The Upside of a Bad Economy

My husband was layed off last month and I think the upside for us has been that I have been now afforded the opportunity to focus on my career. My husband is spending more quality time with the kids and is fixing things around the house (which he's never done before). Still, if anyone out there knows of a great executive Sales opportunity in the NY area, I'm all ears!!!!

I think it's ironic that it took a recession to get families to finally learn to live on less and enjoy spending time with each other....shouldn't that be what we were doing all along? My family has always been on a fixed income. We've always had to rely on using coupons at the grocery store, not having cable and we don't have cell phones(which I often think we can use!) We have always taken advantage of thrift stores, mixing old with new in our wardrobe. We eat out sparingly, but have always done things together as a family...recession or not.

Cancel your cable, listen to music with your kids.

Out here in California, it's been really rough. My hubby has been laid off only for 4 months, but there is not a Construction job anywhere within 500 miles of us.Unemployment barely covers our bills, food, etc. We do stay home more, to save our money, eat at home every night, and not much else. I joined several money-savings blogs, groups, and started to use coupons. I always shop where it is the cheapest cost on food. .99 cents shampoos are the norm now. The Dollar Store is my second home. I have also thinned out our clothing and non-essential items, toys, electronics, etc. Yard sales are on every corner out here, every day.I eBay and Craigslist, out of necessity, not for fun. House values are so far down that every other house here is in foreclosure. Investors are buying them up, and renting them out for outragously high rent fees. Most sit empty. It's sad, but we are surviving. Hope that it gets better soon.For everyone.

I think that the economy has given most people a reality check. At one moment we can have it all and at another we could have nothing. It has brought us back to basics. I know that it has had a devastating effect on some people. My mom lost her home and now lives with me. My family and I love to have small home cooked dinner together. Since the economy has changed we have learned how to live on less. Comparing prices and volume is a must now when we go shopping to find the best deal which helps us save money (along with coupons). We appreciate the small things we have now.

MY entire Famly prefers I cook 6-7 nights a week! we take turns returning "thanks" and we have our most valuable chats and talks at the dinner table!

I find that my family is actually having more fun overall! We tend to either stay around the house or we take advantage of abundance of free events going on near us. We had a blast at a farmer's market on Saturday & I am hoping it will be cool enough outside to go to a free movie in the park next week. I also feel closer to people in general. I think tough times really bring people together.

Many upsides to my husband being laid off for the past 11 months. We've cut our movies channels to save money and now actually watch the DVD's we already own. We're also cleaning out the house and having a mega yard sale! Now hubby and I make a game out of grocery shopping even cheaper and planning meals ahead for a week too. AND we've planted a big garden this year to save money in the store, and it's been great spending to much time outside, getting some excercise and spending so much time together doing something so productive!

The one thing that we have done is actually start game night. Since my kids are 6 16 17 18 Most of them had nothing to do with sitting at home. But now my kids hang out at least one or two nights a week it has bonded the older kids to their younger sister also. We also just implemented meal night that is where the kids each get to pick a night of food they want but... they have to help cook it and clean up on their night (it's only night two so ask me in a month if it's working!)

It has hleped me learn to spend more time with my family and that has made a difference in my life. The economy is actually helping us by allowing us to see what is really and truly important,even if you have to come to a rough patch to find it

Hello, My family has always enjoy a home cooked meal. They like to go out too, but they really like home cooked meals and I'm blessed for that. We have changed some of the spending we do here. We just buy if we need it, not if it's something that we just want. We use to do it that way. Now, we go to more yard sales, and things like that to help us with money.