Have you been laid off? Downsized? Are you worried about your job and the overall economy?  Have you cut back your spending at all?  What changes have you made?

ChickenWing wrote: I was laid off due to 'performance issues,' and a month later, 4 of my colleagues were laid off as well. I believe they said it was due to 'performance issues' so that I wouldn't be able to get a severance package. I worked for the largest regional accounting firm in my state, and in the Top 50 of Public Accounting Firms in the nation. This economy sucks.

"When your neighbor loses his job, it's a recession. When you lose your job, it's a depression." - Ronald Reagan

My employer went bankrupt last year.  I knew the job market sucked, and we had not hit economic bottom yet, so I went to school full time for 2 quarters to refresh my accounting knowledge and then started studying for the CPA exam. 

I had a hunch that recovery was not going to come soon no matter who was in the white house.  I figure the CPA license will be the only way I can even get a staff accounting job some where that pays decent wages.  I live in CA, so the unemployment rate now is 12% for the state, and 15% (estimated) in Silicon Valley.  I need this license just to get ahead of the thousands of hungry people applying for every job posted.  I hope it pays for itself next January.  My unemployment runs out that month.