Times are tough

[Mike J.]

Things were also incredibly different.

It seems way harder to save and live these days.

I'll agree with you on that one. When I go to the grocery store it's like....."What? How much?"

But there are a few things that some folks could do to help themselves. Like....."do you really need to pay $200 a month for cable TV?"
I got rid of cable 11 years ago and I don't miss it. The only thing my TV is hooked up to is my DVD player.

Or..."do you have to buy lunch everyday?" I use to buy lunch maybe once every two or three weeks during my working years. If I go out to a restaurant these days, it's at a little family owned place that I like. I've only been there twice this year for breakfast.

I don't go on vacations, I don't date (that's a huge money pit!) and very seldom ever buy new clothes. I'm happy.

So yes, while it's harder to save for a lot of people these days I'm sure some could get rid of a few unneeded expenses.

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Things were also incredibly different.

It seems way harder to save and live these days.

Right there with you.

 

[dmatthews]

Right there with you.

Agreed

 

[László]

One of our friends is having a tough time, and yet there's a lot of smug judgement about being so great at saving dough.

Get over your bad selves!

The largest corporations in America have gone through plenty of changes, but they get bailed out, despite their professional business school managers and all their other geniuses, they sometimes have very tough times. Even the almighty banks needed a bailout only a few years ago.

Know why?

Running a business is really, really hard.

It's even harder for someone in one of the arts. Danktat isn't selling widgets, he's selling his creativity and highly individual skill and talent. If you're like Danktat you do what you do out of passion that's so strong you can't force yourself to do anything else.

It's a lot easier to save if you get a regular paycheck.

But if you run a business as a solo person, and things get slow, there's no one writing you checks. The government isn't baling you out. And you're not getting a predictable salary, you're keeping what you can, when you can, and plowing a lot back into the business.

Wage earners, folks on salaries, they don't have to take money out of pocket to keep a business going. They lose a job, they get another job. It's an entirely different trip.

You own a small business?

You take money out of pocket to pay the rent and utilities while you hang on during slow times, and hope like crazy that things don't go down the toilet. You pay your employees and vendors and utilities and landlord ahead of yourself until you can't.

And sometimes you're forced to part with stuff you'd rather keep.

That's the reality of it.

 

[Daryl Jones]

@László I can only agree with what you said. Being an entrepreneur is a lifelong endeavor and isn't anywhere near the bed of roses so many think it is. I was in private business all my working life 2/3 of which was self employment in grocery retail. You sink or swim according to the current economic conditions much of the time, but smart and dedicated management and work ethic does play a huge part in whether or not you succeed or fail. Not every business is a license to print money, and many fail from a lack of understanding of just how hard it really is to make things go. And even the most diligent and astute operators can hit a brick wall and suffer the defeat and ultimate failure through no fault of their own.
But being an artist, musician, entertainer (any form of creativity in the arts) is a long and lonely road for all but a very fortunate few. And I have the utmost respect for those that follow that path of self expression. Would that I had the skills to be one of them, but it is what it is.

 

[László]

@László I can only agree with what you said. Being an entrepreneur is a lifelong endeavor and isn't anywhere near the bed of roses so many think it is. I was in private business all my working life 2/3 of which was self employment in grocery retail. You sink or swim according to the current economic conditions much of the time, but smart and dedicated management and work ethic does play a huge part in whether or not you succeed or fail. Not every business is a license to print money, and many fail from a lack of understanding of just how hard it really is to make things go. And even the most diligent and astute operators can hit a brick wall and suffer the defeat and ultimate failure through no fault of their own.
But being an artist, musician, entertainer (any form of creativity in the arts) is a long and lonely road for all but a very fortunate few. And I have the utmost respect for those that follow that path of self expression. Would that I had the skills to be one of them, but it is what it is.

As you say, you kind of have to live it to truly understand the grind. Someone who hasn't done it can make an educated guess at best.

By coincidence, my father's dad had a small grocery store in Detroit during the Depression and WWII, but I never saw it. He closed it before I was born.

 

[Mike J.]

One of our friends is having a tough time, and yet there's a lot of smug judgement about being so great at saving dough.

Get over your bad selves!

The largest corporations in America have gone through plenty of changes, but they get bailed out, despite their professional business school managers and all their other geniuses, they sometimes have very tough times. Even the almighty banks needed a bailout only a few years ago.

Know why?

Running a business is really, really hard.

It's even harder for someone in one of the arts. Danktat isn't selling widgets, he's selling his creativity and highly individual skill and talent. If you're like Danktat you do what you do out of passion that's so strong you can't force yourself to do anything else.

It's a lot easier to save if you get a regular paycheck.

But if you run a business as a solo person, and things get slow, there's no one writing you checks. The government isn't baling you out. And you're not getting a predictable salary, you're keeping what you can, when you can, and plowing a lot back into the business.

Wage earners, folks on salaries, they don't have to take money out of pocket to keep a business going. They lose a job, they get another job. It's an entirely different trip.

You own a small business?

You take money out of pocket to pay the rent and utilities while you hang on during slow times, and hope like crazy that things don't go down the toilet. You pay your employees and vendors and utilities and landlord ahead of yourself until you can't.

And sometimes you're forced to part with stuff you'd rather keep.

That's the reality of it.

Okay, I feel this was directed towards me so I won't fear facing the music.

If I came across as high and mighty or unsympathetic or like a know it all, I'm sorry. I apologize and will say that was not my intention.

Times are tough for a great number of people and I can assure you I've had my share. I know what it's like to go to bed hungry and to sleep without heat in the winter. I know what it's like getting laid off 3 times and wondering "okay, now what?" And yes, I've had to sell some things in order to make ends meet.

Really struggled after my divorce in '93. My ex left me with $5,000.00 worth of bad checks that were bouncing everywhere. I was working 55 to 60 hours a week and had to take on a part time weekend job to survive. My house is nothing grand, just a small 1,000 ft ranch house in a very modest neithborhood, but I was bound and determined I would do what it took so I wouldn't lose it. Of course there were plenty of unexpected bills along the way for the next 8 years or so, but that's life. )And lately I'm getting semi-clobbered with unexpected expenses). Had no choice way back then but to pay for those unexpected things like car repairs or furnace repairs, etc on my credit card which I hated to do. But by staying the course and keeping my nose to the grindstone I started to slowly get ahead. When I say getting ahead that doesn't mean I had money to burn. You kidding me? Not even close.

I've never been a big spender and knew deep inside I was never going to be a phenominal money maker. It never took much to make me happy and all that went wrong taught me to all the more to live a modest lifestyle. But then that's all I ever wanted. But it also taught me to save and save and save what you can because at any given moment things can turn on a dime without it being your fault. Even if all you can save is 20 bucks a week, do it. Look at your expenses and see what little cuts you can make if you can. (Again, if you can). You might surprise yourself.

Okay, that's it. Again, I apologize if I upset or hurt anybody. I usually avoid certain topics on line and I've learned now to steer clear of them all.

Peace.

 

[show_a_little_faith]

I hope things pick up for you soon! Agreeing with others, what guitar(s) you do or don't own should have no bearing on belonging here. And in my opinion, an SE is absolutely a "real" PRS guitar! SE, S2, Core, Wood Library and Private Stock - all different versions, but all still PRS guitars. I'd have zero patience for anyone who declares someone else's guitar not "good enough" to count. Hang in there!

 

[Abe]

There's always that dude who can come play our worst guitars better than we always play our best, reminding us about the spirit of the matter at hand.

 

[xxxadixxx]

@danktat, to return to your original comments, hang in there man. Times are tough for all of us even if at different times and in different ways. Only you know what is best for you and I have my fingers crossed you pull through in stronger shape. All the best!

BTW - You should always be welcomed here, with a PRS or not. Take care.

 

[László]

Okay, I feel this was directed towards me so I won't fear facing the music.

If I came across as high and mighty or unsympathetic or like a know it all, I'm sorry. I apologize and will say that was not my intention.

Times are tough for a great number of people and I can assure you I've had my share. I know what it's like to go to bed hungry and to sleep without heat in the winter. I know what it's like getting laid off 3 times and wondering "okay, now what?" And yes, I've had to sell some things in order to make ends meet.

Really struggled after my divorce in '93. My ex left me with $5,000.00 worth of bad checks that were bouncing everywhere. I was working 55 to 60 hours a week and had to take on a part time weekend job to survive. My house is nothing grand, just a small 1,000 ft ranch house in a very modest neithborhood, but I was bound and determined I would do what it took so I wouldn't lose it. Of course there were plenty of unexpected bills along the way for the next 8 years or so, but that's life. )And lately I'm getting semi-clobbered with unexpected expenses). Had no choice way back then but to pay for those unexpected things like car repairs or furnace repairs, etc on my credit card which I hated to do. But by staying the course and keeping my nose to the grindstone I started to slowly get ahead. When I say getting ahead that doesn't mean I had money to burn. You kidding me? Not even close.

I've never been a big spender and knew deep inside I was never going to be a phenominal money maker. It never took much to make me happy and all that went wrong taught me to all the more to live a modest lifestyle. But then that's all I ever wanted. But it also taught me to save and save and save what you can because at any given moment things can turn on a dime without it being your fault. Even if all you can save is 20 bucks a week, do it. Look at your expenses and see what little cuts you can make if you can. (Again, if you can). You might surprise yourself.

Okay, that's it. Again, I apologize if I upset or hurt anybody. I usually avoid certain topics on line and I've learned now to steer clear of them all.

Peace.

You're a good guy. I could, and should have, put it a different way, and not be so overcritical myself.

 

[Mike J.]

You're a good guy. I could, and should have, put it a different way, and not be so overcritical myself.

No, no! Not at all my friend. I didn't think you were mean spirited at all. At any rate and regardless of how you said it, you grabbed my attention in a good way and I thank you. No harm done.

Still friends?

 

[Maxime Bousquet]

It's hard to read this ...I really hope your situation will improve.