So, my dad works for a pharmaceutical company. In consequence, we are in the upper middle class, have a company car with free gas, and great medical benefits. A few years ago, we popped out the champagne to commemorate our freedom from debt after a couple of years of strict budgeting, shredding credit cards, and hard work. Ever since, we have lived way below our means, excluding a couple of extravagances (my new car, for example :D). Therefore, when the economy went to crap, it in no way affected us.

Sure, the price we paid at the gas pumps sucked, but that's all it was to us-- an annoyance. It never affected the way we lived. Similarly, when the housing market bubble was at it's height, we had decided that instead of buying a new house (my family was moving because of my dad's job at the time) we were going to rent. This turned out to be a blessing when the bubble popped. We wiped our foreheads in relief that we hadn't bought that perfect $200,000 house. In addition, we had only one small investment in the stock market when it crashed.

Obviously, we escaped very easily and we only have God to thank for that.

However, now things have changed. My dad's pharmaceutical company hasn't come out with a new drug in forever. It is spending money on everything from paying for their employees' gas, medicine, vacation, and dinners to having to pay for medical research. They basically have only one high selling drug (which is going generic very soon) to pay for it. Therefore, there is going to be a round of layoffs, and when I say layoffs, I mean that there will be 50% of district managers in the US out of work. I don't know the statistics on ranks higher than that, but my dad has told me that it is probably about the same. The sales reps, like my dad, are also going to receive layoffs. In fact, in my dad's small district there are six reps, including himself. When the smoke has cleared, there will be only one remaining.

The general attitude of my parents and myself at this moment can be summed up by "Oh crap..." Did I mention that we are a single income family?

These are my concerns:

1. We will lose the company car and therefore, the free gas. This means that we will only have my mom's OLD, gas guzzling suburban, and my brand new coupe scion tc (a very small car) to get us around. Most likely, we will have to get rid of my car. I am very sad about it, for obvious reasons, but I have no problem driving a big pile of junk if it helps my family out.

2. We lose our medical benefits. We pay like $15 for most of our doctor's appointments and less for prescription drugs.. Yeah, our medical benefits are freaking amazing. This will be another big expense.

3. If my dad is laid off it will probably be hard for him to find another job. I'm picturing the movie Fun with Dick and Jane here. The part where Dick is competing with all his former co-workers for the same jobs. My dad's pharm. company is one of the largest in the world, so there will be A LOT of people looking for jobs. It will likely make the news.

4. We may have to move. Moving is expensive. 'Nuff said.

5. I want to go to college next year and we hardly have any savings. We were counting on my dad's job to enable me to make it through A&M without student loans. I have saved a few hundred dollars from my minimum wage job, but that may buy me books for like one year... If I have to get student loans or go to a Junior College for a couple of years so be it. If we could avoid that, however, I would be extremely pleased.

There are more, but these are the most major ones. Who knows? My dad could be the one who stays. I also realize that there are a heck of a lot more people who are worse off than we would be, too. However, it has always been pretty easy for me, all I have to do is earn good grades. I've never had to worry about my dad being laid off before, and the prospect terrifies me, especially with the economy being the way it is.

Anyway, it's probably stupid, but I just wanted to get it off my chest.

This year, I have a plethora of resolutions. Usually, I have about one or two but this year... I keep thinking of more and more to add to the list. So anyway, here it goes.

1.) Keep the resolutions ALL YEAR! This is probably going to be the hardest one on the list, seeing as I have so many.

2.) Be a better Christian.

3.) Study something everyday. This is dorky, but I feel lazy when I don't study anything. I think it is good to always try and expand your mind's horizons.

4.) Workout regularly. Ugh, I am sooo inconsistent.

5.) Eat healthier. No more cake for breakfast.

6.) Get better at Hatha Yoga. I just started and I actually love it! The problem is, I kinda suck at it...

7.) Do something different. Such as, joining a ballroom dancing class or eating escargot (sp?).

8.) DO NOT GIVE IN TO SENIORITIS!!!

9.) Get to class on time...

10.) Start writing regularly

11.) Read non-fiction books.

12.) Be more outgoing and outspoken.

13.) Apply for scholarships

14.) Finish NHS hours.

15.) Drive less aggressively :)

I will come up with more, but that is the gist of it. What are your new year's resolutions?