Originally posted by: Squisher
We have yet to hit the bottom.
A great deal of bad mortgages are being hidden by banks to keep their balance sheets still looking good.
It'll take a few years until there is the demand for new autos so as to bring auto sales up to the number that will allow automakers to make money.
I don't expect to see a bottom until 2010.
This, but I'm not quite as optimistic as Squishy. I don't think we'll hit bottom by'10. BUT, I do hope that things will start improving soon. (even in an overall decline, some sectors can improve)
Has the economic decline affected us? Yes, but (so far) only marginally.
My wife wanted to go back to work to help out with increased monthly costs, (I'm on a fixed income...and no raise in over 5 years...so as things go up...my income remains the same) but no one's been hiring around here in over a year. Jobs are scarce and there's a bazillion applicants for every one that comes open.
People with expensive degrees are taking customer service jobs for $12-$15 just to put food on the table...
I graduate from community college next month with AS degrees in Accounting, Bookkeeping and Business Administration. "Would you like fries or onion rings with that sir?"
I don't really expect my financial situation to get better, (I'd have to work 3 shifts to make what my disability pays) but I do at least hope to find a decent entry-level bookkeeping job with one of the local firms.
Thursday night, I've been invited to the local Certified Management Accountant's Student dinner. Only a few of the "top" students from each local school get invited. Nice way to get your face and name around with some of the managers from local accounting firms. (not that I expect it to amount to squat...but it's a free dinner...complete with rubber chicken, rubber vegetable medley, and over-cooked rice pilaf...