Anyone affected by bad economy?

Anyone affected by bad economy? Does it affect your gear purchasing decision? Does it affect your photog business?

No one is affected?

I lost my job in November, which put a big hold on plans to buy more gear this year.

However, as a consequence I have had lots more free time, which has allowed me to build a website and even pick up a few small paying photography jobs.
Not enough to pay the mortgage, but enough to have a nice holiday from more boring lines of employment.

I dont participate in recessions.

3 friends lost their jobs in the past 2 weeks....

I'm a service manager at a marina.
This time a year, we're slow due to Michigan weather, but come spring, we're hoppin'

However, since we're in the heart of the Big 3, we haven't "hopped" so much the last couple of years.

Not a day goes by that I don't wonder to myself if "this will be the day I get laid off".. I don't want to think negatively, but its reality. No job security.

Anyway, that being the case, yeah, I don't spend as freely as I used to or want to.

No pay rise!!! Despite company making Billions!

I think we are all hurting from the recession in some way. Fortunately for me, I am an Engineer for one of the top construction companies in the US, so we have plenty to do. In fact, we just landed $250M worth of work in November that will keep several hundred employees busy for the next 2 years.

But in our household, we still have to watch our expenditures. My wife won't let me buy all of the gear I think I need to have!!

CEO says: Due to economic conditions, there will be no merit increases in 2009. This was announced after my company decided to let 4% of their staff go which is about 1,800 people in the 37 countries we operate in. It is said that not giving merit increases will avoid further lay offs....

Tough times ahead, I deal with international corporate finance and I can see business has slowed down a lot. Fortunately my group is still transferring in people from other groups. Our meeting with our division head tells us that we were $47M above forecasted revenue in 2008 so thats a sigh of relief.

I was looking forward to a raise as I am in the process of purchasing my first apartment, but I should be glad that I have a job.

I definitely slowed down with my impulse buys. Anyway...goodluck to you all and I hope we can make it out of this recession alive =P

By the way, I forget to mention... no pay raise and hiring freeze from my company (telecom industry).

im job hunting now! My job was sent off to another country
But I did still buy my 50D, whats an unemployed guy gonna do with his time other than buy his new toy and stalk POTN

It's getting pretty scary out there..I'm a small time contractor who's been dead since Thanksgiving. Most of my winter work, a couple of bathrooms, & a very large basement job have been put on hold (people who have money in the market can"t touch it now).

Doing some small time stuff (pocket change) but the bread & butter just ain't happening.

Starting to feel the crunch & may have to dip into savings next month if it doesn't change.

All new toys have been put on hold..........I'm thankful I put it away when times were good. There are alot of people who don't have the reserve funds.

It's a friggin mess.......

Mark

Still buying!

Stuff from people worse off than I am--at the moment!

Keep your eyes on the sale forum

Not sure yet.

Looks like they might cancel all bonus payouts on my level, may cancel all merit increases.

They are cutting staff functions; I'm in the business side, so I may be a bit more protected.

Nope, I just moved uptown to a brand new double density refridgerator box.

Now if I could only get a prime location behind the dumpster at Pizza Hut I'd have it made!

Life is good!