I'm lowering my lifestyle expectations for the first time in 57 yrs.

[Mountainman]

Maybe it comes with age but I think it has more to do with a Repug manufactured recession and huge deficit.

I had a successful interview today after being laid off for 4 months. I was told that some higher up management types will be in town next week and I will be called in to talk to them so I think today's interview went well but I will have to take a $15,000 pay cut compared to the last job I held. I told them I was at their mercy. I want the job since the jobs are scarce here.

I feel they know they can get me for much less because of the bad economic picture which I feel was purposely made to happen by Bush & Co.
When people hear that the economy is improving they think that it will be booming like the 90's but that won't happen for the working classes. We will all be facing lower lifestyle expectations from here on out especially if Bush is reselected.

Well the job is 40 miles less of a commute than I had and I don't have to wear a suit and tie. I can ride my motorcycle on nice days for only $3.00 a day in gas.

[JanMichael]

1. Enjoy your new freedom from high financial expectations!

Want to spend an afternoon hiking through some kick ass mountain trails? Maybe read some great Literature? Perhaps just lounge in the municipal park and watch the clouds roll by? Ride a bike for mile after mile and loose yourself in though, or better yet, no thought at all? Perhaps volunteer with an organisation like Habitat for Humanity and build houses?

This new job, which I'll bet you now that you get, can be a liberating change of life.

[Mountainman]

4. Well I live in the mountains so I do hike kick ass trails

And I am a volunteer docent at Tomo Khani state park, which was a Native American winter home and has some neat pictographs, which I help to protect. You can only visit there by tour and I am a tour guide.

But I understand what you are saying and yes I will take advantage of the natural things in life more. I have 5 dogs and 3 horses and 3 cats to help and we are thinking of getting some goats and donkeys too.

[Catfish]

2. My expectations are lowering

but I wish I could get my living expenses to follow. Good luck with the job, I hope you get it.

[Mountainman]

8. To get our living expenses in line we sold our house

We had some good equity so we sold it and paid of most off our debt.

We bought 20 acres in a much less costly area and put up a new manufactured house and live with less payments. We have a well and don't have to pay for water or trash pick up, things like that add up.

[Catfish]

11. Good move on your part

By most standards, my living expenses are low and I don't have any debt other than a mortgage. However, here in WV jobs are low paying and scarce. I think my utilities combined are almost as much as my house payment, especially in the winter. Yes, water/sewer/trash can add up. They are combined here and I pay about $110 every 3 months. They announced a giant 45% rate increase today. I always feel that I'm one vet visit or car repair from serious financial problems. I try to focus on the fact that I do have a home, great pets, and a job, at least for now.

This area is so poor yet WV went for Bush and my area elected Shelly Capito, who is nothing but a robot for Bush. Sad.

[Flaxbee]

15. Where did you find 20 affordable acres?

What state/part of state? I'd like to do the same thing, sell the house, get rid of debt, and start over, but it seems that the only decent jobs are near big cities, and I really don't want to go back to that after living and working in LA, NYC and DC... I could possibly get back into a very-well paying job, but it would mean doing something I loathe and buying an overpriced, pressed-sawdust house and working 60-80 hrs a week to afford it. And I don't think I can sell my soul just to be able to afford a house that is so close to my neighbors I could spit in their window.


You'll do OK, Mountainman; soo many people are in the same boat, we'll all help each other, we'll have to do so to get by. The only thing that truly scares me about aging without a big cushion is health care, I think the greatest sin perpetrated on the American people is the no-healthcare/costly drugs/bogus insurance and filthy rich pharamceutical companies scam the politicos love to cram down our throats while they flit around DC with the best health care this country can offer.

[Mountainman]

19. I live east of Caliente, CA in a place called Twin Oaks

It is 18 miles into the lower Sierra Nevada Mtns from rt 58. East of Bakersfeild.

[mhr]

3. I Am The Poster Boy For Lowered Expectations, Unemployed 40 Months!

If you want to know how to spread a thin dime, give me a shout.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

5. Just the begining, friend... just the begining, I fear

I hope your new job does not require as much time as your old one, then it would not be a bargain at all.

[Mountainman]

6. They said I would have to work at least 9 hrs daily and more at month end.

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

7. and all that for less money... God, I love Amerikka

land of greed

[SOteric]

9. Since I left a high paying job I held just after grad school,

I've pretty much held three emotionally, but not financially rewarding jobs. I don't know how my lifestyle could pare down any. The difference for me is that I used to believe one day I'd still be able to afford some modest dreams, maybe have a workable pension years in the future where I could retire comfortably.

Bush hasn't robbed me of a lavish lifestyle, but he's gradually eliminating the possibility that I will ever own a home, that I will be able to live comfortably after age 67... It still sucks.

Let's get that guy out of the White House. He never really belonged there anyway.

[Catfish]

12. I understand

I try not to think about retirement, I really don't see how that's going to work for me. Yes, Bush needs to go. Biggest problem is that the young families I see here struggling the most just don't vote. They feel so disenfranchised and remote from the political process. It's the voters who get the largesse. It's much better to be elderly here than part of a young family where the parents work crap jobs.

[absyntheNsugar]

10. Thank the cheap labor conservatives

They want us all desperate, and working for peanuts.

Repubs are never interested in prosperity.

[Skittles]

13. you do what you have to do, MM

and just hope Bush Inc gets the boot ASAP. By the way, the casual dress perk - it's a major-league good thing. :D

[FDRrocks]

14. Hey...

Congratulations on your interview! Will you have opportunities for promotion?

[CoNnOc]

16. My expectations are zero.

Best I can hope for at this point is to not be a radio active pile of dust by the time I go to the job market. lol

[WannaJumpMyScooter]

17. welcome to DU connoc... I guess you are young by your

statement?

[Habibi]

18. Good luck to you, friend.

I too have lowered my expectations--my good fortune is that they were never that high to begin with!

40 miles less of a commute and don't have to wear a suit and tie?? Darlin', that's $20,000 right there.

[sendero]

20. after 15 months...

...of unemployment, I don't have much in the way of expectations.

I'm just glad I didn't fall into the "spend every dollar you make" trap that all too many Americans swear by. I'll get by, and things will eventually change.

[KTM]

21. Congrats !!

I'm really glad the interview went well !! Unemployment sucks.. sure, you're making some trade-offs, but your back to work, and things will get better... you can use this time to your advantage, and hopefully when things get better move back into a higher paying position that makes you happier. In the meantime, give yourself a pat on the back - interviews can be difficult, and it sounds like you did a great job !

[ChoralScholar]

22. My only expectation from life

is to make enough money that I can eat out for every meal - every day, if thats what I want to do. I cook well, but I hate to cook.