I guess we are lucky or blessed or something. Another friend has been hit so hard by the distressed financial situation he had to go back to work as a shuttle driver for one of the area's larger auto dealer service departments ($10/hour). His part in the blame was, self admittedly, to leave too much money (all of it?) in market based accounts at his age, 70+ years.
So I guess that even though we figure we'll probably stay in the preschool a few years longer than expected, we are fortunate that we are still at capacity, have a waiting list, have booked almost the entire next year class already and even the planned rate increase has not scared off anyone that we've noticed. We'll still work 4 days a week; 20% retired :D The rate increase will go towards hiring another person so we actually can kick back a little during the day. That's our contribution to stimulating the economy. One of us will be able to leave and do other stuff during the day too. And we keep our summers off so I can complete the cabin.
I hope everyone else manages to maintain their work and income at satisfactory levels.
Child care is a good profession if you have good reliable staff. I hope you find the perfect person. 70+ and driving sounds pretty tough. Stupid market funds!!! I have a lot of blessings too, finally a cheap economy car taht runs wonderful, it even started at 30 below this winter without plugging inthe engine heater, (my mistake) MY grandbaby, my daughter and her husband tried for six years and the news was not encouraging from the docs that she would be able to concieve, yet here we are a gorgeous little baby, Never any lack of housework, the library is FREE!! and it is really almost spring even if it is supposed to snow for three straight days!!!!
I love the library! They even sometimes agree with me and order books I want but they don't yet have.
We have a commitment from the mother of a current enrolled child going on to kindergarten next school year. She also had another daughter with us 3 - 4 years ago.
After a couple really thin years with just a marginal amount of work, I finally got a decent contract I bid about a year and a half ago and I got an additional part of the job that I hadn't planned on.
It will likely last around six months but while things are going well we plan to get rid of a bit of debt and repair some equipment for the time we expect that it will slow down again. Since we have been cutting costs and not buying new equipment too to much to speak of, we should be set for close to a year.
Taking all I can get currently and all extra jobs too. Selling my body for money every chance I get. :)
It's nice to have plenty of work for once, but I know that it is not good for many right now and that is not so good.