With the price of gasoline constantly on the rise, people need to begin fighting back. One of the best ways to do this is to cut back on usage so that we can all survive in the current economic environment.

Many employers are feeling the pain for their employees and taking action to help them. This will result in long-term benefits for the employer as he is building a supportive relationship that will most likely last a lifetime.

Employers are coming to the rescue with many different plans:

Some are offering flexible time schedules and home-based jobs. Time schedules can be coordinated with public transportation availability to allow the employee to have a smoother commute to work. Home-based options are being offered to many who are able to perform their work away from the office. For some, this opportunity gives them the time to explore parenting resources and spend additional quality time with their children. This will eventually become a cost saving opportunity for the employer also, as they no longer have to provide space for this person. It has also been documented that productivity actually increases with home-based employees.

Many companies today are actively coordinating ride sharing for their employees amongst their own personnel. Some are even advertising outside the office for possible candidates. Incentives are being given to those participating in ride sharing and many are taking advantage of this option.

Bus passes are sometimes being offered at a deep discount, or free, to employees who live locally. This encourages many to switch to public transportation where it is available.

For the employees who must drive to work and are unable to coordinate ride-sharing, some companies are offering additional cash payments or gas cards to help with the sudden increase in transportation costs.

All of this shows that working together as a team will enable everyone to conserve energy while surviving the current economic downturn.

The current state of the economy is taking a toll on everyone. The stock market is falling regularly, the housing market is not improving as predicted, and people are losing their jobs on a daily basis. Prices at the gas pump and the grocery store have soared to new heights and no one can afford the standard of living they had just a short while ago. Everyone is trying to cut corners, but there is just so much you can do without. The mortgage needs to be paid; the car needs gas to take you to your job, if you are lucky enough to still have one. Groceries must be purchased and I’m sure everyone is scouring cookbooks for many of those inexpensive recipes we always resort to in hard times.

All of the above, combined with the various other effects of our current economic crises, is causing people to have serious stress issues. Anxiety over this financial situation is natural and we are all doing our best to cope. The best thing we can probably do is face it, deal with it, and move on to the rest of our lives.

It has been suggested that we set aside a specific period of time to consider your options. Do not dwell on this subject continuously.

Try to remember that our country has been here before and survived. The market has repeatedly recovered over the long haul.

Concentrate on finding relaxing activities that will not cost money. Consider things like a “family game-night”, picnics in the park, or a visit to the local library for books and movies for the entire family. They also offer free programs for both adults and children, so pick-up a schedule of events on your next visit.

By compartmentalizing your stress, you leave yourself time for relaxing and anxiety-free activities. Allowing the stress to take over your life can result in health issues and possibly even marriage problems. If we work at dealing with these problems in a mature manner, we can survive these times and possibly form an even stronger family bond.

Times are difficult right now and many people are finding themselves dealing with bill collectors for the first time in their lives. Sometimes debt even results in marriage problems. Be prepared. Debt collectors are not nice people. They are paid to be tough and give you a hard time. Do not be frightened. Instead, stand your ground and realize that you are not the only one receiving this treatment. You, too, have rights and be sure to exercise them.

Do not provide personal information to the caller. Realize that you are not speaking with the organization to which you owe money. This is a bounty hunter attempting to earn a small percentage of your debt. Treat them as such.

Understand the possibilities. The debt collectors do have the right to contact you by mail, phone, or fax at home or at work. They are only allowed to attempt to reach you during the hours of 8 am and 9 pm. They have the right to ruin your credit rating and could take you to court to garnish your wages.

Do not allow these people to intimidate you. They must meet certain standards. It is illegal for them to threaten physical harm or arrest. Obscene language is forbidden and they may not intimidate you into thinking they can take your property. To assume your property rights, they would require a court order.

Never pay money you do not owe. Frequently, debt collectors have old information and are basing their calls on this. If you do not believe you owe this money, or if the amount is incorrect, dispute the claim in writing. If the debt being collected is an old one, remember that there is a statute of limitations which differs from state to state, but usually runs three to six years. A collection agency who tries to collect an old debt is breaking the law. If you agree to pay even a small portion of an old debt, this may reaffirm the debt and require that you repay it in full. Do not pay any portion of an old debt unless you are prepared to pay the entire balance.

If you feel that a debt collector is acting unfairly, you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission or your state attorney general’s office.

Layoffs are occurring in record numbers and finding a new position is extremely difficult and can sometimes take more than a year. Employers know they have the upper hand in this economy and are prepared to flex their muscles if they deem it to be necessary. We’ve all seen many mass cutbacks in employees and must realize that at any time this could happen to us. We also must remember that anytime you lose your job, you generally will also lose your family health insurance. Although COBRA is always a temporary option, it is very expensive, therefore, keeping your health insurance is of the utmost importance.

In order to combat the sluggish economy, it is particularly important that we focus fully on our jobs and do not allow ourselves to show any negative actions to our employer.

If you have a seriously ill partner, please let your employer know. By acknowledging the problem, he may make allowances for extra absences, etc. If there are marriage problems, he should also be aware of this.

Do not spend time surfing the web or shopping online. Use the computer for business purposes only.

It is always a good idea to leave the office at least five minutes after your boss. He will get the impression that you are always working late.

During this job depression, be sure not to take very long vacations. After all, they might decide that you are not really necessary if the others are handling your responsibilities satisfactorily.

Be extremely conscious of the fact that you always want to look busy.

If you do get a pink slip, consider negotiating your salary. This may be a much better option than losing most of your income, losing your benefits, and then having to spend possibly the next year looking for a replacement position. If you are turned down for this request, it may really have been your job performance that caused your termination instead of just financial problems.