridiculously good salary for what I do. My parents are trying to convince me to stay there forever but I'm already trying to figure out my next step hopefully getting into a lobbying firm where I can earn some really good scratch and influence.

Grad school is on a hiatus. I was going back in September but that's not a wise move financially. Consolidating loans is out of the question for student lenders now and I can't afford to pay it off if I take out more than two. (I already have one right now)

I don't know what else I'm going to do in NYC but I've pretty much set my mind on moving to Washington DC as soon as I've gathered enough experience working in politics. Which reminds me, I really should be contacting local politicians for any positions available.

And you should be coming down and visiting me and rich.

WHERE HAS RICH BEEN!?

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Originally Posted by The_Meach

I'd like to know what everyone's cutting back on (if anything).

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I canceled netlix, I only go out 1-2x a week for dinner (one of the nights is usually pizza), I cancelled my gym membership and I bought an eliptical machine (since it was one of the main machines I used at the gym) which isn't saving me shit right now, but in about 2 years it will be. I stopped buying video games, DVD's, CD's and I won't be purchasing any new musical instruments for a while. I also make it a point to save atleast 10% of every dollar I earn and stopped throwing random shit into the grocery basket.

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

I can't complain.

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This. I've been very fortunate to not lose my job or anything. Actually, our company recently hired some people, so I guess that's a good sign. *knock on wood*.

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Originally Posted by Gooch

And this is a great case study displaying the self-fulfilling prophecy the Fed and Barack are afraid of.

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The problem is that I have to reduce rent my apartments so I am taking less $$ in, reducing overhead is really the only way to go since I am anticipating little to no raise/bonus.

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

I don't know what else I'm going to do in NYC but I've pretty much set my mind on moving to Washington DC as soon as I've gathered enough experience working in politics. Which reminds me, I really should be contacting local politicians for any positions available.

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I don't want to be a piss storm, but I'm just putting this out there. I have a friend that works in this field. Political science degree at UVA, several internships, employed experience working on a few state, local and national campaigns. Smart guy. Since the end of the election, he's spent the last 5 months living with his sister in MD, working as a substitute teacher when he can, and doing work in DC for free when he's lucky. He just got a job, but I think it's a temp job grading tests in Virginia Beach.

Things aren't very good for me, but could be much worse. Going to England for a year probably wasn't the smartest thing I've ever done. I worked there at a telecom company making enough money to not have to worry too much about expenses. It didn't offer me any new experience, but I got to travel around, and that's a good notch on the personal goals belt taken care of.

When I moved back in June I did the typical out of touch "I have a college degree, now I am going to get a job that I want" for a couple months while living at home. Of course, that didn't work out and I spent the rest of the year delivering pizza in a poor suburb with a crime problem.

I moved to NY with my girlfriend in January and was able to find a job through a temp agency at an Invoice Processing Firm for not very much money in a week. Two people do the work that I do (I am at work right now, mind you) that could *easily* be done by one person, but neither one of us tells our rather out of touch managers this because we don't want the other person to get canned. There is very little to do, and I do maybe MAYBE an hour of work a day. But like I said, things could be worse. My parents still cover my insurance and phone bill that I rarely use anyway. I split my studio apartment with my girlfriend on a 60/40 ratio (she makes twice as much money as me), I steal internet at home, I don't have cable or xbox live, I don't go out very often and I cook/make my own lunch as often as humanly possible. I squander my time at work instead of being productive (writing/looking for another job/learning a skill loses to TNL/gchat/wiki), but I manage to get a couple of articles published at a shitty online magazine for $35 a pop each month. So by the end of the day I just sort of go home feeling despondent and lame.

I've always fancied going to graduate school, not sure for what. My BA is in English, which I studied for the writing and language aspect over actual literature. I liked school, I did well in school despite not applying myself as hard as I should have. I don't know what I would get out of grad school, it's likely I would come out and have the same problem I do now and work in a crappy job with a nice degree to use as a coaster at home.

Maybe I should just move into a cabin in the mountains.

I'm going to go get some coffee:

http://cn1.kaboodle.com/hi/img/2/0/0...AAAAAF-SJA.jpg

You guys need to step back into the Joke thread... this shit's just depressing.

i'm doing fine, as long as i can keep my job. maybe 10% of my colleagues here have disappeared since christmas, including a few friends, and NYC is awash with unemployed lawyers right now.

otherwise i'm OK. i was invested pretty conservatively and have actually made money since this economic shitshow began, and i am really close to having 20% to put down on an acceptable apartment in queens or jersey. my girlfriend now makes almost as much as i do now writing about credit protection and distressed debt, which is pretty hopping right now, so she's pretty secure. i figure if i can buy something we could float on one salary in the worse case scenario i could sell her back equity in the property to pay the mortgage. and if i lose my job first i have a pretty decent safety net in my savings account.

but to echo KoF and gooch, i've cut back the spending a lot, without any real pressure to do so.

I seem to be about the same as I ever was. But like Gooch mentioned the prevailing wind has had an effect on my brain so I am trying to consume less. Which would have been a good idea anyways so thank you recession for the awesome catalyst!

it is sort of hilarious that ridiculous levels of unchecked borrowing got us all into this mess and now that people have gotten a little wiser and started saving, that's what's keeping us here

a few months ago I lobbied for quite a hefty raise, and got it. I went from spending $250 a week on gas to $125 a week, and sales at the shop have actually been quite decent. Though there are tons of people selling their shit left and right, and our payouts have been enormous, there are also more people buying shit. Instead of a handful of people buying $60 new games that we make $5-$6 on, a ton of people are buying $15-$20 used games that we make $7-$10 on. Our restock orders have been lowered thus freeing up capital to buy more used shit, which is where we make our money anyway.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

it is sort of hilarious that ridiculous levels of unchecked borrowing got us all into this mess and now that people have gotten a little wiser and started saving, that's what's keeping us here

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Isn't it ironic... don't ya think?

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

a few months ago I lobbied for quite a hefty raise, and got it. I went from spending $250 a week on gas to $125 a week, and sales at the shop have actually been quite decent. Though there are tons of people selling their shit left and right, and our payouts have been enormous, there are also more people buying shit. Instead of a handful of people buying $60 new games that we make $5-$6 on, a ton of people are buying $15-$20 used games that we make $7-$10 on. Our restock orders have been lowered thus freeing up capital to buy more used shit, which is where we make our money anyway.

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I thought you are a part owner of your store? Anyway, seems like selling used shit is where the profit is at.... look at gamestop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The_Meach

As for myself, I work for the G, and cuts are coming for us, too.

The g/f is getting out of law school this summer. That's good!

The g/f has to pass the bar b/4 getting hired. That's bad!

The g/f has an internship lined up getting awesome courtroom experience. That's good!

The internship pays $15/hr. That's bad.

The job market for lawyers is flooded w/douchebags from back East coming West to snag even the lowest entry-level positions.

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your gf is actually pretty well situated. $15/hr is almost as good as crappy temp work now and her experience will be invaluable when this economy turns around...her resume will jump out from the pile of biglaw rejects who spent six months of severance time jerking off.

don't get me wrong, being a lawyer anywhere sucks ass right now, but she could be much worse off.

Addressing Mr. K:

Work goes to those who search hard enough. I realized this when living at home. I was unemployed for six months living off of freelance money because I had a safety net. When I moved out, I worked three jobs to stay afloat. I changed jobs and lost it as fast as I had gotten it, which lit a fire under my ass to find a job. I have the one I'm at now which pays way more than the former job but isn't leading anywhere nor is it what I want to do in life.

If I lost my job or left it, I'd take any job I can until I can get a job where I want to. Seriously, you gotta make your own opportunities happen. Not to sound like an afternoon ABC special but if you're hungry for something you'll get it. I've done extremely well for myself (I make more than my dad) so I honestly can't cry but on the same token I know my talents are better suited for politics and I can make change in it by shopping myself around.

The most admirable part about it Razor is that you're not going to just settle with making more; you have a place you want to go and plan to make it there.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

I thought you are a part owner of your store? Anyway, seems like selling used shit is where the profit is at.... look at gamestop.

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I'm part owner of our spot in Buffalo. Part of the deal was that the boss didn't want to lose me as an employee in Rochester, so I'm sorta stuck here. Still, I make an absurd amount of money basically running a register, and Buffalo has been good to me; though I hate most of it's denizens.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

Addressing Mr. K:

Work goes to those who search hard enough. I realized this when living at home. I was unemployed for six months living off of freelance money because I had a safety net. When I moved out, I worked three jobs to stay afloat. I changed jobs and lost it as fast as I had gotten it, which lit a fire under my ass to find a job. I have the one I'm at now which pays way more than the former job but isn't leading anywhere nor is it what I want to do in life.

If I lost my job or left it, I'd take any job I can until I can get a job where I want to. Seriously, you gotta make your own opportunities happen. Not to sound like an afternoon ABC special but if you're hungry for something you'll get it. I've done extremely well for myself (I make more than my dad) so I honestly can't cry but on the same token I know my talents are better suited for politics and I can make change in it by shopping myself around.

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this is all true, and admirable, but you'd still be swimming against the current. and there's a lot of hungry broke people out there looking for a reduced number of opportunities. you might be better off hunkering down now and keeping the income you got and then taking risks when the job market brightens up. or learn how to bartend so you have something you can moonlight in to keep yourself fed through the lean times in the world of politics.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

Addressing Mr. K:

Work goes to those who search hard enough. I realized this when living at home. I was unemployed for six months living off of freelance money because I had a safety net. When I moved out, I worked three jobs to stay afloat. I changed jobs and lost it as fast as I had gotten it, which lit a fire under my ass to find a job. I have the one I'm at now which pays way more than the former job but isn't leading anywhere nor is it what I want to do in life.

If I lost my job or left it, I'd take any job I can until I can get a job where I want to. Seriously, you gotta make your own opportunities happen. Not to sound like an afternoon ABC special but if you're hungry for something you'll get it. I've done extremely well for myself (I make more than my dad) so I honestly can't cry but on the same token I know my talents are better suited for politics and I can make change in it by shopping myself around.

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this is very true. And it scares me that you know it as you have no business having influence on anything.

One day I'm going to make it a capital crime to misspell words. Then your days are numbered.

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

though I hate most of it's denizens.

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Get ready to ride the lightning, Paul.

Lobbyists should be illegal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

DNG, what kind of consulting do you do?

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IT work. To be a little more specific, architecture of ERP/ECC component solutions (SAP)

Just a clarification, my personal scaling back was started several years ago. This was a lifestyle change that I felt I didnt want to be pressured into due to a situation such as this "recession". Being able to make those choices and do it on my own free will without outside pressure was my goal. Now that we are in a down economy, I don't have to take any drastic measures.

Example, used a health kick to scale back on lunches. That 10 dollars a day was getting out of hand. You will not remember what you ate a year from now, and neither will your stomach. I kinda took it to the extreme for awhile and had tuna fish, green tea, roast beef, salad, and fruit every day for 8 months straight last year. Lunch budget was 2.50 with a monthly savings of ~150. As a bonus, eating lunch while working also lets me get out of the office an hour earlier.

Also started carpooling last May and still to this day do it 3-4 times a week. Not only does this cut the commute time by using a HOV lane, but when gas was 4.00 a gallon, this was saving me another 100 a month. On top of that it cuts down on your vehicle wear and tear and insurance costs due to yearly mileage calculations.

Small things like those can add up over time, it just takes discipline. Hopefully a lot of people will learn about minimizing excess from this downturn.

If I didn't hate the subway so much I would be saving about $150-$200 per month on gas and tolls. Although having that money in my pocket each month would be sweet, I just think about driving to the subway station, trying to find a parking spot, waiting for the subway, standing in between a shit load of strangers for an hour (maybe longer, depending on delays) and then doing this again 8 hours later. Yeah, I don't mind departing with the money in exchange for my sanity.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by icarusfall

Lobbyists should be illegal.

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Would you rather not be able to talk to your politicians? Believe me I know what you're getting at but lobbyists won't go anywhere until legislation is made to ban them from talking to politicians. The best any politician can do is vow not to talk to lobbyists but even your pal Obama fubar'd that one when he hired two former lobbyists into his cabinet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by D_N_G

IT work. To be a little more specific architecture of ERP/ECC component solutions (SAP)

Just a clarification, my personal scaling back was done starting several years ago. This was a lifestyle change that I felt I didnt want to be pressured into due to a situation such as this "recession". Being able to make those choices and do it on my own free will without outside pressure was my goal. Now that we are in a down economy, I don't have to take any drastic measures.

Example, used a heath kick to scale back on lunches. That 10 dollars a day was getting out of hand. You will not remember what you ate a year from now, and neither will your stoumach. I kinda took it to the extreme for awhile and had tuna fish, green tea, roast beef, salad, and fruit every day for 8 months straight last year. Lunch budget was 2.50 with a monthly savings of ~150. As a bonus, eating lunch while working also lets me get out of the office an hour earlier.

Also started carpooling last May and still to this day do it 3-4 times a week. Not only does this cut the commute time by using a HOV lane, but when gas was 4.00 a gallon, this was saving me another 100 a month. On top of that it cuts down on your vehicle wear and tear and insurance costs due to yearly mileage calculations.

Small things like those can add up over time, it just takes discipline. Hopefully a lot of people will learn about minimizing excess from this downturn.

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You're killing me, Smalls.

you better watch it razor, or im not paying you for that extra tree you trimmed

Quote:

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Originally Posted by D_N_G

IT work. To be a little more specific, architecture of ERP/ECC component solutions (SAP).

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Wish I would have known this, I am building a datacenter right now,and we are going to an ERP system for our security and healthcare so specific customers can place online orders (LOL we're behind the times) and it was a fucking miserable mess of epic failure on our bidder's end.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

Get ready to ride the lightning, Paul.

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You make my heart melt with your sexy talk.

He got teabagged by his roomie last night during gears and is still salty about it (literally and figuratively) so beware for a few days.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by D_N_G

Example, used a health kick to scale back on lunches. That 10 dollars a day was getting out of hand. You will not remember what you ate a year from now, and neither will your stomach. I kinda took it to the extreme for awhile and had tuna fish, green tea, roast beef, salad, and fruit every day for 8 months straight last year. Lunch budget was 2.50 with a monthly savings of ~150. As a bonus, eating lunch while working also lets me get out of the office an hour earlier.

Also started carpooling last May and still to this day do it 3-4 times a week. Not only does this cut the commute time by using a HOV lane, but when gas was 4.00 a gallon, this was saving me another 100 a month. On top of that it cuts down on your vehicle wear and tear and insurance costs due to yearly mileage calculations.

Small things like those can add up over time, it just takes discipline. Hopefully a lot of people will learn about minimizing excess from this downturn.

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Well done. I have done the same a few years ago. Stop netflix, stop paying for expensive cell phone plans, or basically any type of "subscription" (including magazines). I can't believe my friend who has TIVO, premium cable, iTunes, various other crap and an IPhone. I don't have any of that crap (and probably never will). I just don't need it. The only recurring "non-essential thing I pay for is a very cheap cell phone plan that they don't even offer anymore, a free phone they gave me (which is on its fourth year), XBL subscription (which I renew every year @ $30) and a couple of import magazines.

Also I am so glad that I don't have to drive everyday, I like the subway system here and glad I only pay $81 to commute a month.

It'll be $125 or some shit next month.

I like my Netflix. I had to downgrade it to 1 DVD at a time and web movies but I watch a ton of movies when I'm at home. I subscribe to GQ and have't reupped my Economist or Time subs yet. I bought an iPod Shuffle for $50 and it's just fine for what I need. What kills me is liquor. I need to stay social and that's just the price of admission. Funny thing is that I have unopened bottles of liquor at home and I still go out to drink. At least I don't spend more than $15-20 a night.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kingoffighters

A plethora of grammatical and punctuational errors.

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Ramon's going to have a field day with that one.

Don't you just wish you could slam some $3.50 six-packs of Natty Bo?

I think we have secured our home, it was a real scare last year.

I lost one of my biggest nights of work, so my income is pretty much halved still.

Im hoping to get a summer job (but chances are that are slim)

So basically, fuck. I gotta spend significantly less like i have been, and try to find any job i can and save like crazy over the summer. I got 1 year of college left, then i have to move to LA city.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

Ramon's going to have a field day with that one.

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If I weren't at work I'd just pour myself a nice glass of 3 Buck Chuck and make an evening of it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Type Ryan

Don't you just wish you could slam some $3.50 six-packs of Natty Bo?

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I'll be in Baltimore next weekend. I'm bringing an empty bag. For what? Natty Bo.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

Ramon's going to have a field day with that one.

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I didn't know I am going to publish my work when I hit the reply button. Nick, please change the "Submit Reply" button to "Publish My Work in New York Times"

KOF, if you're poor now you could do what every other asian does, open a massage parlour!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

I'll be in Baltimore next weekend. I'm bringing an empty bag. For what? Natty Bo.

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It's the best cheap beer on the market. Hands down.

I'm playing a show next Saturday night (late, like around 11:30PM at the Wind Up Space) and Sunday afternoon (Pow Wow Festival), so if you and the cronies aren't up to anything, y'all should stop by.

Natty is a beer that you live on in college but somehow can't stand after graduation. not sure how you fella's can tolerate it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Type Ryan

It's the best cheap beer on the market. Hands down.

I'm playing a show next Saturday night (late, like around 11:30PM at the Wind Up Space) and Sunday afternoon (Pow Wow Festival), so if you and the cronies aren't up to anything, y'all should stop by.

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I'm there from the first to early Sunday morning. I want to convince Destin's mom to make stuffed shells for me. They are phenominal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Othello Harrington

Natty is a beer that you live on in college but somehow can't stand after graduation. not sure how you fella's can tolerate it.

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You must be confusing Natty Bo with Natural Light/Ice. They're two totally different beers. Totally different.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

I'm there from the first to early Sunday morning. I want to convince Destin's mom to make stuffed shells for me. They are phenominal.

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Well, when you're done grubbing on some stuffed shells, and if you guys don't have anything to do on Saturday night, you should come to the show. It's free, so the only cost will be booze.

Natty Bo is up there with Lone Star both I'd drink over a Bud or Miller product any day.

EDIT: Also Dixie.

I don't think I'm going to renew my subscription to Wired even though it's only like $10.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Othello Harrington

Natty is a beer that you live on in college but somehow can't stand after graduation. not sure how you fella's can tolerate it.

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Thank god I own a beer store. All of the good stuff is (somewhat) free. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Othello Harrington

KOF, if you're poor now you could do what every other asian does, open a massage parlour!

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U JUANA MAPY LEN DANG?

that was just terrible.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Some Stupid Japanese Name

Still, I make an absurd amount of money basically running a register, and Buffalo has been good to me; though I hate most of it's denizens.

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Paul forgets to mention that his store is in the only flea market in the city which attracts all of Buffalo's finest citizens that like to purchase only used wares. :td:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by B-Ri

I think we have secured our home, it was a real scare last year.

I lost one of my biggest nights of work, so my income is pretty much halved still.

Im hoping to get a summer job (but chances are that are slim)

So basically, fuck. I gotta spend significantly less like i have been, and try to find any job i can and save like crazy over the summer. I got 1 year of college left, then i have to move to LA city.

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so basically my backup plan of being a photographer is a bad one

Well, I recently got a 30% raise so I have never been better