12 of 65
BACKNEXT
Eric Isenbarger: Planning pays off
Eric Isenbarger: Planning pays off
Eric with his wife, Janet, and daughter, Alexandra
Sales manager, 31, Conroe, Texas

We built a new home in August 2007 and we rent our last home. We have two car payments as well. However, we have saved enough to last us for quite a while because we planned ahead, knowing the economy takes dips repeatedly.

We decided in the good times to take responsibility and understand what could be coming, knowing that wouldn't last either. We have chosen to not take on new car payments we couldn't afford if a downturn were to take effect and to not have more children we couldn't take care of if the same were to happen.

The economy currently is helping me appreciate the choices I made in the past and appreciate what I have now, which doesn't include a plasma TV or any credit card debt.

I worry about the future and about one of us losing a job, but instead of worrying about how we would eat if that happens, I worry about if it will set us back in our retirement plans and the plans for our child's college education.

NEXT: Robin Goolsby: No problem here
Last updated November 15 2009: 6:21 AM ET
Email | Print | Share  |  RSS
 
google my aol my msn my yahoo! netvibes
Paste this link into your favorite RSS desktop reader
See all CNNMoney.com RSS FEEDS (close)
More Galleries
10 of the most luxurious airline amenity kits When it comes to in-flight pampering, the amenity kits offered by these 10 airlines are the ultimate in luxury More
7 startups that want to improve your mental health From a text therapy platform to apps that push you reminders to breathe, these self-care startups offer help on a daily basis or in times of need. More
5 radical technologies that will change how you get to work From Uber's flying cars to the Hyperloop, these are some of the neatest transportation concepts in the works today. More

Special Offer

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.