[Janet]

It's bad all over for most middle class and I believe you're right Michelle, there will be many moving to the lower/poorer class. I don't mind being honest with everyone, I make just a little under $11,000.00 a year. Not much I know, but if afforded my for the last seven years to be home with my son when he was ill and during school breaks and summer. I didn't want someone else raising my son, so the money took a second seat. It did help that I have great insurance. Husband had back surgery in August of 2007 and we have yet to pay a dime.

Now my husband is without a job. He has helped the neighbors with harvesting, but that's done. He goes out and job hunts or sends resumes out via computer. There just aren't many out there. He did testing yesterday for SIA (an automobile plant in Lafayette) that is supposedly hiring, but not until January. Today he has an interview with a neighboring school corporation as a custodian. Not really what he's wanting, but he has never done anything but auto body repair and well, people are keeping the money instead of fixing their cars. So hopefully this custodian job will work because it is making him despressed staying home. He has always had a job and is feeling like a failure.

He is able to draw $305 unemployment, but that is just barely enough. We have cut things drastically. Have yet to turn on the furnace...we're heating with wood in our fireplace insert. Not real comfortable, but hey...we can't afford to be right now.

I'm not complaining, but it's getting harder and harder not to.