[flu189]

When I arrived here in 2005 I was also pleased to find my auto insurance premiums drop. However, I found out fast that my insurance windfall was rapidly eliminated by other higher costs thereby negating my savings. Regarding the cost of fuel, several locations today in Brattleboro are showing 1.99 gas. Here in Chittenden County we are still .20 to .30 above that, but you can go in any direction and find cheaper fuel. Right now more effort and research is being expended on how to quietly increase taxes, fees, etc versus on making actual cuts. An article today in the Rutland Herald also commented on Mr Spaulding's "motor fuels distribution infrastructure assessment", i.e. tax, by referring to it as "semantic maneuvering."

[GypsySoul22]

I've kicked around the idea of making my own bread because I am a pretty good baker and it's healthier. I already make pizza weekly instead of buying it. I can make a pizza for probably $5.00 or less and it feeds the 3 of us. I tried making bread a few times--

Job hunting in VT/NH has been hard for me.

The one thing I find rough about here is there are either very skilled jobs (doctors/dentists/whatever someone does at a hospital) or there are low paying jobs in stores and daycares. There is not a lot for the person who has some skills or wants to change careers/do something different.

The amount of people with degrees & a lot of experience working for poverty wages is horrific. (not just in VT but all over).

I'd be happy now with a part time office job just to bring in some much needed income. The only office jobs I see now seem to be expecting bizarre hours.

I'm seriously rethinking whether I am staying here long term. My husband says he doesn't want to move again and I don't want to take my son out of school here but I simply cannot spend the rest of my life 'chasing work.' (I fear for my sanity.)

[flu189]

Moving right now, especially with a familiy, can be a very risky proposition unless of course you have a definate job lined up. My younger son who will be graduating college next May will be using his Christmas break to go visit friends who have relocated to Austin, Tx and apparently have had luck in getting established there with work and affordable living arrangements. Right now for a great many the pudent option is to just hunker down and wait out the storm while cutting costs as much as possible. Speaking of state revenue shortfalls one upcoming factor has yet to make the news. In the fairly near future almost 2,000 folks will deploy from here and while gone their income will not be taxed, they won't be here buying gas, shopping, etc. This will most certainly further drag down revenues in a small state such as ours. Now that a gas tax is being floated for the purpose of feeding the transportation fund, it is important to note that the transportation funds has been for years raided in the millions by shifting funds to the general fund and education fund. Funny on on how now the concern over bridge decay needs immediate action. These bridges, a substantial amount 60 or more years old, did not just begin decaying over the past years. We were too busy playing with funds and deferred maintenance. We are aghast with the mismanagement and creative accounting practices of the likes of AIG, Bear Stearns, the Big Three auto giants, but we don't have to stray outside of own borders to find problems which will impact us all.

[mustmove]

GypsySoul22 there is a super walmart in Woodsville, NH. up 91 the exit past Bradford. Might be worth the drive, I believe we are further North of you and it is about the same to Woodsville as West Leb. for us. In other news 1.99 gas is available off the Ascutney exit at the Irving station and down 131 at the Citgo station.

[MTK1]

Rutland county is really taking a hit with job losses. Not even including the latest layoffs it has the second highest unemployment rate in the state.

Rutland Job Losses

Rutland County is bleeding jobs.

Area manufacturers have laid off more than 300 workers over the past 6 months.

Rutland Plywood let go of 76 workers last week, nearly cutting its staff in half. Vermont Store Fixture Corporation in Danby laid off 57 employees. Omya cut 50 workers. And last summer Brandon based Vermont TUBBS and NEO EMS let go of more than 100 employees combined.

WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Rutland Job Losses

[MistyVT]

Originally Posted by flu189

Oh yeah, my son called today from Amherst, Ma to inquire if he should gas up before coming home for Thanksgiving. He wanted to know if we were cheaper than $1.90 per gallon yet. We had a good laugh.

Perhaps he should fill up some of those plastic gas containers and bring them along with him to refuel before he heads back to MA!