BELLA VISTA, Arkansas – For a man who has had his salary cut 10 percent and now has to work hard to make it to his next paycheck, Denny Robertson is in a philosophical frame of mind.
“I have had to learn to live with less. But I have shelter and I have food, so I have everything I need,” he said. “It’s uncomfortable to run out of money before the next paycheck, but we’ll get by.
Robertson, 34, is a product engineer at tool maker Kennametal Inc. at a facility in nearby Rogers. Facing the longest and deepest recession since the 1930s, earlier this year the company laid off some staff locally and – in a bid to preserve jobs – gave others one week of furlough, or unpaid leave, every month.
After five months of that, however, the company gave salaried staff a 10 percent pay cut instead in order to keep the facility open at all times.
“If the economy shows signs of improvement then my salary will go back up,” Robertson said. “But I’m not holding my breath that the economy is improving and I’m not banking on it.”
“I keep hearing that the economy is recovering but I just don’t see it.”
Robertson and his wife Rebecca have two young daughters and have had to rethink their budget.
“We have picked up some good habits because of my situation,” he said, speaking at his home in this leafy small town in northwest Arkansas, which is just a few miles from the home of low-cost retail giant Walmart in Bentonville. “We eat out less and I have become more disciplined at making my own lunches for work rather than eating fast food every day.”
As a result, he has lost 20 pounds this year without any additional exercise. The Roberstons also now buys second-hand clothing and with the holidays coming up is planning to buy gifts only for children in their extended family – they will make cookies and other gifts themselves for the adults.
Robertson has stopped paying into his 401(k) retirement savings plan and the family now relies on credit cards only for emergencies.
“The credit cards are only for unexpected things,” he said. Recently his two daughters came down with the H1N1 virus and even with his healthcare coverage he had to charge co-payments and prescriptions to his credit card.
Robertson said that living with less has made him appreciate his church even more and he has raised his tithe payment to the church to 10 percent of his income.
“Even once my salary rises I’ll continue to do that,” he said. Another thing he said that will continue is that he intends to live within his means and not buy into America’s consumer culture any more.
He said that his church has members who are children of the Great Depression and this downturn has taught to appreciate what they went through growing up.
“In one way this recession may be a good thing for my generation,” Robertson said. “Perhaps this is what we need to build a little character.”
“We don’t have to have the latest TV to enjoy life,” he said. “Sure, I’d like to have that TV. But unless I can pay for it in cash, I’m not going to buy it.”
Photos by Lucy Nicholson
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To the posters that think they see granite countertops, look again. Those countertops are formica. It’s a faux granite look-alike pattern.
This guys life style really doesn’t seem all that excessive. Yes, there are people out there having a tougher go of it. Some of them have it tougher through no fault of their own, save being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. There are stories from Reuters about those people too.
- Posted by chollie[...] a project engineer in Arkansas with a family to support just got his pay cut by ten [...]
- Posted by About that legal gambling thang on Wall St… | The Sirens ChroniclesThis man is about my age (I’m 35), and I can understand some of his feelings about the things he and his family gave up. Our generation came of age in the 1980’s, a period when consumerism kicked into high gear. He and his wife probably grew up in families that could afford having TVs in various rooms, have multiple cars, etc. That was the image of prosperity everyone aspired to.
However, he and I are different in that I grew up as an immigrant in this country, and had to live with less. I’ve been better equipped to deal with loss of work (I’ve been unemployed for almost a year even though I’m college-educated), and living without certain luxuries (I’ve never owned a car, and haven’t owned a TV in five years).
The Robertsons are now becoming healthier in mind, body and spirit by giving up those markers of perceived prosperity. It’s good that they are learning that now, while they are young.
- Posted by Mario C.Can I suggest eating the dog
- Posted by Graham SeedI saw one dog. There might be others, even a cat. Get rid of the pets, especially dogs.
401Ks are mentioned alot. If they are company matched to some percentage, fine. No more than the company match.
Look for 18 month CDs to return with at least a 4% return and jump on em.
Forget about an 8% return average over the next 20 years in stock markets.
- Posted by timmyMost of the Americans have bought into the fiction that the economy will turn around any time now. Maybe the buffalo will return and the white man will go away.
I heard from God Almighty that we are facing disaster. The middle class will be crushed down into poverty just like Argentina in 2002. The American Dollar will go the way of the American Continental. Yes, the almighty Dollar will fail us.
We will have nowhere to look but up to an invisible God for protection and provision and guidance. And most of us will be surprised to get answers. A Christian revival will break out.
- Posted by TimuchinYuki, Thank you for your perspective. It is refreshing to hear from someone who is not a ‘chrisitian’ but has a respect for this man none the less. I defended the attacks on this man because they were unfair and you have enhanced this discussion with your perspective.
- Posted by SteveCan anyone suggest how I can cut expenses?
Even before the recession struck, my family:
- almost never ate out
- bought new clothes only to replace worn out/torn/otherwise no more usable ones
- own a very modest smallish house (albeit in a nice ‘burb - quiet, good schools, easy commute, etc.)
- refi’d the house to very low fixed interest loan
- last bought a car in 2004 (used! and only to replace a totaled one)
- last bought a TV in 2003
- never carried credit card debt - all bills paid in full within grace period
- used every possible coupon/sale/promo while shopping for groceries, and rarely bought deeply processed packaged foods, opting for basics instead
Cutting 401(k) and 529 is not an option. Nor is cutting children’s activities (extracurricular ed, sports, music, etc).
Our biggest expense so far is taxes. Federal and state income tax, SocSec tax, property tax, sales tax, whatnot tax - they eat about half our family income if not more. No, I’m not suggesting tax evasion - it may turn out too costly. How about voting out tax-and-spend politicians, and bringing in the ones who takes tax cut as something more than pre-election lip service?
- Posted by AnonymousIt’s quite interesting if you take note, the people who are most opposed to tithing, church, faith etc. are the most angry and critical voices lashing out. James RH jr. makes a great and historically true point.
- Posted by Roman E.My husband also worked for Kennametal, here in the Cleveland area, until he was laid off in March. A 10% pay cut is a heck of a lot better than being laid off and having to rely on unemployment (barely 50% of his previous pay). I’m glad the salaried employees at Kennametal are sharing part of the burden of the company’s struggle, rather than it all being dumped on the hourly employees, but they don’t have it as bad as they think.
- Posted by BlossomBob:
You need to crawl back under whatever rock you’ve been hiding under. This is a good family doing the best they can–the only freak here is you.
- Posted by Voice of ReasonJames, Peter, I’m glad to hear some sanity and humanity in these blogs. Although, it is sad that for many it takes experiencing a crisis to realize the power of community and giving.
- Posted by KellySo they talked with a guy who has a relatively good job and lives in the \’burbs. What\’s wrong with that???? The recession affects everyone. Here is the point: here\’s this guy in this suburban pre-fab house with all the trimmings, \”bought into\” the whole new-TV-every-year mentality and the recession has forced him to rethink all that. He no longer buys on credit, and instead of complaining, he has a newfound appreciation for how lucky he is–he says so himself–for things like a home and his family and food on the table.
I find it inspiring that he upped his tithe to the church–all you naysayers should try it too before slagging him for it. If you are not religious–I myself am an atheist–then commit 10% of your income to your favourite charity–if you have one. I\’m guessing you don\’t, because you\’re probably the type of person who prefers to complain than do anything for positive change.
I give about 2% of my income to environmental, children\’s rights and disaster-relief organizations. My partner chooses AIDS and cultural charities. Let me just say 2% doesn\’t sound like much but it is HARD! That this guy had his income cut by 10%, and then chooses to donate a full 10% is incredible. So walk a half mile before you scoff.
Also, there is a very good chance that his church is providing aids to families in need within their community, not just organizing anti-abortion rallies or buying gold pew ornaments.
The recession has cut my income by about 50%. That\’s perfectly okay with me b/c my spouse has a secure job and we make well over the national average. Instead of complaining about my income dive, I\’ve chosen to reallocate my extra free time to volunteering at my local food bank one day per week and spending more time working out (for my health) and cooking from scratch (for my family\’s health).
The recession has provided some positive effects to those who are able to grab them–and yes, lucky enough to be middle or upper middle class and not blue-collar– a newfound appreciation for what we do have, healthier lifestyle habits (packed lunches, not fast food), buying less landfill-destined crap from IKEA and Walmart… I like reading about how middle income people are coping: between cutting back, volunteering, growing our own veggie gardens and so on, perhaps a bourgeois lifestyle revolution is in the making!
- Posted by YukiChurch? Good things? It is superstition and it is the rallying cry for most killing in this world.
This family deserves all its got coming to it: fat, laziness, and a television set which is second only to God.
What a bunch of freaks.
- Posted by bobSam — If you explore the stories linked from the map above, you’ll see we’re talking to a wide diversity of people.
- Posted by Richard BaumI like how his plan is to buy a t.v. (albeit with cash) as soon as this downturn is over. He’s really just holding his breath until he can go back to his consumerist ways (not to say that this is all bad).
- Posted by James PerlyI’m glad that our family has decided against xmas presents this year, I was tired years ago of that hamster wheel. I’m trying to convince them that we should give each other letters, talking about what we are proud of in each other, as well as what we like about each other. I know that sounds corny, but I’ve kept every letter I ever received that said nice things. And don’t get me started about trite cards with one line greetings that say nothing to who I am.
The undercurrent here is learning how to be human again - eating real food, appreciating and celebrating each other. And yes, we don’t need the church for that, we can do it on our own.
James Reginald Harris, jr
lol….
Are you serious? You are way too funny!!
- Posted by Sebastian