It's been an "interesting" week for us.

DH does tech support for a small business which folded this week. Fortunately he was offered another job with better pay the following day, but the business he was working for had been operating for 10 years and it just up and died over a few months. Scary.

The main effect it's had for us is that we're thinking alot more about long term plans, long term security. When things are good it's easy to forget that times like this come around eventually. We'll be making lots of changes over the next few months in our work and living arrangements, lifestyle and money habits because of all this. It was a bit of an eye opener how quickly DH went from having stable employment to not. With me self employed we are doubly exposed.

We also have to move soon - the owners of our house are returning from a few years OS - and it quickly became apparent we won't be staying in this area. Rent prices have increased by $80-$100 a week around here. Our rent hasn't been raised since we've been here and to get a comparable house we're looking at that sort of increase which has occured in 18 months. It's ridiculous and we aren't paying it. We'll probably move further out.

I really feel for all the 20 somethings though. They have never known anything but economic boom, low unemployment etc and they are all in for a very rude shock this year me thinks.