All to the good
I was made redundant at the start of the credit crunch in August last year...

...so I set up in business in competition with my ex-employer and now I'm in profit after 12 weeks of trading. I provide payroll for HR freelancers so I'm not really affected by the credit crunch cos firms still need HR bods even when the going is tough (to do change management and dealing with redundancy issues) and also when its good times.

I am also a Northern Rock mortgage holder and as I was on a MASSIVE fixed rate until January so I've even seen my mortgage go down by £500 a month.

And... I managed to get £2000 off the price of my second-hand car as the dealer wanted to get rid of all of his stock at cost to get some money back into the business - RESULT!

I know it sounds like I'm being rather smug, but I remember the recession of the early '90s all too well. I bought a house when interest rates were at 15% and ended up in negative equity within a year of buying it. I was made redundant twice in 2 years and was on benefit for a long time.

I have real sympathy for people who are suffering but I've come to realise now that the only way to be financially independent is to work for yourself with a good business model and plenty of honest graft. And don't get everything on credit - save for it and when you get it, it will be all the more satisfying!
(penrose your dog's got tits, Wed 28 Jan 2009, 9:23, Reply)