How close to the brink are you? poll discussion

MrsB2100

I voted 50 -50. I've just been made redundant and am temping now for £5k PA less than I was earning. Time off for interviews means I dont get paid, so it's a real catch 22. Hubby is in the airline industry, so although he's OK right now, who knows in 3 months? Mortgage is fixed, so recent base rate changes dont affect us. Have a credit card, just transferred to 0% over 16 months at £1600, and a bank loan that still has about 4 years to run. Right now, we're getting by but if it gets worse or I lose the temp job, we could be a weeny bit stuck! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can get a permanent job soon ... I work in credit control, so as long as these companies start bringing the jobs back into the UK, I should be back at work soon. Thank god for temping though!

truescot

I voted 1 as you can never say never. I genuinely feel for people who are at the point of going under but I can honestly say that other than having to sit through it on the news, I am not feeling things at the moment. I earn the UK average salary in the NHS so not exactly loaded but secure, and my wife only works a few hours a week. We have a 2 year old and one on the way. We have always run a fairly tight ship and we constantly review our outgoings to make sure we don't squander things. We know exactly where and when all our unavoidable spending goes and we just adjust the rest to our circumstances. We know what would go if things got bad (Digital TV, Motorbike, save less each month etc). We also have a mortgage which is about 40% our take home pay.

We feel very lucky but as were not financially well off it is a source of amazement to us that so many people are genuinely struggling. Other than the redundancy threat obviously.

I hope things get better for everyones sake...

buxtonrabbitgreen

I voted 4 the belt tightening. We always have the belts tight anyway. I think that the loss of a job is the only thing that could cause us problems. My oh has been made redundant 4 times in the last 10 years or so. Each time before he had worked 2 years so no redundancy pay. He has just gone from 1 seasonal job to another with only 2 days off. So there is still work at the moment if you are not fussy. I am slightly concerned about my job, but after 10 years it would be quite expensive to get rid of . I have worked and lived through recession before so I know what it is like.

elizabunny

I voted 6 because I believe things will get much worse before they get better:eek: -always trying to be optimistic. We have only one wage coming in and in less than a month OH has gone from overtime to no overtime, to a four day working week and also advised of the possibility of further short time working or even redundancies -help!! My motto keep smiling.

clearmydebts

I voted 4 because my OH went back to uni in September 2007 so we have had to get used to being on one wage and tightening our belts. My job is quite secure (well as much as anyone's is these days) but we would be in serious trouble if I was let go as we have debts too. If OH was doing his previous job I'm not sure how secure his job would be but I do look forward to him getting a job next July and us paying off our debts and getting some savings. It is worrying times for everyone I think.

feelinggood_2

1 here, OH has enough savings to live our current lifestyle for about 18 months, could probably manage to live for at least 3 years. Hopefully he'd get a job within that time!

pmyoung

Both my wife and I are teachers and are quite safe in our jobs(touch wood). Things have got better for us recently. Both been given a good pay rise. Mortgage on its way down. Fuel down. Seems to be more offers in the supermarket.Best job in the world!!!

wishiwasarichgirl

voted 1, me & FB have both got fairly secure recession-proof jobs (people will always need opticians and the air force ) and both got pay-rises coming up very soon

tomstickland

I voted 1. I have no debts apart from mortgage, which is quite small by modern standards. My cost of living is quite low. My employer sells to a worldwide market. The main risk would be my employer going under. I regularly receive info on jobs via email, so think I could find something to do if I had to (engineering).

shirlgirl2004

I guess we're at 1. I don't work but the OH has a well paid and fairly secure job. He's been there over 20 years so would get a nice pay off if there was money in the kitty for redundancy pay. Thus far I haven't noticed any difference except we're spending less on petrol and mortgage rates have come down. Another positive is that there will hopefully be more chance of our youngest daughter getting into the private school of our choice because less people will be able to afford the fees.

I do feel for those whose hours get cut though because it isn't that easy to get another job to fill those spare hours and make up the monetary difference.