Opinion polls tell us that women are more concerned about the impact of the recession than men, is that your view?
I doubt it very much. I think men, especially if they are responsible for bringing money into the home, will be really feeling it at the moment.
Is the recession affecting your family life and if so how?
Definitely. My husband works for RBS (although not in the banking division), so we have no idea what will happen to him. He doesn't get a bonus, like the fat cats, but does get profit share - although where he works is highly profitable it's unlikely that any of them will see anything that rewards the fruits of their long term efforts.
I have my own business as a market researcher. Market research can be one of the first things that companies cut. However, what is making this recession 'interesting' is that even companies who are doing well (and there are some!) are cutting their budgets, because they are fearful of what is to come in the next few months/years. So my business, always unpredictable, is even more so. We lost a job today because we were too expensive - and I can tell you that it was deliberately pitched low, so no idea how low the company that won it went.
The worst thing about it all is the fear. As yet, we haven't been directly affected - my husband is still in a job, and we're still being commissioned (fingers crossed). But we can't plan anything. We need a new car, but have shelved that until I don't know when. Because the car needs replacing, our bill for a 'regular' service yesterday was over £700. We daren't plan a holiday because we don't know if will be able to afford it. My children (at state schools) have private music lessons, and we don't know if we can afford these in the longer term - and they are both passionate about music so losing this would be felt very sorely.
Are you getting the advice and information you need if you ask for help?
Don't know what would be available - haven't had to ask yet.
What do you want to see government doing to help with that?
I would like to see the government putting pressure (somehow) on the media to stop focusing on the bad news. Sometimes it feels like they are gloating about it and circling like vultures over businesses that are suffering. Good news is reported almost grudgingly, or 'hidden' amongst other doom-laden stuff.
What do you think about bonuses?
I think this needs to be clarified. Bonuses that reward short term gains as opposed to longer term achievements are totally wrong. The whole 'greed is good' mentality of the city needs to be culled. But I think that the rest of us mere mortals do need to be rewarded for commitment, effort and achievement.
How can we help women who want to start their own businesses?
Why only women? Why not encourage men to do this as well? Or are we women going to end up in the ghettos of catalogues, envelope stuffers and 'soft' work that fits around our children?