<p>Quite a few of my friends have been completely screwed over by the economy.</p>
<p>We got rid of TV and internet, and we’re on government assistance for food, heating, etc. We’d been in trouble for a while, though, so we’d been slowly cutting everything already, from magazine subscriptions to food items (no more snacks, for example). One of my siblings is severely ill, but we are fortunate enough to qualify for Medicaid. </p>
<p>The weird thing is that, living on campus, my quality of life is much higher than it is for my family back home : ( But we just have to pull through until I graduate and get a high-paying job…</p>
<p>TchaikovskyPiano, I am humbled and impressed with all you have done for yourself and your family. I am sure your parents are very proud of you. These are difficult times, and as always those who have the least, suffer the most first. It must rankle you to read about those who are being pinched by the economy, when you and your family have been really kicked. I wish you the best.</p>
<p>It hit me how bad things are in some areas when I realized today–I go to an area of town near the university about once a month, and for the last three times, I have been approached by beggars. Adults who for whatever reason are reduced to panhandling. None of them appeared to be homeless or mentally ill, and all had plausible stories.</p>
<p>This is not a “bad” area of town, but quite a mixed population. Maybe I appear approachable, but for whatever reason, I have been asked for help every time for the past 3 trips now.</p>
<p>From Emory Magazine:</p>
<p>[Emory</a> Magazine: Autumn 2008: Personal Economics 101](<a href=“http://www.emory.edu/EMORY_MAGAZINE/2008/autumn/economics.html]Emory”>Emory Magazine: Autumn 2008: Personal Economics 101)</p>
<p>I hope the link works. I like the part about discovering enough.</p>