Trad Gang

Oh yeah Im feeling the pich!!!   :(      :help:      :help:      :help:

most people i talk to are scared of the current people in charge and are only spending for emergencies and awesome deals best time to buy right now and a terrible time to get a decent dollar for anything!

I would say 90% of the gusy from my old job are laid off...

Im due to go back to my current job next month.

I think the economy is keeping everyone in check...even the classified ads here are slow moving...and there are some GREAT deals lately.

yup. I've been workin 32hrs/wk max since the first of the year. I'm makin about 40% less than a year and a half ago.

Gettin too poor to pay attention  :(    :D

I,m hoping to be able to keep my latest bow purchase even though I thought I'd hafta sell her right from the get go

I keep hearing less than 40hrs a week       I hope not my daughter is getting married in Sept

There's a recession?  I hadn't noticed, I'm as broke as I've always been.  :(

In germany many people also lost their jobs or have less work and less money.
Like me. Since january I get 20-30% less many a month than last year.
But right now I´ve ordered a new (american    :)   )
bow.
Money must go around to get better times again.
And the wonderful archery sport helps me going trough the bad times.

The real people "in charge" is the American voter.  This recession started over a year ago and will run its course.  In the mean time, don't spend beyond your means....that's what got us into this mess.  I can remember not so long ago (1978/79) when the interest rate was over 12 percent and inflation was awful.   This too shall end.

I've cut back although I did book two away hunts this year. I had to cancel some other pleasurable pursuits to justify them though. If I buy a new bow or equivalent, I will have to sell something else to pay for it. That's my rule for now.

it's forced my wife and i to go back home to oz. now we just got to sell the car we bought. to buy plane tickets home. our working holiday certainly didn't involve any work, not much holiday either!

You're right George. We'll come out the other end of this in time. Those not in debt and sitting on cash right now are doing great, but unfortunately represent the minority. Debt and greed (government, corporate, and individual), has turned a normal capitalistic downturn into a nightmare for many.

In the early and mid 80's inflation was 12% and interest was above 20%. Paul Volcker was Chairman of the Federal Reserve at that time. Guess who's now working for the current administration?   :saywhat:  

Great time to be a buyer and not a seller, as seen on the classifieds.

George,
you are absolutely right! I cant pay more than I have and I wouldn`t.
But I´ve saved the money the hole last year round and I dont want to keep the money to strong.

QuoteOriginally posted by Curveman:
I've cut back although I did book two away hunts this year. I had to cancel some other pleasurable pursuits to justify them though. If I buy a new bow or equivalent, I will have to sell something else to pay for it. That's my rule for now.

Same here!!

Not hurting here, but the wife and I have always been very careful to spend less than we make.

One day we will learn you can't run an economy (or a household!) on credit.  Until then, the boom/bust cycles will continue.

I am blessed to still be working. A whole slew of Project Managers like my self got the axe last week.  I did order a new bow last summer (still waiting) and paid for it in full just in case I get the axe. I could see this coming!

I have both e a LB and a recurve that are perfect for me.   I  can't believe I'm saying this but I haven't even though about looking for anything new in a while.

i am verry lucky to be working all winter as i do new home construction.  but i can see that my job will not last.  i did order a new bow to have in a year.  but i orderd the kind that can sell in miniutes.  
byoulongbow, does this mean your new shrew is for sale????????????????

Its definitely keeping me from buying
a bow.
I am looking for a starter 40-45 #er
just to get my form.
I've watching e-bay and such.
Last year I would have just threw down
the credit card, but not now.
I don't want to add to my bills.

I am making about 60% of what I did in 05 but I have three new bows  on order but I sold bows to buy bows. I used to collect them LOL not I cycle them through LOL tends to cost less.

Cousin Jr...LOL not yet...  :saywhat:    :thumbsup:

I can tell you this- at the Trad Expo this year- I was told they have NEVER had the number of custom bows leaving the building sold that they had THIS YEAR so the way I look at it-

if unemployment is 8.2 or 8.6 percent that means  92 percent of the people out there still have jobs. If our economic output is 1.5 percent lower that means its on track for 98.5 percent to still take place.

Of course its directly impacting those who've been laid off..its real for them. I was out of work six months last year...you don't have to tell me how difficult it can be. But my hunting is getting booked up this year AND into 2010. I'd say a lot of people are doing OK.

Fortunately for us it has been business as usual; but we never lived beyond our means anyway.

I have a small construction business... I think...gone from 11 emloyees down to 1 helper. I really enjoy what I do. I hope I can ride this out. It has an impacted everything my family does. We are all determined to keep on keeping on.

Im only working a few days a week so far this year - so year the economy is effecting everything I do that requires money.

I'm pretty fortunate as both my wife and I are Registered Nurses with many years of seniority at the Hospital where we work. So far we have'nt been directly impacted by the current economy, but we're much more cautious in our spending just the same.

Recession = when your neighbor loses his job.
Depression = when you lose your job.
Recovery = when Obama loses his job.

Yes, we feel it, I've been working 32 hours since feb first, had to cut way back on everything!! just dreaming of a new bow,thats all i can do for awhile!! The good news is we got everything caught up and most stuff paid off before things got bad, so if things in the ecom start picking up we will be looking pretty!!

You guys think you're sad...

My hours haven't changed...in fact I've started working a little over time.The only thing keeping me from buying a new bow is what I make weekly.Which is probably what some of you make on cut back hours.

My bussiness is in the dumps right now.Layed off all my help but one guy and am scatching trying to find enough work to keep him on.Like many I am just trying to make it through untill things get better.I still might but stuff but now will sell something to help cover it as far as archery is concerned.Life goes on and things change every day.We just hang in there untill it changes our way.  :)

I work for a small electrical contractor, normally 6 guys, we are down to 4 but that is normal for for this neck of the woods in the winter. Actually suprised (and Thankfull) that we have got 40hr/wk all winter.

Watching our $$ though, no big purchases, just the necessities, feathers and a few shafts...

Eric

Was told last week that we're closing the doors the end of this week.
Yeah....cutting back.

Yep. Because of the economy, the local Food Lion (Grocery Store) isn't hiring so I can't work there to make money for bows. Instead, I have to work for my granddad doing jobs such as painting a steep roof and before too long, cutting grass.    :(  
I am thankful to have a job though.    :notworthy:

I finaly found a job, after six long months of layoff. I'm working for the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It's a not for profit orginization, and we rely on the public to fund us, well bottom line is folks just aren't spending, so the belt got tightend and hours got shortened. But I'm glad to be working even if it's not 40 hrs. a week.

A song comes to mind

" Somebody told us wallstreet fell. We was so poor that we couldnt tell" Alabama

We are blessed but we are not making any major purchases. The cost of food is outrageous. I hope my garden does well this year.

I work for an excavating company. I normally get laid off around Jan 1st until around March 1st. We depend on the new house market for our work. This year it was a month early for the layoff and still not sure when we will get called back. I buy used in good condition or trade now. Hopefully it will get better for us all...Roy

I just cancelled my bear hunt in Alberta this Spring.  I'm still going to Africa this fall but I'm doing it with accumulated air miles and money from a second job.  I have no confidence in the folks running the show right now.

Yeah We're feeling the pinch. I once had a large and successful Concrete company in NC, but due to the economic slump that started a year ago it has forced almost all of my builders to stop construction, which put us out of business. We went from 25 employees, 20 subs, 3 trucks, many peices of equipement and our home.  to all but one vehicle, We're renting, I'm back to various remodeling and handyman jobs with one helper, and i'm 34K in debt and possibly looking at chapter 7, but with all that being said, I have one amazing custom shooter left after selling my others(Border, RER, Ferguson, Fox, Bruin, Wallace..etc) My wife and I are doing better than ever, and my two boys are always a blessing. Every step of every day is in faith, and I have never been happier. plus next week i'm going to visit Lukas at Saluki    :bigsmyl:  

Shooting bows and breaking knocks still brings that big 'ol smile to my face.

Keep your heads up guys...


P.

It's interesting that three or four folks attribute the current economic situation to the present administration.  It's been in office two months and is trying to clean up the mess left by Bush and his cronies.  Most of us are hurting, but if we're going to point fingers, lets point them in the right direction.

Couldn't agree with you more, Orion.  Better still, why are we talking about politics at all?  I thought this was a trad archery site.  

Frankly, I'm none too interested in whether a person is republican or democrat.  Same goes for religion.  There are internet forums out the wazoo for those topics (like the politics section of Trad Gang).  Maybe it's just me (but probably not judging by the emails and phone calls I get), but why can't we exercise a little self-restraint and mutual respect and not try to force-feed our politics to other folks on PowWow?  Some of the signature lines I see look great as bumper stickers, but that's where they belong -- not here.

It's all about mutual respect, civility, and keeping on topic -- traditional archery.

My $0.02's worth.  I feel better now.     :)     Thanks, friends, for letting me get that off my chest.     :wavey:

We are also blessed.  My wife has a good paying job working for U.T. and my bow sales are at their highest.  We  have alwas lived within our budget and payed for every thing we needed with cash.  A little money hidaway for emergencies has been hit a couple of times when we needed it but were able to refill it fairly quickly.  My brother lost his job some months back and had to move to another city to gain employment.  I feel for those that have lost jobs and pray things will get better soon.  I think this thing will last for more than a year but am old enough to remember worst times.  Altho , not worst managers.

oops -- hit the wrong button!

Really happy I'm recantly retired with pretty good RR pension [federally insured???] just hoping my Buddies still at work keep paying into Railroad Retirement.  

I'm finding medical insurance premiums rising almost daily and that scares me.  

Have been able to keep most of my bows to this point.  Will be selling some soon to fund my Alaska bear hunt but that was expected when I booked the hunt.

Gene  :wavey:

QuoteOriginally posted by Orion:
It's interesting that three or four folks attribute the current economic situation to the present administration.  It's been in office two months and is trying to clean up the mess left by Bush and his cronies.  Most of us are hurting, but if we're going to point fingers, lets point them in the right direction.

Orion,
I just wanted to write the same!
Thank you!
tj69

I'm selling stuff to buy newer stuff. I've come to terms that I have enough good "stuff" already. There was a few things that I picked up that I needed to upgrade (tent/gps) and I'm doing my best to hold the line on my self imposed 1 bow/knife a year rule. I need to stay away from the classified section...some great deals out there right now.

JL

I've been laid off twice in the last two months and am getting married in July.  Definitely feeling it on this end.  Won't be able to afford a bow for awhile, but this might be a blessing.  I am now doing something that I probably wouldn't have considered before and that is build my own bow.  Recessions make good opportunities to hone one's skills and a lot of ingenuity comes out of recessions.  ...just my two cents.

Rick

Good for you Rick,its hitting people in different area of the country , hurting the working man!

I have a small business, it is off about 30 percent. Older people are having a tough time with utilities and food prices. I think the worse is yet to come.

"The Future is Uncertain and Death is always near."  :scared:    :readit:    :bigsmyl:  

 
Raven >>>>--------->

Closing the Plant where I work, got until the 31st. After 23 years I am looking for a job.
Recycling some arrows, no new ones. Got to do with less, which is nothing new. Going to Practice shooting sitting cross legged to get ready for turkey season. Will have more time to hang out here. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger

well here is my $.02.  It is always wise to spend less than you make.
It is true that jobs have been lost.  Unemployment is what 8.5%..2% more than last year and that means 91.5% of people are working. We do not sell our houses to buy toys.. we do not cash out our retirement 4o1Ks to pay for a hog hunt or spring bear hunt. (I hope we don't any way). We pay for that stuff out of our paychecks.  Live your life this bump in the road with pass.
AND FOR HEAVEN SAKES STOP LISTENING TO THE $&%^&%
NEWS.....THEY ARE THE PROBLEM....

Joe

George, Ray and Joe are my heros!!!!!

(Edit) Oops back on topic: I will spend where I can to keep the economy going.....

I work in the trading business and have been seeing a huge hit to the money I have been able to make.  In fact last year at this time I was up nearly 100K for the year.  This year I am actually down money.  It makes the hole to dig out of look very deep when businesses are failing, hedge funds are blowing out, and people are scared to do business because nobody really knows what to expect.  So to make a short answer a little longer than neccesary, NO im not buying anything I can live without.  I do need some supplies for turkey season but will try to put that off as long as possible.  Hopefully towards next fall this will have been on the upward swing for a few months, but until then keep what you have as long as you can.

Yup.  Work has cut hours.  I'm currently digging for a part time job of some sort.  Nothing for me for a while.  Luckily I had cut our expenses a bunch a while ago.

Orion and Knife River - couldn't agree with you two guys more.  Thanks.  

Who screwed things up doesn't really matter anymore.  The question is how do we get them fixed so we can go back to hunting and BS'ing about it and the equipment we use instead of having to worry about the economy?  

We're all Americans.  Things have been screwed up before, ranging from mildly to nearly FUBAR, and we've always managed to come together and work our way out of it.  We'll do it this time too, as long as we treat each other with civility and respect.

Now, stepping down from my soap box, anybody have any suggestions for a "won't break the bank" hog hunt?

joe ashton i'm with you 100% turn off the news and the world is a wonderful place again. a lady on the job site the other day made a comment the made me sick. something about this world was a living hell. it sad to know that people think that way. as far as the economy goes. luckly for me business isn't too bad. i own my own tile laying business that i branched off from my uncle, so he sub contracts alot of the work to me. thank god he put most of his eggs in the remodeling bascket and not the new construction or we would be out of work also. hope it turns around for everyone soon. good luck to all.
eric

Knife River,
Its interesting how you espoused your political opinion by agreeing with Orion and then backhandedly attacked dangrsDan about his signature quote while cautioning everyone else about stating their political views. I guess its ok for us to state our opinion as long as we agree with your "correct view of the world"? Sounds like the same attitude the media has taken.

I just took 3 orders for Kempf bows. I find either the individual has saved up the money over a period of time or their financial situation has not been too badly affected.

However, I feel most bowhunters are tightening their belts and fixing up the old arrows and digging out those broadheads. The majority of us have families and family comes first.

There are enough bowhunters out there who won't be affected due to their financial status. Hunting camps out west will still be filled up for Elk,Deer and Antelope season and those high priced hunts in Canada for Moose, Sheep etc...will still be filled.

Bonner-couldn't agree with you more.  Thanks.

Dan Bonner, you are correct that I inappropriately stated my political views.  The pot called the kettle black.  ggg  Like I said, there's no place on PowWow for it.  Mea culpa.  

You are incorrect, though, that I attacked DangrsDan.  If you'd like to PM me, I'll be glad to discuss other posts with you.

Now, gents, any one care to get this thread back on track or are we going to keep thrashing a thoroughly dead horse?

I picked one heck of a year to try to start a new business!  :knothead:    

But so far I have been plesantly suprised.  I've been selling the heck out of RER bows.  And the couple of shows I have been at have been pretty darn good for a brand new traditional archery business.  

I didn't do this to get rich, and I knew up front it would take some time to get up and off the ground.

I don't want to sound like I am minimizing the problems that many of you currently face, and I certainly hope it turns around quick for those that are struggling right now.  But as was mentioned, 91.5% are still working and life goes on pretty much as before.  If it weren't blasted at us by the news media constantly most folks wouldn't even know much about the problems.

I spent a carrer as a banker.  And good financial advice applies in good times as well as bad.  Live within your means, and not on credit cards.  Don't spend to keep up with the neighbors.  But do enjoy life while you are still living!

I work very hard at raising a family I do everything work ask me to do with in reason. when times are tough I got to slow on my spending . however if I have any extra money witch I always have a little.I save it.I like to buy a bow once a year. but its hard to save 500. or 600. at a time If I have that kind of money laying around an a bill comes up I got to pay it or your car breaks down the money is gone. so what I do is find a bowyer who will let me put say 100. down an if he has a 1yr wait Iam good to go.I just send them 100. a month .not all bowyers will do this an I understand .I mostly save all my change for the month then make up the differance an send off my 100. It is an easy an painless way to buy a real nice bow.

Like trapperdave said i'm to poor to pay attention.So no new bow for me.Besides i can't even shoot the one i got that good.
But thank GOD i still have my job.

That Bonner dude is pretty sharp...

And yep, times are kind of tough so I've slowed down on all purchases.. Fortunately I have enough supplies on hand to hunt this coming year without having to buy more..

Hope everyone pulls out of this slump quickly!

I had to go out of business with the archery pro shop. My traditional business was always less than 10% of sales, with the compound business being the major part of the business. So after 27 years of being in business I just have closed down the business. I again would like to take a minute to thank all the customers over the years. I started out just making custom arrows and the shop got bigger and bigger. When I took the early retirement from IBM it sure made a good fit for me to keep busy. NOthing like doing work you love. I will be selling off my inventory at the local 3D shoots.

Now we also have also cut back on travel, and eating out. Did have to buy a used 2005 buick to replace the one that was totaled by a guy and his family rear ended me.

Bill

I'm one of the lucky ones, I guess. Several years ago I decided to get out of debt and stay out, and my modest income is secure, so it's pretty much business as usual at my house. Now if the stock market would give me back my savings...

It's obvious that one should live within his/her income.

Today, however, many people who have relatively secure incomes aren't spending.  All the bad economic news has made them OVERLY-cautious.

That deepens and lengthens recessions.

Times will get better when consumer confidence returns and consumer spending goes up.

Buying archery equipment/materials, if you can reasonably afford it, is a step towards a rebounding economy.

Mark

The key is spending what you have, not spending what you can borrow.

I feel for those who have lost jobs to this mess, but you just cannot run an economy on credit the way we have for the last ten or twelve years.  It's a ticking time bomb.

I'm a REALTOR in a limited market area so you can imagine where I stand now. My last sale was last summer. My wife of 30 years and myself have always lived within our means, we owe very little but with less coming in even the regular monthly utility bills and insurance(I hate paying insurance but wouldn't live without it)are strapping us. Our home is paid for, our 25ac are paid for and our cars are paid for.
Being a REALTOR, I still have to pay quarterly MLS dues, dues to local, state and national associations, I have continuing education coming up at $108 and any advertising that I am doing or that will come up has to be paid, plus any other business related expenses.
  I make all my own archery equipment and trade for what I don't have or what I need. My only archery related expenses are to the USPS.
  I will not be paying dues to my club in GA or be buying an non-resident GA hunting license this year. A first in over 25 years.
 I've even been looking for other work until the RE market comes back but in a town of 7000 and a county of 30,000, not even Lowe's, any local contractors, the county dump or any local businesses are hiring. In these times no job is beneath me but unfortunately none are available.

well being that everything has turned to s..t down here and i go in to the hospital on monday. i had to cancel my trip to the states this year as it was going to cost to much and any way its paying for my opp as well as selling my bows apart from one. but hopefuly next year will be a better one.

Sad situation for lots of folks.  For me it's just a decline in my "201K".  Yes, I'm lucky.  But I'm frugal too.  Haven't bought a bow in 10 years.  Was going to retire last year from Fed service but will go to the end of this year at least.  

Retired Air Force (1966 - 1989)

Almost Retired DoD Civil Service (1989 - present)

Social Security Eligible (62+ years old)

Some "201K' left ;-)...Van

I have had 6 jobs since I 'retired' from a cushy Fed job.  Can't seem to find a compny to stay in business.  Unemployment here in Kalispell is about 16 to 18%.  I am goiung to try to go into full time bow and arrow making.  Hope folks are interested in buying.  I went to the Monroe WA Mountain Man Trade Show and did pretty good. Most vendors did OK but it depended on what you had for sale.  I have mostly been 'primitive' for the Mountain Man events, but I will venture more into the Traditional with my wood arrows and B50 strings.  I will leave the newer stuff to you young folk and see how well that plays out.