“My parents used to argue about money in front of me and my brother, and I hated it. Since all this bad stuff went down, they’ve kinda clammed up and I feel that’s almost worse. I don’t think America’s going to perish—but it’s sure not going to be the same in our house as when we were little. I don’t mean loss of jobs yet but still bad. So the kinds of things I like to do that cost money – download iTunes and buy gear for my bike—it’s going to wait now. Weird as it seems, I think I’ll know things are safe when my parents start yelling again.”

Jen S., 15

“Economy’s decline seems to have affected people from every walk of life except for desperate teens. We are in need of jobs that offer some sort of salary, even if it isn’t all that high. We are constantly searching for a way to make money. Therefore, bosses are eager to snatch us up. However, there are lay-offs for older and more experienced workers left and right. Getting a job when you’re older than 25 is a struggle; not just a challenge like it used to be. It seems to be our parents who are suffering and not us. I don’t really know what the problem is specifically, other than everyone says it has to do with our politics? I’m kind of in the dark as far as the American economy status goes.  Still, I can see, even at my age that it’s taking a toll on our parents and on the world around us. Prices skyrocket and unemployment follows. What do we do and where does it end?”

Lily M., 18

What the Parents Say …

“As a family, including our remaining in-home teenager, we are trying to be more conscious of driving and running errands in a few weekly trips instead of daily, and picking up necessities on the way home from work, instead of impulsive trips for an item or two. For the long term, we grew an organic vegetable garden for the first time in several years and plan to expand next year. We have frozen some of the garden's goodies and maybe I will (finally) learn how to can things too. Also we are saving veggie seeds instead of throwing them out & buying new (packaged) ones in the spring.  I have turned into my grandfather and turn off lights wherever in the house I go. We put the computer into "sleep" mode after 5 minutes of non-use. We've always had a wood-burning stove for 90% of our winter's heat and this year I feel really good about that!” 

Judy A., mother of daughter, 19 and son, 17

“Each day the news give us another topic to talk about at the dinner table and car rides back and forth from high school games.  With teens driving and college costs around the corner, we have now questioned purchases and are they necessary.  Driving kids to and from places and the cost of gas now takes a part of every conversation. These are very hard days and with multiple children we are faced with ‘do we really need to do that?’ Our daily and monthly household costs, extra activities all come into consideration. So, hanging out at home and family time has played an important part at home.   When we take trips now we try and do a few stops on the way to places we need to go to that are in the same area. The kids now contribute to their Dirt Bikes’ gas as well, but ride a little less too.”  

Marian M., parent of 16-year-old twins (boy and girl) and 14 year old boy

“The economic times are certainly troubling for me and for my family.  We will be sending our two older children off to college in each of the next two years and with tuition averaging $40,000 per year, it’s overwhelming in any economy, especially this one.  Outside of robbing a bank, we have made concessions in our household to try and save where possible.  Bag lunches is the way to go with 3 children in school... I do a better job of planning the driving routes to take care of multiple errands on the same outing...this helps to cut down on gas costs.  The trips to the mall have been few and far between and purchases are limited to what you really need, not just what you would like to have.  Lastly, dinners out have become more of a special event as opposed to part of our normal routine. I have gotten good at planning meals for at least 5 out of the 7 days of the week, which leaves 1 night for left-overs and 1 one for pizza or Chinese (take-out of course!) I'm still not sure that [these changes] will help with those overwhelming college costs, but maybe the savings will buy a text book or two...we can only hope!

Donna G., mother of two girls 17 and 11, and a boy 16

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Issue: January 2009