Hi,

(pixabay image)

I was just a child when the 2008 financial crisis began. I had no idea what the economy was or how deeply it could impact my life. But I vividly remember the distress on my mother’s face. She had lost her job, and we were forced to move into a small, cramped room. Food and clothing became a struggle for us. Even completing my education felt like fighting a big battle for me.

Those were days of deep hardship for my family and friends. Our neighbors and friends’ families were also suffering. It took my mother months to find work again. That experience taught me something painful and unforgettable that financial crises hit hardest those who are already living on the edge.

And now, I fear it's happening again. This time, America seems to be the epicenter once more. The US President Donald Trump’s tariff wars may have been the trigger, but the real build-up began earlier. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. printed enormous amounts of money, followed by other countries. This oversupply of currency weakened its actual value, reducing the purchasing power of ordinary people like me.

At the same time, governments took on massive debt. According to public data, the United States now owes around $34 trillion that is nearly the size of its entire GDP. I don’t know how such a debt will ever be repaid. Cutting government spending seems like the only possible path for them, but doing so would shrink the economy further, making repayment even harder. It could trigger job losses, income cuts, and a reduction in everyday spending, leading to a vicious cycle.

And there’s more. With the U.S. imposing tariffs on imports, other nations may retaliate as well. It will be worsening the global economy. The firing of government employees under Trump's administration added further strain. I’m not an economist, but I can feel the tremors. Something big is coming, and it’s frightening.

I work in a store. If cost-cutting pressures rise, my job could be on the line. I’ve been jobless before, and the thought of going through that again is terrifying. I worry constantly about my future and about my ability to survive.

I feel helpless. All I have a few hundred bucks in cryptos. All I can do is pray for myself and for others like me. The rich will likely be shielded through tax breaks and bailout packages. But for people like me, it’s always the same story: hardship, uncertainty, and survival.
May God help us! Amen!