I would say that we are only just seeing the negative impacts here.

DH is self employed as of 10 months ago. He and another guy started up a business, and worked really hard at getting it off the ground. Things have been going well, but I think we're starting to see some slowing down, although it hasn't impacted us very much.......yet. I think things will get worse.

I work in a dental practice that is usually VERY busy. Things have slowed down quite a bit in the last few weeks, which I never thought I would see. And again, I think it's only going to get worse. Like cars, I think teeth are not high on the list of priorities. I have had to reduce my working hours by half this year, but that's due to childcare issues, not my employers. If things get really quiet though I will be the first in the practice to lose out on working hours, as I am there the least I told them about reducing my hours some months ago, before the crisis. At that point we figured I would probably be able to get paid a bit by DH's business to make up the difference. I don't see that happening now.

Also on a fixed rate here (albiet a good one), so not seeing any benefits with our mortgage repayments. All in all, things are getting very tight. Tobily is right, I am a twenty-something, and this is the first time I really remember things being hard.