So, according to the BBC we are headed for a double dip recession....

[Becaroooo]

...I dont even know that means!!

We are moving house this week - larger mortgage, all the fees that go with it etc

Is it silly I am hyperventilating with anxiety about this?

Basically, Economics is not an exact science!

Not everyone loses out in a recession, indeed some types of businesses/organisations do very well in hard times. And some indicators buck the trend (house prices, in this instance).

But this downturn is a toughy because the increasing costs of energy/fuel is also causing inflation, so we're in a position when people have less money to spend, but many of their basic needs are becoming more expensive.

Only two rules in a recession:

1. Keep your job
2. Keep your cash Of course all a lot easier said than done!

The double dip recession in Greece has had a devasting effect on the export of hummus and taramasalata.

"One report saying we are headed for a double dip recession and then another report on the BBC website this morning saying house proces are better than expected and holding up!!! "

I remember the last recession in the early nineties because I bought a house in 1990 just as negative equity was starting to be a problem. In fact, I lost money on the previous house to buy one in a very desirable area. So, while a lot saw the value of their property drop like a stone, mine held its value and didn't change in price for about 5 years. Interest went sky high a few years later and that was a whole other headache. So you have to take the economic reports as a whole for the country but judge what's happening at local and individual level as ImmaculadaConception pointed out.

There's a lot of talk that the Chancellor should go for 'Plan B' but no-one ever seems to be brave enough to say what Plan B actually looks like :) I happen to think that individuals should have a Plan B up their sleeve, however i.e. a contingency plan for what happens if.... we lose our job, interest rates go up, regular bills cost 5% or 10% more etc..

1dayatatime we've already failed on the first of your points. If DH doesn't get a job by the end of the year we're shipping back to my parents. All 3.5 of us.

by spring I should say.