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Recession survival guide
Wisdom of the aged
ESTHER LARSON, 80, MCHENRY COUNTY
During the Depression, did anyone in your family work, other than your dad?
Oh, sure. My mother did housework, and she was more of a steady worker than my dad. She worked for these wealthy people on Leland Avenue. My older sister got a job in a factory when she was 14.So the Depression hit your family hard.
We lived in six different houses or apartments. Rent was a factor at times—that’s why my sister went to work so young. I remember my mother counting out change to pay the rent. And I remember cutting soles for your shoes out of cardboard, which of course didn’t last.Did you see the current economic downturn coming?
Yes. I could see the salaries of the CEOs on Wall Street skyrocketing. I’ve always been very aware of what’s going on in the stock market, and I just knew things could not go on the way they were. I kept thinking, What is the SEC doing? Their job is to keep an eye on this.Any advice for people who are worried about the economy?
Buy stocks—even if it’s one share. Do it systematically. The first stock I bought was one share of Commonwealth Edison. I was 18.
Time Out Chicago / Issue 197 : Dec 4–10, 2008
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I believe, Toons, that the real take-away here is about recycling. Ms. Fincher made two new suits from one old one -- an admirable feat, if you ask me. I think Americans today throw away too many things that could be used a second time around, if you are creative.
Jenny, the last thing people struggling in this economy need is bad advice. Hopefully the readers know that 'Go break the law,' is bad advice, but may not realize that sewing clothes is not the economy it once was. I'm not too worried about Juanita, a wise old woman like that probably has her ducks in a row. I was thinking more of the young folks who need good advice now the way I did during Reagan's recession. I've lived on minimum wage, have you? If so, what advice do you have for others?
Wow, Toon, that is so nice of you to point out for Juanita. It is so nice to be smarmy to people offering advice, hope it made you feel good.
Juanita obviously doesn't sew or buy used. You can't sew an article clothes for the price you could buy one used. Fabric is now sold as a specialty item used for crafts and homemade gifts. In my city Mpls. I know only of one quilt shop selling $15+ a yard cotton cloth. The last general fabric shop closed years ago and the suburban fabric shops are giving over more and more space to scrap booking and storage products.