Nikea Brame

31
U.S. Army contracting officer in training
Lorton, Va. (near Washington)

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

When I moved here, I couldn't sell my house in Virginia Beach, and even though I have a renter I'm losing $400 every month.

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

I don't see anything going on right now that's going to help the common person. I'm worried that we're just seeing the beginning of this and that it'll go on past 2009.

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

I never imagined I'd want to stay in the military longer, but it looks a lot more secure.

What should be done to make things better?

More help of some kind to the common people who really need it, rather than giving money to people who got all the money in the first place—like those getting the bailout.

And, last, how have recent economic and financial worries changed your Starbucks habit?
Instead of putting $100 on my Starbucks card ever month, it's $50. When I hit zero, I'll go make my own.

—Keith Epstein