The Recession is Over!

So apparently the recession is over.  I tend to agree with this conclusion as I see signs of economic life all around me--i.e. new construction is visible on the road; lots of Christmas shopping and shipping in December; unemployment is nearing the "normal" 5% rate; friends and family are buying new or gently used cars; and there is an overall sense of optimism in the air. I, too, am experiencing this greater sense of optimism, but I'm not sure why.  My monthly income hasn't exceeded $800 since 2010 when I worked for the Census Bureau. This in spite of the fact that I put in over 150 hours of work per month, mostly as a professional volunteer for local non-profits. I have a student debt of $50,000 (and growing) that I am unable to make the $700 per month payments on; my wife bitches at me daily about my not having secured a well-paid job as a result of my earning a master's degree in 2014; my landlord is tired of receiving the monthly rent in installments; I haven't purchased new underwear or socks (or anything else to wear for that matter) in three years; and the list goes on.  I started a GoFundMe campaign in October 2015--www.gofundme.com/wendykincade--that has resulted in cash gifts of $425 from several concerned and/or generous loved ones.  Unfortunately, I am so busy working for free, I haven't found time to really push the campaign; and at an average of $85 per month ($425/5 months), it's hard to get motivated.  But things are looking up--we have received from community services, $760 toward our gas and electric bills over the past year; food stamps are coming in regularly at $174 a month; we have been recipients of free health care, courtesy of the Oregon Health Plan, since January 2014.  I also received $5,000 in hearing aids and accessories in January 2015 from the State of Oregon Vocational Rehabilition Department, plus $200 in business clothing for job interviews. My coaching and mediation business finally made a profit--$500 in 2014 and $2,000 in 2015. At this rate, I should be netting $8,000 in 2016 and $32,000 in 2017.  However, since 95% of my income is received from conducting foreclosure avoidance mediations, as the economy improves and the number of homeowners facing foreclosure is greatly reduced, my revenue from this source will all but go away.  In other words, as others' boats begin to float, mine will sink to the bottom.  But not to worry. The economy is getting better. At the age of 57 (soon to be 58), I should have no problem landing one of those $60,000 a year jobs that only graduates of a prestigious master's degree in conflict and dispute resolution can qualify for, right?