this ecomomy effecting you?
 

How is this crappy economy affecting you guys? I have noticed that I am noticeably slower at the office and folks are pretty stingy about spending money, even on their health. Y'all feeling the effects yet? If not, do you think you will at some time? Misery loves company.

Gas prices aren't fun since I drive about a hundred miles away. Stock market drop doesn't scare me, all my stuff is in it for the long term.

Price of groceries is bearable but noticeable.

That being said no big ticket items planned for a while.

I'm just glad I was smart enough to pick a fixed 15 year rate for my mortgage a few years ago. It's comforting knowing you're locked in.

I try to buy all my pop at aldi's and my snacks there too. try to limit my spending on food too 2 or 3 dollars a day. I googled natty light to see the cheapest beer in town

twelve pack of miller light is like 9 bucks. I am switching to keystone light

Yes, it is affecting me. Been driving an old 89 Honda Accord that I bought for my son to drive when he gets his license in January. Much cheaper on gas than my 03 F150.

what was good money last year aint good money this year. gonna have the goverment bail me out soon.
time to do the things i know how to do when things are tough.

Well, my wife's about to be out of a job again. The place she works is closing the end of next month. At least we got some advance warning this time.

Unless she finds something else quickly, it looks like going to the KU/MU game this year just went out the friggin window. :mad:

I've started bringing lunch instead of eating out everyday. That, coupled with giving up Starbucks, can save several hundred dollars per month. Other than that, we're eating out less and just generally watching what we spend.

Bitter beer face come on down!

http://media1.break.com/dnet/media/2...-beer-face.jpg

i've guzzled so much whiskey over the years. I can't taste anything anymore. Just hot or cold

:mad:

i've pared spending recently, but just as good policy not in reaction to the economy. commuting on two wheels makes you forget to even look at the gas prices for roughly the part of the year that is baseball season

Ad sales for the convention shows I build have been abysmal.

I'm with frazod on the 'no dining out' mandate, although it was initially for health reasons rather than fiscal. But it's definitely easier on the wallet. This is day 17 of the no fast food plan.

sadly miller light is alittle to steep if i am drinking cheeply. I bought a 20 pack of boulavard bottles I about had a heart attack when she ran it up. I even said "no i am just having one" The shit that gets you is the small shit. the pop at a restaurant, the extra side at popeye's, the happy ending at the massage parlor

I didn't go out out to the bars this weekend which is hard for a young stud like me, that right there if i don't go out friday or saturday is 40 dollars a week. Thats the thing that kills me is I work hard so I feel the need to go out bawling on the weekend that is usually 50-60 dollars a night :( I am an idiot. thats drink and cab though :) and dancing like a player

Maybe its time to start makin moonshine and having parties at your place.

You have a recipe for moonshine?

no

I googled it. Pretty easy to make I guess. I have a good place to do it, but I hear you could basically run an engine on the stuff, yuck. But hey, you do what you gotta do.

I've had to liquidate my sow herd, 1500 sows gone, the rest of the hogs are leaving at the tune of about 500 head per week, at the end ov November I'll be cleaned out. Thankyou Ethanol!

I'm not sure.

I'm in the first year of my own business in a tough field, and I'm surviving year 1. If this is as tough as it gets, I'll be here at the end of year 2 and ready to make coin year 3.

In the mean time, I've got 2 side jobs, one goes to me the other all goes to a playground fund locally.

I've got 4 guys working on my house now, and just left the lumber yard to order more.....

Its tougher now, but we're doing fine.

If it gets tougher, I'll pick up more side work, and do less donation of time and money.

I hope Midnight Vulture is okay. If he was forced to sell his bike, then he can't get any chicks.

hog farmer

this post is for you...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/09/16/abu....ap/index.html

WASHINGTON (AP) -- An undercover video taken at an Iowa pig farm shows workers hitting sows with metal rods, slamming piglets on a concrete floor and bragging about jamming rods up into sows' hindquarters.


The pork industry and a Hormel spokesperson say animal abuse is unacceptable and not the norm.

On the video, obtained by The Associated Press, a supervisor tells an undercover investigator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals that when he gets angry or a sow won't move, "I grab one of these rods and jam it in her [anus]."

The farm outside Bayard, Iowa, about 60 miles west of Des Moines, is a supplier to Hormel Foods of Austin, Minnesota. PETA wants to use the results of the investigation to pressure Hormel, the maker of Spam and other food products, to demand that its suppliers ensure humane treatment of pigs.

Hormel spokeswoman Julie Henderson Craven on Tuesday called the abuses "completely unacceptable."

The animal rights group also planned to send the video to the sheriff in Greene County, Iowa, seeking prosecution of 18 people on animal cruelty violations. According to PETA Vice President Bruce Friedrich, the video shows eight people directly abusing animals.

"Abuse on factory farms is the absolute norm, not the exception, and anyone eating factory-farmed meat is paying to support it," Friedrich said.

After getting a whistleblower complaint from someone inside the farm, PETA sent two undercover investigators to be hired at the farm and document its practices -- one from June 10 to September 8, and the other from July 23 to September 11.

At one point on the video, an employee shouts to an investigator, "Hurt 'em! There's nobody works for PETA out here. You know who PETA is?"

The undercover PETA investigator replies that he's heard of the group.

"I hate them. These [expletives] deserve to be hurt. Hurt, I say!," the employee yells as he hits a sow with a metal rod. "Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! Hurt! ... Take out your frustrations on 'em." He encourages the investigator to pretend that one of the pigs scared off a voluptuous and willing 17- or 18-year-old girl, and then beat the pig for it.

Records at the Greene County Assessor's Office show the property was owned by Natural Pork Production II LLP of Iowa until August 18, and then was transferred to MowMar LLP of Fairmont, Minnesota.

Lynn Becker, an owner of MowMar, called the abuses on the video "completely intolerable, reprehensible. We condemn these types of acts. If any animals were abused in the brief time we've owned the farm, if we still employ these people, any attempt will be made to investigate and initiate corrective action immediately."

Becker said his company provided animal welfare training to the staff when it took over the farm.

Natural Pork Production II referred questions to AMVC Management Services, which managed the farm under its ownership. Mark Jones, AMVC's network manager, said the video showed "unacceptable practices" and that his company is working with the new ownership to investigate.

Craven, the Hormel spokeswoman, said the farm became a Hormel supplier only after the change in ownership, and that MowMar "shares our commitment to animal welfare and humane handling."

"We expect all current suppliers to adhere to the proper animal handling standards from day one and continue to do so throughout our relationship. We are working with our supplier to ensure this activity is no longer taking place," Hormel said in a statement on its Web site.

Craven said it was her understanding that the abuses took place before the change in ownership. But PETA's Friedrich said the abuses continued, and that the new manager abused animals by shocking and kicking pigs.

Dr. Jennifer Greiner, a veterinarian and director of science and technology at the National Pork Producers Council, said the industry condemns "willful abuse" of pigs and that the video depicts acts that are not acceptable.

"Our industry is committed to handling pigs humanely," she said. "My industry is full of good people."

At one point in the video, workers are shown slamming piglets on the ground, a practice designed to instantly kill those baby pigs that aren't healthy enough. But on the video, the piglets are not killed instantly, and in a bloodied pile, some piglets can be seen wiggling vainly. The video also shows piglets being castrated, and having their tails cut off, without anesthesia.

Temple Grandin, a leading animal welfare expert who serves as a consultant to the livestock industry, said that while those are standard industry practices, the treatment of the sows on the video was far from it.

"This is atrocious animal abuse," Grandin said after PETA sent her the video. But she disagreed with PETA's contention that it was widespread in the industry.

"I've been on many good farms, and the pigs are handled gently," she said. "This was blatant, deliberate animal cruelty. These people are sick. They need to be prosecuted. There are certain people that enjoy hurting animals and they should not be working with them -- period."

One of the PETA investigators, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his ability to do further undercover operations, said there was a culture of violence on the farm, and working there was an emotionally and physically exhausting experience that typically involved working 12-hour shifts and walking 15 miles a day.

"So many times, it took all of my willpower not to step up and do something," he said, adding that he also saw the supervisor shove a cane into a sow's vagina. "I was just shocked. What do you say to that?"

ROFL

I need to sneak more alcohol into bars when I go out the problem is I drink beer or have to have liquid coming in my dry mouth at all times. I just need to fill a ziplock bag full of whiskey and poor it in my mouth on the dance floor.

I work for the government...so I'm not worried about layoffs at least...

...we are driving my car instead of the wife's jeep. That's the biggest difference. And we don't go out much.

Yes and it Sucks!!!!111ONE!!11!!

I work in the flooring business and we're definitelely down from the past few years. The builder business is way down, the retail business slightly down. At the end of the year my income won't be much lower than last year. Problem, though, is the money isn't worth as much. Gas, groceries, clothes - the dollar just doesn't go as far as it did before.

What worries me more than my income is the income of the company I work for. We're a small business, about $4M a year, and the cash flow just isn't as good as it has been in the past. We got burned by some builders who haven't paid us and we've gotten behind with some of our vendors. Right now we're ok but the slow winter months are coming. It will be a challenge.

I shudder at the idea of drinking Keystone Light.

PETA Does suck.


I hope the economy cuts down their "dumbass" budget.

AGREED! At the same time, animal abuse is intolerable.

Agreed.

Having raised hogs when I was a kid...I can understand the desire to beat a hog one in a while. They can be huge assholes.

Knowing too many people that work in the industry as laborers....I can understand how it happend. Lets face it, its not always societies "most desirable" that herd hogs and powerwash for you guys.

I just started a new job after closing my business down a little over 3 months ago. I found out from my supervisor in a very hushed tone that we're laying folks off next month. Obviously, I'm not going to be included, and I've had to fire people before. It's weird though looking all of these people in the eyes right now after building relationships with them for the last few months and knowing that for some of them, their world is going to be turned upside down in less than 30 days and they don't even know it's coming. It sucks. I better get back to work.................

Yep. 401a with 100% employer contribution to 401k with an employer match.

i've cut tails and balls off a lot of pigs, but never doped them up first. is this new?
sec

Thanks to PETA, things are headed that way. Not yet mandatory. I'm ready to call it quits. They even get upset when you put lipstick on a pig now!

My grandfather was a dairy and feeder farmer for a long time. He had one Black Angus Heifer on the farm and she always had problems feeding her calves, she wouldn't do it. So once my grandfather took her and the calf in the barn to force her to let the calf suckle. I remember him taking a 2x4 and beating her across her snout to force her to feed the calf. I don't remember if it worked but I was horrified seeing my grandfather, the calmest man I ever met, beating this heifer. He told me it didn't hurt her, I didn't believe him.

My fiance works for her father who owns a custom home construction business. She is the sales and marketing department manager as well as human resources...basically she does most of the office work/client relations.

Anyway, their business has been in a slow death for the last 6 months. They finally sold a house yesterday, but it is tough going right now. She is not bringing home commissions so our income isn't as good as it could be. Her base salary is about what I make as a 7th year teacher. To cope, I drive her hybrid to work (45 minute commute) and she carpools or drives my GMC Sierra (15 minute commute) to work. We don't go on any long trips if its at all possible and eat at home as much as possible, though we still like to go out once in a while.

The thing that is frustrating for me is that I am someone who likes to pay ahead on my debt rather than pay just the billed monthly amount. I can't do that right now with gas prices the way they are and now of course groceries and such going up. I sure hope there is relief in site, but I'm not holding my breath based on what I've seen recently.

We got rid of my wife's minivan and got a car with much better gas mileage. Besides that, we're cutting down on eating out and things like that.

Whats wrong with the economy?

I mean, Bush is the president, he looks out for the best interests of the everyday american family.

/sarcasm off

**** that. im gonna butcher me a hog sometime early nov. its been along long time. gonna get me some hogs in spring. i figure might aswell.

oldtimers have there ways about them.

I have made adjustments in habits. I bring lunch, car pool, and do more fun things that don't cost money(camping, rock climbing, bike riding, etc). I have also in the past 5 years seen pay raises in 25%, 15%, and 10%. I am debt free except for the note on my car and house. I bought a house as a first time homebuyer at near bottom market prices, got a 100 percent fixed 30 year mortgage and got the lender to pick up the PMI. I walked into closing with nothing and walked out with a house and a check. While I don't make a ton of cash between 75-100k, I have done well in recent years. I am also now a Bronco season ticket holder.

Try getting a job with zero experience as an accounting graduate with an emphasis in finance. Yeah, the economy is making me depressed.

Wow, that is the saddest story yet.

Condolences

Things will get better, keep your spirits up.

Our business has definitely taken a hit over the last 6 months,unfortunately some business owners think when times get tough that's the time to reel in on their advertising when it should be the opposite.I've got local restaurants that are complaining about business and yet their not willing to put out a decent coupon when the trend nationally with the "big boys" is just that.I've even heard the likes of Ruth Criss's on the radio recently with dinner for two specials.

Overall,it's getting very interesting being in outside sales and listening to numerous business people's complaints.As for us I'm about fed up with health insurance,my mrs has rheumatoid arthritis and as small business owners we're now paying $1226 month for coverage and there's absolutely no help because no other company is going to touch a pre-existing condition.

so what's the bad part?

Nope.

My portfolio is taking a beating right now, but that's a short-term hit. INVESTMENTS are for the long term. If it's <5yrs, that's SAVINGS. (I'm a saving mofo; on par with investing - probably to my long-term detriment, but it is prudent in short to mid-term situations)

Wait until after the first of the year, but being a grad with no experience is hard anywhere in any field. Did you co-op or do any summer jobs in accounting? Ever worked in a bank as a CSR? These are all things you should have done.

I did bookkeeping for a company during my senior year.

Have to start low & work your way up. High/unrealistic expectations are the cause of most post-grad's distress. WAAY too many spend years in an academic cocoon only to emerge unprepared for the harsh realities of the job market.

"I'm going to get a degree, graduate, and make $100k!"

"Uhh, no you're not, sparky. Now go brew some coffee and get the mail, FNG."

I've been pretty realistic, I'd have to say. I've had several interviews, and was told I did well in them, but there are people with absurd amounts of experience being pressed into lower jobs, especially in the financial industry, which is where I am applying a good amount of the time.

Actually, out here it isn't too bad for the most part. The oil companies are doing a lot of drilling and field work in this area so for the most part, energy prices, and retirement savings plummeting are the only major problems for us. We are having employment problems in that there aren't enough workers to fill positions - restuarants are really hurting - a lady in our church that manages one was told by her District Manager that if the person is breathing, she needs to hire them.

Build it up more than it is if you haven't. Are you just not getting interviews?

I don't know if the economy is hitting me as hard in the wallet as my ex-wife....

I remember my college recruiter telling me all the money I was going to make when I graduated. I fell for that sales tactic hook, line and sinker. 8 years later and I'm still trying to get paid. Plus you're not thinking about all the loans you're having to pay back once you're out there.

That's good wrt being realistic. I have seen way too many post-grads trying to land high paying gigs. Any more, experience trumps a diploma (with the exception of most professional fields). Experience + diploma is always a good thing.

Only way to get experience in most cases is to take a low paying, brutal job. Bust your ass and do the best you can for a couple of years, learn the ropes until you can do your job backwards, forwards, and sideways, then move up.

Heh, I interviewed a guy two weeks ago who was all diploma. He got so flustered in the interview I thought he was going to start crying. You CANNOT bullshit the interviewer if said interviewer has expertise in the field. It is better to say "I don't know off the top of my head, but it wouldn't take me long to look it up", then site WHERE one would "look it up", than try to BS your way through it.

Yikes, loans. I luckily never had them, but my wife did. I paid that $*#&er off this year!! :thumb:

I had to take a 2nd job but am only working 60 hrs/wk. My fiance is in nursing school so she can't work. Rent went up by 150/mo, and we are getting married/going on honeymoon in less than a year.

I can't afford Milwaukee Beast...

OH and her car crapped out on us, so we had to take out a second loan

And the hits just KEEEEP on comin....

I've only ever got embrassed in one interview. A phone one, and their job description was weak. I had no business applying for it.

Better days are ahead. Hang in there.

Buy a junker you can afford. If you can, skip the loan and pay cash.

Do you have a head hunter working for you?

Good Lord man, in our neck of the Woods you would be the Big Dog on the block with that kind of money. Depending on where you are in realtions to 100k you could be making almost triple what I make. I would kill to see that kind of income.

Nope.

Really, a large part of the issue is that I am applying in a small town with the hope of staying with my family. I know for a fact I could get a job if I moved back to Bozeman, even., but I'd really like to stay in Helena where my family is at.

That is definitely an issue. You live in a sparsely populated state to begin with (beautiful, fantastic state I might add ;)), then you're limiting your employment range further by staying close to home. That would make it tough for just about anyone.

We've never been better. I found some sucker who wanted to build an addition on their house.

I've actually decided I want to schedule several appointments per week at your office. I don't need any dental work. I just want to come in for the scenery. Today was the first time I saw that one gal. I'm guessing your wives were not involved in that particular hire.

I know, but my family is being really supportive and I love it here. I think my dad really appreciates the fact that I want to be close and help him out with stuff now.

There is a company in Bozeman where I know two or three people internally who would all give me rave reviews. I would just rather be here though.

We basically did, well one that ran well and stuff.

Can't wait till she graduates, she can get a job anywhere and start above 50.

We are just trying to tread water until then.

Get one. Get a couple of them. And follow up with them at least once a week. The reason for the follow ups is you stage in your career, but keep up with them, plus look on your own.

If she becomes a nurse practioner she'll make great money.

Been there, done that. Those were actually fun times. Just don't stress it... things work themselves out in the end.

Other than gas prices, we are doing just fine.

I will definitely look into that. Thanks for the advice :)

The economy isnt hitting me or mine hard.

Im a web developer though, work is never going away for me. I have too much damn work as a matter of fact. I do have friends who chose not to get an education and they are being hit hard, but I suspect education has little to dowith it, probably more the field you are in.