daisy: blog 
daisy's blog
have these hard economic times brought your family together or is it tearing it apart?
Published Oct. 15, 2009Views: 350
Times have really been tough for many families. My family has been affected by my fiancée’s workplace being shutdown and my adult son and grandbabies recently moving with us. I am really stressed out when thinking of the financial prospects and the lack of decent job opportunities for the two men in my life. I am thankful everyday for my good job and I know that we will get back on track though.
I have noticed a really interesting thing about the dynamics of my household since we’ve had to tighten our belts. We are actually spending more time together and the normal bickering has been reduced. Before the economic crunch hit home, we were all going in different directions and the grandbabies were being passed amongst the three adults according to who was going where. About the only time we were all together was for dinner and that was usually eating out somewhere.
Now the activities that filled our evenings and weekends such as going to the mall or movies just don’t seem so important. We aren’t just sitting at home staring at each other either. We are finding cheap ways to entertain ourselves such as going to the playground with the babies or getting an ice-cream cone at the Hope Mills Lake after eating dinner at home instead of having an entire meal out.
Another positive change we began from these tough financial times is the way we are tackling the bills. I have usually been the only one worrying about the budget and making sure we live within our means because I didn’t want my sweetie stressed out anymore than he already is. Now it’s a team effort with all of us openly discussing how we are going to strategize making ends meet. I cannot believe how much pressure has been lifted off my shoulders.
It will be really nice once the financial problems are resolved but in a way, I think my family needed this wake up call to get back to the basics and focus on what is really important. We are becoming much richer from this experience.
How about your families? Have you seen any positive changes in these difficult times?
Filed under: Lifestyle
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GOLO member since February 3, 2009
October 15, 2009 1:49 p.m.
GOLO member since November 14, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:55 a.m.
GOLO member since June 7, 2009
October 15, 2009 10:31 a.m.
GOLO member since August 16, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:24 a.m.
We've been going through some major changes in our household too and except for the fact that we don't spend as much time together as we used to, it's mostly been positive changes.
Our beautiful, wonderful daughter (whew, 18 years goes by so quickly) is attending the local college and has a part-time job. It's amazing, watching her become so independent.
After successful completion of my stay-at-home-mom gig, I was lucky enough to snare a terrific job that I'm enjoying very much.
Monetarily, the only pitfall is Hubby's not getting overtime this year and that's a significant chuck of change.
All in all, it's all going very, very well. :)
GOLO member since January 3, 2008
October 15, 2009 10:13 a.m.
GOLO member since November 14, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:13 a.m.
GOLO member since October 18, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:13 a.m.
GOLO member since July 5, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:12 a.m.
Even my two sons that live at home are feeling the pinch. We're lucky and all have jobs, but they're listening more now about how the economy is affecting us (cell phone bills, light bills, gas bills, etc).
Far as "going out" stuff, we didn't do a lot of that anyhow. They'd rather go fishing or play cards or watch movies at home. They still go, but it's not out every Friday and Saturday nights now.
GOLO member since November 26, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:11 a.m.
GOLO member since July 7, 2007
October 15, 2009 10:03 a.m.
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