Jacco Gelderloos

34
County government employee
Ann Arbor, Mich.

How has the financial and economic turmoil affected you and your family?

The dollar is so weak that we couldn't go to Europe to visit my family this year as we normally would. We have kept our debt and mortgage lower than a lot of people, though, so we haven't been so affected in other ways yet. But I don't think it's going to stay that way.

How long do you think it'll take before the economy recovers?

This isn't short-term. This is going to take years to fix.

If the economy and the markets don't improve until 2009, how will this affect you and your family?

I think we will start to change where and how we shop a bit. We don't rack up debt by spending money we don't have. That allows us to be selective about where we will cut back. I can see us putting off bigger purchases for a while, especially as our retirement statements come in and are going lower.

What should be done to make things better?

The whole way we look at debt in this country needs to change.

And, last, how have recent economic and financial worries changed your Starbucks habit?

I don't get the expensive coffees that can cost more than $4. I just come in twice a week or so for a cup of tea.

—David Kiley