Though it’s too early to produce long-term research, anecdotal evidence is linking the struggling economy with more abortions and vasectomies. Why? People simply can’t afford more kids right now.

Former president of the American Urological Association and practicing urologist Lawrence Ross said the number of men seeking vasectomies had remained consistent over the years–about 500,000 a year. But in the last six months or so, he has seen a 50% increase. His patients’ reasons make sense. If you’ve been thinking about it, and now you are worried about losing your job and insurance benefits–get it done while you still can.

Ross also says men who weren’t previously thinking of vasectomies have new motivation. “A lot of them are saying that we’ve decided to limit our family, the costs of education and raising kids is so high.”

Vasectomies may have remained at constant levels. But abortion rates definitely fluctuate. (The numbers of tubal ligations or other female sterilization procedures may be a better comparison. But such data was not compared.) In 2005, when the economy was great, abortion rates were down to their lowest numbers since it was legalized. Now, they are up again. One woman interviewed for the initial report said, “I felt I had to go through with the procedure because I cannot afford another child.” The 32-year old woman is a registered nurse, but she is single and feels her job is not secure.

The president of an abortion hotline says their phone has been “ringing off the hook.” She says some of the issues that low-income women have always cited as reasons for abortion–their husbands or boyfriends are unemployed, uninsured, or are afraid of losing their home–are now affecting middle-class women.

I do not personally support abortion. But I can absolutely see why some people would choose to limit their family size right now. I know that economics was part of the decision when my husband and I started talking about having another baby. This was a few years ago. And at the time, the nation’s economy was doing great. But my personal economy was more the issue. How would we make it financially if I took a year off? Of course, my husband said if you wait until you can afford kids, you’ll never have them. He’s right, of course. But I was still nervous. I’m glad we expanded our family when we did. I’m not sure I would have wanted to make that decision today.

What about you? Is an uncertain economy a factor in expanding (or limiting) your family size?

Cheryl Lang spends her days inspecting foreclosed homes. Business is picking up for her lately. But when she walked into the backyard of an Arkansas home, she discovered something that probably made her wish she’d taken the day off. Three dogs, locked in their pet carriers, had been left behind by the evicted homeowners. Without food or water, all three died.

Unfortunately, their fate is shared by many animals around the country. Of course, this happens even in more robust economies–people move out of town and abandon the inconvenient family pets. But at times like this, when families can’t pay their mortgage and put food on the table, it’s not likely the dogs are going to eat well, either.

Animal welfare organizations all over the United States are reporting increasing numbers of these cases. In a cruel twist, the financial strain that makes more people turn over Fido to the pound means that fewer people are adopting, as well (some shelters are releasing animals at lower adoption fees because of this). The economic crisis is affecting dogs and cats, of course, but also more exotic–and expensive–animals, such as horses, cows and llamas. And don’t forget the chickens and reptiles.

Some of these animals are being taken to already over-burdened shelters (about half of the nation’s 4-6 million shelter pets are euthanized every year). According to a horse-rescue organization in Massachusetts, they have 43% more animals this year, which cost several hundred dollars a month to keep. But they are the lucky ones. Many other pets are simply abandoned on the streets. Worse yet, some are left to starve locked up in the foreclosed house.

Because of what she has seen, Cheryl Lang founded No Paws Left Behind to take in the homeless animals. And as animal rights advocates will tell you, even if they are going to be put down, it is a better choice to surrender your pets to a shelter instead of leaving them behind to die. Besides the fact that they will suffer a painful death, it is illegal. Some parents may be afraid their kids will not be able to deal with taking their beloved pet to the shelter, feeling it will be simpler to just leave quietly and tell the kids something later. But it won’t be any easier for the kids to deal with their animal’s disappearance at the new home. In fact, it may be harder if they don’t have a chance to say goodbye.

We have never been in the habit of using credit cards to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. We’ve given more when we had more, and given nothing when we had nothing. As my father said to us during our last Christmas with him, “Your presence is my present.” But most of us know it’s really FUN to give our kids Christmas gifts, and it’s really hard to see just a present or two under the tree.

But the pinch is being felt all around the world this year, and even the North Pole has had to cut back. Malls and other spots where St. Nick usually pops up can’t afford the $125 an hour commanded by the gents with real beards (who knew they made so much?). The Amalgamated Order of Real Bearded Santas–an honest to goodness real union–says bookings are down about half of their usual number this year. Many Santas are commuting long distances to find work. And even when Santa does show up for portrait sessions, many consumers just can’t afford little luxuries like that this holiday season.

Like I said, in my home, we’ve had our ups and downs when it came to gifts. There was a year I gave my husband a new razor and a pair of long underwear; our son got a couple matchbox cars and a new big box of crayons. It’s going to be another one of those years. We’ll be forced to put into practice what we say we really value–time together as a family and celebrating the significance of the religious holiday. Because, in my home as in many others, Santa has been RIFfed this year.

The baby, of course, doesn’t give a hoot about presents. She’ll be delighted by all of the bright paper she can chew and the curling ribbon she’ll try to strangle herself with (see my post about her dangerous obsessions. Thankfully, we had already planned ahead buying a couple things for our son (who turns 12 TODAY), but that book and CD is all he’ll get. And I’m just about finished making homemade gifts for my extended family. It’s a challenge to find things to make that people will use and appreciate, but that’s a post for another day. We won’t be buying gifts for each other this year, nor for my husband’s office mates or for our friends and neighbors. Yet I don’t think the holiday will suffer.

Looking back, no one in my home was disappointed in “The Year of the Razor.”And this year, I don’t think my friends will be offended that they don’t “get” anything. Maybe we all need a lean year to help us remember that it isn’t about the gifts. Maybe we should put the man in red on a long-term leave of absence.

I have a 401K from my previous job. Right before the bailout hoopla started and the market started plunging with the alarming rate of a roller coaster on descent, I made the decision to switch all my funds to bonds. Before I did that, I saw my retirement fund lose a sizable chunk in just under a year. I’ve seen my neighbors putting up their homes for sale or for rent. I’ve received a letter declining my request for financial aid for school.

According to some experts, we’re heading for a recession so we should see even more decline in economic activity: low Gross Domestic Product, lower income, low sales, higher unemployment. To put it bluntly, I’m scared. Like millions of other Americans, I haven’t placed my family in the best financial footing. What if the declining economy affects my husband’s job, while he’s our family’s only breadwinner?

According to some experts, to prepare for a recession, a family should prepare itself for the possibility of losing their jobs. So what should you and I do?

• Start storing up for the winter so to speak, by way of an emergency fund. Experts say you should have at least 3-6 months expenses saved up. That can really add up for any family. So start being aggressive in cutting back on eating out, Starbucks lattes, maybe forgo that planned vacation and have a staycation instead. Make sure all those money saved goes to your emergency fund.
• Polish your skills. If your job pays for continuing education, or reimburses for it, get a certification that will make you more competitive or even desirable to keep, in a recession’s market.
• Stock up on pantry items. Yes, you read right. In some previous recessions, prices of consumables have gone way up. The ones with the advantage were families who prepared with lots of canned goods (theoretically unlimited shelf life), beans (can be stored safely up to two years), rice, and even meats which can be stored in a deep freezer.
• Put off major purchases such as cars, big screen TVs, or anything else that’s a luxury. You’ll be happy to have the money in your pocket when the lean times come.
• Look at where your 401k is going and redistribute if needed, and change elections if necessary. You may want to stick to bond funds, or you may want to change the percentage of your income going to your 401k. Just remember never to go below your company matched number. If your company matches every dollar up to 3%, stick to at least a 3% election.

I don’t want to alarm anybody, but I did want to give families some ideas on what they can do, and how they can be prepared. Good luck to all of us, and let’s hope the lean times don’t last that long.

Times have been tough lately. What have you done to economize? I’ve been biking more and driving less, shopping for only seasonal produce, and I had my cable TV disconnected and replaced by a Netflix subscription (update: don’t miss television at all!)

Some women are considering more interesting options to help with their finances. Fertility clinics are reporting increasing numbers of women offering their services as egg donors or surrogate mothers. Donating eggs can pay around $4,000 and being a surrogate mom around $20,000 or more.

Donating an egg requires a couple of weeks of hormone treatments and several doctors visits. Some women have no side effects, but the majority of women suffer from some degree of nausea, cramps, or mood swings. Around 6% develop ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, where thirty or more eggs start to develop at once, and fluid leaks out of blood vessels, collects in the abdomen, causing nausea, bloating and very occasionally kidney failure or even death.

There’s no real data on the long-term effects of the hormones used in egg donation, which makes experts worry over women donating eggs for money.

Donating an egg or being a surrogate is a wonderful giving act. But women considering donating an egg should also consider their own health before the financial gain.

In a package offered by congress and approved by President Bush to help the U.S. economy, approximately 117 million families will receive tax rebates that will hopefully give the country’s economy the stimulus it so desperately needs. Rebate checks will be between $600 and $1,200 and in some cases more depending on the amount of children within the family.The rebate breakdown is as follows: individuals will receive $600, working couples will receive $1,200, and couples with children will receive an additional $300 per child. The package will also help businesses. Business owners, including small business, will be able to increase the percentage amount of write offs for equipment and plant purchases.

The approved package gives a lower dollar amount in rebates to families, but includes almost 30 million families that would have been left out of the original package proposed. With the lower dollar amounts, more working families will be able to receive the rebate.

Although an exact date has not been specified as to when the checks will be printed and mailed, don’t expect a check within days. Congress is asking that it happen immediately, but since the stimulus package is not expected to go in front of President Bush until February 15, it looks to be like weeks before receiving your check.

Source:

Congressional Leaders Announce Rebates for 117 Million Families, ABC News