hard times?
- Thread starter JUICE!
- Start date
chrisstie
Premium Member
I think its a combination of summer being slow and the economy in a recession. Everything is slow. Houses aren't moving, unemployment rate is rising making it hard to get jobs and making it hard for people to pay for stuff.
I have to admit after scraping my tank down earlier and bumping off a few pieces of overgrown coral (ow) I'm tempted to sell just so I can get the basic necessities from the LFS. It'd make things a lot easier on the wallet right now for being fresh out of school without a job yet. I'm so fortunate to be able to be a little picky about my job hunt since my husband is employed but I really feel for the recent grads who are having an even tougher time and need to work.
On top of the economy being slow I think a lot of people are taking advantage of the summer time, too. A lot of my friends have gone on vacation or are off doing other things they normally wouldn't because of the break in semesters/sunny weather. I'm thankful I put in T5s and don't need a chiller, I don't feel guilty about heading out to the pool knowing my critters are able to beat the heat too
I have to admit after scraping my tank down earlier and bumping off a few pieces of overgrown coral (ow) I'm tempted to sell just so I can get the basic necessities from the LFS. It'd make things a lot easier on the wallet right now for being fresh out of school without a job yet. I'm so fortunate to be able to be a little picky about my job hunt since my husband is employed but I really feel for the recent grads who are having an even tougher time and need to work.
On top of the economy being slow I think a lot of people are taking advantage of the summer time, too. A lot of my friends have gone on vacation or are off doing other things they normally wouldn't because of the break in semesters/sunny weather. I'm thankful I put in T5s and don't need a chiller, I don't feel guilty about heading out to the pool knowing my critters are able to beat the heat too
Pacific Reefs
New member
I've been on the forums for a while and the Orlando and Tampa forums have always been full with people selling setups even when the economy was good someone was selling a tank every week. Many times its a new hobbyist that buys these things so it starts a cycle. There is no doubt the economy is bad out there. On the bright side, I was at the Mall at Millenia and it was packed...there was still a line at the Apple store to get the iphone 3g. The Florida Mall was packed today too. And I-drive was full of tourists. The theme parks are at capacity. Aquatica was so packed no one could get in until 4pm.
jay24k
Active member
I think everyone can do with some extra cash though. I wonder if the times are as hard as people think though. Just to see what is out there, I posted my resume on monster and I'm averaging 4 to 6 calls per week. Pretty high considering I'm in the IT field. The only thing I'm shocked on is the lower starting salaries for Orlando. 50 to 60K for a management based net admin is low. Are all jobs starting lower now from everyones experience? Makes you wonder why anyone would leave their current job.
chrisstie
Premium Member
I wish I had your luck but I'm just fresh out of college with 0 experience. I have found there are a LOT of job openings for people with 5-15 years experience but not that many entry level at all. Which is strange, you would think when times are tough new hires for newbies with lower salaries would be wanted. I also think employment for my level comes in waives and with competition as people graduate at certain times from the universities around here.
AquaKnight
Active member
x2
Judging by the volume of people at Firkin & Keggler's, paying $50 to bowl for an hour and buying $10 pitchers of domestic beer, uh, no, what hard times?
JosefDevaty
New member
Not to be a jerk or start crap.... but I used to work in a retail store in the Florida Mall. I know that many people that go there are indeed tourists... from outside the US. As we all know the pound and euro is about 2x to the dollar. This also allows them to pack the themeparks and spend their money. Now Im not disagreeing that maybe this isnt as bad as it all seems to be. I do know that retailers outside of tourist markets and those located in the suburbs are not doing so well. The locals arent spending the cash like they were last year. I think a lot of this has to do with gas and all of that, but more so with a lot of the media hype that goes along with a "recession" or "adjustment" or whatever they want to call it next.
AquaKnight
Active member
Yea, but as mentioned, the tourists aren't buying the iphone, or HDTV's (have you been to Best Buy in Waterford?) or going out and seeing Batman in record numbers.
Is everything perfect? No, definitely not as strong as it was/should be, but fully agree in that there is lots of hype. Plenty of places closed up in good times, for a number of reasons. But now, whenever somewhere closes, like Benenigan's, it's because the economy is so terrible,
and not the fact that nobody eats there because there's only 2 things to eat, the Monti Cristo, or $5 hamburger.
Nor is the mentality that sitting around, whining about gas, saving up you money, does anybody any good. Go out to eat, go buy some clothes, go buy some fish stuff.
Is everything perfect? No, definitely not as strong as it was/should be, but fully agree in that there is lots of hype. Plenty of places closed up in good times, for a number of reasons. But now, whenever somewhere closes, like Benenigan's, it's because the economy is so terrible,
and not the fact that nobody eats there because there's only 2 things to eat, the Monti Cristo, or $5 hamburger. Nor is the mentality that sitting around, whining about gas, saving up you money, does anybody any good. Go out to eat, go buy some clothes, go buy some fish stuff.
markandkristen
Active member
im with you me and my wife just got our bachelors in april
i have been at my elementary school for over 2 years and was suppose to start teaching...
well thier not taking any body with a temporary certificate..
my principle was ready for me to start and i cant even fill out a application on line..
the college i graduated from has a masters progam in education im starting in a couple of weeks . only 18 months long at will only cost me 9k so back to the drawing board LOL
jay24k
Active member
I guess experience can play a degree. There is a big cost in hiring someone with less skills. Depending on the skill, that person can take up to 2 years to become fully functional. I know what helped me was starting off taking a newbie job. I started off at Convergys and after a year, I seemed to have a much better start into another job.
I think people are spending less because of the economy. Many here do not have a family and it might not really affect them. When you have to feed a family of four and your wife doesn't work, you see your savings begin to diminish. What used to cost 50 dollars to fill your car now run 80 dollars. When you fill up twice a week minimum, that is an additioinal 240 dollars. Groceries run 300 a week. My electric just a few years ago was a change over 100 a month. It is now 350 dollars. The days of saving a good chunk of money is over.
Am I making it? Sure, but if it does get worse, I need something to keep me through just in case. So for me, I still go out to eat and stuff. However, we just have held off on buying anything we really don't need. We used to drive down to Orlando two to three times a month. I haven't been there in 3 months.
So I really think it all depends on each persons situation. For a single person, I really don't think it matters much. Even for those without kids with two paychecks, it might not be that big of a deal.
Just my opinion though.
I think people are spending less because of the economy. Many here do not have a family and it might not really affect them. When you have to feed a family of four and your wife doesn't work, you see your savings begin to diminish. What used to cost 50 dollars to fill your car now run 80 dollars. When you fill up twice a week minimum, that is an additioinal 240 dollars. Groceries run 300 a week. My electric just a few years ago was a change over 100 a month. It is now 350 dollars. The days of saving a good chunk of money is over.
Am I making it? Sure, but if it does get worse, I need something to keep me through just in case. So for me, I still go out to eat and stuff. However, we just have held off on buying anything we really don't need. We used to drive down to Orlando two to three times a month. I haven't been there in 3 months.
So I really think it all depends on each persons situation. For a single person, I really don't think it matters much. Even for those without kids with two paychecks, it might not be that big of a deal.
Just my opinion though.
chrisstie
Premium Member
Yeah fortunately no kids here but hubby and I are both like kids so our hobbies fill up that part of the budget pretty quick. Sorry to hear you're in the same boat markandkristen its tough times but I think if we can make it through to the winter time things will pick up again. After so much time in school and working I'm using this break to do things I'd otherwise not get a chance to do also so my spending has been put in different directions than usual. I can't afford a bigger tank so now I am maintaining instead of stocking the ones I have.
I was watching the opening ceremonies of the olympics and was just in awe that some of those less fortunate chinese folk are working for $2 a day when they spent $300 million on the opening ceremonies not to mention the impact of building the stadium. Really makes you feel so fortunate for what you do have!
I was watching the opening ceremonies of the olympics and was just in awe that some of those less fortunate chinese folk are working for $2 a day when they spent $300 million on the opening ceremonies not to mention the impact of building the stadium. Really makes you feel so fortunate for what you do have!
dugg
New member
We think we got lucky around here lol. My wife just started full time nursing school, so we have been scraping and saving for some time so we could live for a year with no income while she is in school. The economy isn't affecting us that much other than the extra gas and food costs. The problem is, i personally see things getting much much worse before they get better. My tank is in idle mode right now, and will be for the next year, ( hasn't had a water change in months ). Keeping it running, but at a bare minimum. The good thing is that as soon as she gets out of school there is a long line of employers that are begging her to let them pay her stupid money to come work for them. Regardless of the economy people get sick and hurt.
JUICE!
Premium Member
I'm fortunate enough to have a rock solid job, not to mention a small token of appreciation from uncle Sam for a couple bullet holes in my leg, and shrapnel in my shoulders, knees and feet.
Even still, I can feel the sting of food and gas. I went from having a budget for my tank almost equal to my rent, to only having enough to maintain my tanks and maybe an extra coral here and there.
I really feel bad for those folks who have a long commute! When I made an offer on my house, I put a ton of thought into how much I could spend on the house, and the costs of driving to work and such! I can really see how people who bought houses in the last couple years that spent about all they could on a house, could absolutely not pay the bills this year! I'm figuring on $500 per month to go in my gas tank, and banked on that price doubling while I live in that house. I sure hope we see new energy developments coming in leaps and bounds in the very near future.
It really sucks that people are having to cut back on spending money here in the U.S. in order to send more money to OPEC.
I also agree that it isn't as bad as the media portrays it to be, but if something doesn't happen soon, I bet the economy will live up to the hype!
I know that when I sign the closing papers on my house, Wells Fargo will have lost $125,000 on just that one house, never mind the poor family who's credit is ruined for the next 7 or 8 years and the hundreds of thousands of other families and houses in the same boat!
I think that we are a resilient people, but I don't think we can stomach many major events at the same time! I keep hearing that all these people got screwed on the adjustable rate mortgages and how lenders wrote a ton of bad loans, but when the price of fuel goes up 50% as well as everything affected by that hike, I just think most of the affected families just ran out of room in a budget that would have been OK if fuel prices had stayed stable!
I would be more inclined to blame the gross speculation that drove fuel prices up from close to $2 to close to $4
but I still think there are lots more people than usual selling off stuff!
Even still, I can feel the sting of food and gas. I went from having a budget for my tank almost equal to my rent, to only having enough to maintain my tanks and maybe an extra coral here and there.
I really feel bad for those folks who have a long commute! When I made an offer on my house, I put a ton of thought into how much I could spend on the house, and the costs of driving to work and such! I can really see how people who bought houses in the last couple years that spent about all they could on a house, could absolutely not pay the bills this year! I'm figuring on $500 per month to go in my gas tank, and banked on that price doubling while I live in that house. I sure hope we see new energy developments coming in leaps and bounds in the very near future.
It really sucks that people are having to cut back on spending money here in the U.S. in order to send more money to OPEC.
I also agree that it isn't as bad as the media portrays it to be, but if something doesn't happen soon, I bet the economy will live up to the hype!
I know that when I sign the closing papers on my house, Wells Fargo will have lost $125,000 on just that one house, never mind the poor family who's credit is ruined for the next 7 or 8 years and the hundreds of thousands of other families and houses in the same boat!
I think that we are a resilient people, but I don't think we can stomach many major events at the same time! I keep hearing that all these people got screwed on the adjustable rate mortgages and how lenders wrote a ton of bad loans, but when the price of fuel goes up 50% as well as everything affected by that hike, I just think most of the affected families just ran out of room in a budget that would have been OK if fuel prices had stayed stable!
I would be more inclined to blame the gross speculation that drove fuel prices up from close to $2 to close to $4
but I still think there are lots more people than usual selling off stuff!
I understand what you are talking about. The housing bubble went the way of the .com stock bubble at the turn of the century. We tend to forget that the economy is cyclical and that we had a few years of prosperity and growth in the wake of the market correction and going to war. Every decade for more than a hundred years we have had 2 bull and 2 bear markets. We came into this riding a nice big bull in the 90's and beginning of 2k. Then the bear market from 2001 - 03. Then we have the boom from 2004-2006 then the shrinking from mid 2006 till now. We are due for a turn around to finish out the decade. We tend to forget that this happens often and it is through the media that we experience it in ways we never have before. More people have half opinions about more topics since we tend to only believe one side of the equation. This half notion makes us even more susceptible to being worked into a frenzy. If the media tells us we should be outraged we get so. How many people get their opinions first by what George Clooney thinks about something?
If you look at how the cycle works the wave crest is bigger each time and the valley is higher than the previous low. We will all be better off in another year or so then start this over again next decade and forget all about it by then.
If you look at how the cycle works the wave crest is bigger each time and the valley is higher than the previous low. We will all be better off in another year or so then start this over again next decade and forget all about it by then.
pdkinsel
New member
I second this. all the more reason to not fall into a media hype and try to live your lives like normal. The economy cyles, if you stop buying things because of fear, especially American made, then you will lengthen the "bad" cycle.
Support offshore drilling. Let us start buying oil from an Amercian driller, than from dictators that use our money to hurt our country and economy, dictators that hate America. Lets keep our money in our economy. I would rather see Jim Bob in Texas getting filthy rich rather than Jugo Chavez in S. America (by the way dont buy gas at Citgo) Just think about all that money staying at home and the growth created by it.
And any environmentalists that oppose drilling of our own shores and land...Our American drillers would have much more stringent environmental regulations than say China that is drilling abour 50 miles off Key West now and we all know how they care about their environment!!!!! Check out the smog at the Olympics.
chrisstie
Premium Member
Actually, lets not support offshore drilling. If you look up the recorded statistics of offshore drilling and consumption in the year 2000 to now, (these vary based on which source you used, I looked up a few quoted in recent news articles) the US has a demand for roughly 25% of the world's oil supply. Our proven reserves off our country's coasts is roughly 2-3%. We also have quite a few years of oil in our ownership, if I understood the articles correctly and if we were to drill now, we wouldn't see a price impact until those reserves run out sometime in the years 2020-2030 or so.
Its not screaming environmentalists, or even the big money supposedly in Bush's future with his huge push for drilling in his lame duck period. It's plain and simple numbers. We use more than we actually have, and have more on hand thanks to the hype that has increased the price of gas.
Instead of companies striking it richer than they ever have, the investors need to stop speculating and let it be and we as a people need to start exploring alternative fuels faster.
Its not screaming environmentalists, or even the big money supposedly in Bush's future with his huge push for drilling in his lame duck period. It's plain and simple numbers. We use more than we actually have, and have more on hand thanks to the hype that has increased the price of gas.
Instead of companies striking it richer than they ever have, the investors need to stop speculating and let it be and we as a people need to start exploring alternative fuels faster.
