it hasn't affected me too much except the interest rate on my savings account is basically down to 0%

i've saved more money the last year than i ever have before, i think also because i'm being more conciencious subconsiously even though i have a safe job

I have to admit my experience is similar to skigurl's. Yesterday, on my commute to work I heard an older man telling his friend he has to work 5 or 6 more years than he expected because his investments were hit so hard. I'm thankful to be in that relative safe zone because of where I am in life when this all hit.

I consider myself very fortunate because my job is stable and I got a promotion before the recession really affected my employer, but the recession has basically massacred my parents' finances and it's affected me indirectly in that I now have to send them money every month.

How has this recession not hit me? I'm a stay at home Mom and my husband works as a Sergeant in a Prison. In California. So we're hit with a 15% pay cut every month for 18 months, which is basically a thousand dollars a month. And we bought our house three years ago when houses were still high, so it's worth about half of what we owe. We got rid of our second car, we don't go on vacation or out to dinner, and we're thinking that we may have to file for bankrupcy. I hate it!

Low CD/Saving rate
No raise and bonuses
Can't risk to quit my job and move back to Hong Kong

Job loss for me and salary cut for my husband....the recession hit has hit the bank account hard! I work harder at being a smarter consumer (

Sorry, my comment got cut off...
Job loss for me and salary cut for my husband....the recession hit has hit the bank account hard! I work harder at being a smarter consumer (love SavvySugar!) to make the dollars stretch farther. The job search has become a challenge we work together on and this time has really made our relationship stronger! I miss my paycheck for sure!!!

The recession has hit, salary cut and then hours cut and lower interest rate. Unless the stock market recovers quickly, will have to work a few years more.

It hasn't really affected us too much because we've always been very frugal and responsible with our money. The only thing that's different now than it was before is that my husband's company has temporarily stopped matching the employee 401(k) contributions, but that's expected to be reversed soon. Other than that, we've been fine. We bought a house we can actually afford and put 20% down on, we have only our student loans and our mortgage as debt, we own 20 acres of land to build our dream house on when we retire, and we have 6-8 months' expenses in our savings account.

I am still making the same amount that I was making in college! And that was two years ago!! I have 5 years of experience but jobs in my field are still slim pickings.

Well, I was pretty responsible with money too but losing your job when no one is hiring makes it pretty tough for anyone. And when your job is to help people hire people, it's not easy to get back into until companies hire again!
So, I have no job and I am a night law student graduating in May 2010 with mountains of student loan debt and shaky job prospects. Right now, I can't find a job to get through school so I have to try to find a retail job (if they will hire me) to get me through the rest of school so I can pay my rent and other bills.
It's scary, this is not where I thought I would be turning 30.

My fiance lost his job. My pay got cut 20%. We bought a very cheap house, but with our expenses, both of us living on 80% of my weak salary has been difficult. I have some savings, but there is still a chance that our firm could fold too. We wouldn't be able to live on my savings for long... esp. with 350 dollar heating bills in the winter.

My mother got laid off from her job after 35 years, my dad has had a hard time finding consulting work. And to top it all off, I'm trying to plan for a wedding. No ability to save up either since every penny is going into surviving...

So, not well.

doogirl - get a job

My husband was laid off from his job. However, it was a job he hated and he is now in a job he loves and on a career path he is excited about (smaller paycheck but happier husband). We're not swimming in money but we can pay our bills and enjoy dinner and a movie every once in a while. I actually got a raise this year. So far, so good.

I'm finishing my Bachelor's while working in my field. This was supposed to be the year I made a huge salary jump, and/or got a new, better job. Instead I got a 10% paycut! Thankfully, I still have my job, and am still finishing my degree, my company also guaranteed that they will not be laying anyone off this year. I'm hoping that getting my degree, and consistently working in my field through the recession, will give me a good basis for when jobs open up.
I've done things like joined a couple of professional organizations, polished my resume', and stayed active on job boards. It makes you feel like you're getting somewhere! My dad lost his consulting career in the recession of the early '90's. So, I know how fortunate I am, and how badly others are suffering!

My dad lost his job and has been jobless for quite a while now.

We moved to another state for my job late last year, and my husband has not been able to find a job since we moved. He is now going back to school, and switching career paths entirely.

i have been lucky enough to hold onto my job...i spend sensibly, but i still splurge once in a while...like traveling because my theory is if everyone hoards money no one spends at all, then there is no cash flow...and a rut would be worse

how rude, "get a job." no one knows how much this family would have to pay in child care if the mother went back to the office, what if it's easier on their finances for her to take care of her own kids????

I've had the same 10-hour-a-week job for two years. Although I was promised more hours when someone else left, they now say that there "might be budget cuts" and they won't give me those hours.

I took two years of nightclasses and did an internship to get a better certification in my field, but other jobs (even part-time) are still scarce.

I can't get health insurance, I can't afford another car after my last one died, and I can't pay my student loans. I have lived with my parents since I left college to save money.

can't find a job in a long while, and have been trying my best not to deplete my savings - so to be a savvy consumer and no shopping! But man, i am itching to go on a long due shopping trip! I will be strong and resist!

No it hasnt hurt me. my parants have high salary jobs for the government and for countries and have taken a slight decrease in pay and our savings account intrest has dropped down to basically nothing but other than that i didnt get my 7 country tour for my 15th or my car but i have to pay dor half of that.

Food costs more..... if it weren't for Sugar and the radio, I wouldn't know we were in a recession. My only friends who don't have jobs, don't have any marketable skills whatsoever so I'm not too surprised by their unemployed status.

That person who said get a job to the stay at home mom clearly has no kids. Childcare is ridiculous! Just over the summer, I paid $400 a month for one child to go to summer care. And that was only 3 days a week. I would have had to pay close to $600 for 5 days. I'm sure that stay at home mom is doing all she can, like we all are. I'm doing ok. I'm only getting a 2% pay raise per year over the next 3 yrs, but everything else seems to be ok. My husband on the other hand, is in a dead end job that is far away and spends 3 hours commuting each day. Although it sucks, he's sticking with it and we love him for that. We're doing alright, making enough for bills and stuff. Just thankful that we both have jobs.

I can't say that is has, the only thing is...well I can't say because I still do the same things, my husband works and I've been an at home mom for 5 years now..

I have def. noticed the slow down in the economy as a result of being a consultant. I have been saving for years now, but I am now watching everything I spend my money on. And I am shopping at more frugal places now: 99 cent store, Marshall's, Ross etc, or I just don't shop. I only shop if I need something (which is not much right now). I also have limited my entertainment spending, no vacation plans, and less going out to get coffee/tea.