Well, there's a forum called "Household Finances", but I've never checked it out.
"I'm going to live within my means, even if I have to borrow money to do it", is what I always say.
Casey

Bronwynsmom, even those of us who haven't felt it directly yet certainly feel what's happening (family), and I think many of us feel that the axe could fall really any time. This thing is bad and deep and long. I think your forum idea is a great one. Maybe you could contact Tamara, though I'm not sure how you'd do that... maybe someone else might know.

There is the Money Saving Tips Forum which I frequent and there are many helpful people there. I give kudos to Grainlady for all she posts. I learn a lot in that forum. There is the Retirement Forum when I do not visit (yet). And of course the Household Finances Forum. I don't think we need a new forum. Just start using the ones that there are now. Many of the forums here are practically vacant.

Since this has been brought up............I would like to see a 'Green' Forum started. They added a Renewable Energy Forum a while back, but the focus is too narrow and it does not get many visits. A Green Forum could have a broader range of topics for today's green home and would get more interest. And yes, I do know there is a Going Green Forum at the Garden side but it seems to deal with gardening issues mostly last time I checked it, not home or household issues.

Also, and I am being totally serious here, I wish there was a forum to stick all the CL talk. On a regional board that I belong to we finally created a forum just for people to yak about CL and not clutter up the rest of the forums. Just a thought. It would be helpful for those who need "immediate" opinions on a potential purchase, offer buying tips, and even offer a few laughs. I know they won't do that here at GW but it worked out really well on our regional board.

bronwynsmom, I think you can never have enough forums so I'm all for it. I'd be happy to give input if needed.

Dilly-dally is probably right about the other two forums being helpful...I was thinking mostly about the particular problems of a drastic change in circumstances, which has impact beyond the pocketbook. Clearly, people on many of the existing forums are needing a place to talk about this, and to ask for support, and to help each other, and perhaps a place where all that can be corralled might be good. I have had the sense that some posters need to work these issues out, but have some reluctance to bring the circumstances into the other conversations. I would certainly find it more time-efficient to have one place for those discussions, particularly now that I will be even more pushed for time.

I visit the money saving tips quite a bit and while there are some diehard tightwads posting, if we had more regular people who wanted to discuss the frugal elements of decorating, that would be great. The Household finances forum is more for discussing mortgages and that type of thing.

Bronwynsmom, There is a conversations side to the Home Decorating Forum where many have discussed very personal issues regarding health, marriage, finances, family discord, ect. People are very understanding about things, and most of us can empathize, even if we choose not to post on a particular topic. Many offer advice if asked or consolation. Scroll down neat the bottom of the page where it says 'Gallery' and 'Conversations'. Click on 'Conversations'. When you want to come back click on 'Discussions'.

There is also the Kitchen Table Forum where people go to whine or vent, (and I use those words because many times the title of the post is "Vent" or "Whine"). Many in KT are posting about job loss, hard times, medical battles, painful surgury, family problems, death, divorce, ect.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Table

I prefer seeing the more popular forums evolve and change rather than have new ones on specific topics ; a paint forum was added but there are still tons of posts on paint in the decorating forum.

Rather than dilute the popular forums, I personally prefer enjoying the shifts and changes within the existing ones, craigslist is another type of retail venue now, imo, same as pottery barn, it also reflects lesser spending and recycling. The conversations side is very welcoming to personal situations which include venting about the current downslide in the economy.

I guess I'm just lazy, I prefer having an "all inclusive" menu within the same forums I'm used to, I pick and choose what suits me within the boundaries of
the existing forums.

Brownysmom, I still think you should pitch your idea to IVillage ; the advantage of a new forum is that it would draw other new members at large who would want to form a community of like-minded individuals, not bound by a decorating or kitchen interest necessarily- it would shake things up and get us out of our "comfort" level.

I'm full of contradictions but I just expressed my views on the topic at hand,
fwiw.

When spike had it I emailed and asked for the old house forum because there was one for new but no older homes,He agreed he said he has one so we got it.

I'll be honest (and I'm sure I'll be ducking some tomatoes), but the thought of a whole forum dedicated to negative circumstances alarms me. FWIW, I am a firm believer in positive thinking (I mean, like "The Secret" positive thinking) and that you reap what you sow mentally. I think a group of people sending out negative vibes together will only create more heartache in those people's lives.

"I was once asked why I don't participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said that I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I'll be there." - Mother Teresa

On a side note, since I try to avoid negativity at all costs, at least a forum like that would allow me to stay away from all of those posts by not visiting it.

BTW, my job has recently been dissolved due to the economy, so I am not posting from a distant, insensitive place.

Last point... this is just my opinion and I offer it as food for thought. I mean NO DISRESPECT to anyone and I do not judge others.

:duck:

I think I should follow up and say that I don't believe that bronwynsmom meant for the forum to focus on negativity. However, I truly fear that it would result in many people documenting their woes, in writing, which gives tremendous power to those negative thoughts.

Okay, I'll shut up now. :)

At another forum site where I used to spend time years ago, there was a "Frugal Living" board - dedicated to such topics as recipes for cheap but healthy dinners, using coupons to get the most value for your grocery dollar, weatherstripping or other ways to save money on heat, even something like announcing a good web sale on something -- basically anything that helps you spend less. I really enjoyed the forum, but the entire forum site blew up a few years ago. I'd love to have a similar "Frugal Living" forum here - I think it would be helpful to a lot of people, especially given the tight economy right now.

creekylis, I, too, am thinking positive. I wouldn't visit a site that had all the negativity, even if it did happen to me, which is very possible in the near future. I think all the negativity would be just like the media is doing, make things worse.

Anyone have a frugal money saving tip to offer? Post it and lets get the Money Saving tips Forum more active!

I'll start.

Here is a link that might be useful: Money Saving Tips Forum

olliesmom...thanks for understanding my message. Cheers!

I perhaps don't actively participate enough to weigh in, but i'll still add my two coppers to this discussion.

I'm leaning towards not having an additional forum, because as someone else said, there are already existing forums that cover financial matters. There's also a conversations side that has an even looser framework for what's discussed (and we can be pretty loose here too, which i love).

Part of the benefit of the forums are that we all get to know one another over time; our gifts, our peccadilloes. If, at this little party, there was yet another "room" to circulate through, i think it would just distract us from our shared company.

Again, just my two cents.

I think all your ideas and thoughts are excellent ones...all sincere, all clear points of view, and all different, which is the point entirely, isn't it?
No tomatoes for you, Creekylis - I'm tossing roses at you instead - and thank you for seeing that I didn't mean a big whine-a-thon. In fact, I think you are probably right that such a narrow topic could easily go in that direction, and then I can imagine a lot of tomatoes flying around. Having been reared to believe in grace under pressure above all else, I think I was imagining something much too idealized.
We are not always at our best when stressed, after all...
So I think I am backing away from the idea of a separate forum.
Plenty of food for thought in the existing ones...including the Organizing the Home forum, which covers some of the issues nicely when it is well-attended. Thank you all for weighing in.
Any more thoughts?