Sponsored by
What does the credit crunch mean to Wiganers?
How are Wiganers being affected by the credit crunch? We went onto the streets of the town to find out – and to ask for any tips you have for surviving the downturn.
Michael Hampson, from Swinley
"Recently I have been very careful about how much money I have been spending.
"I haven't made any expensive purchases for quite a while. But I've been buying local and supporting Wigan's businesses."
Steve Hewitt
"I recently retired at the end of October and I got a lump sum from my company which I thought I would invest.
"But the returns that I have made are not as good as they should have been because of the credit crunch.
"I think this trend will go on for another 12 months at least, but you have just got to do what you can and get on with it."
Louise Payne, 23, from Springfield
"I rang up for a job in a warehouse and was told that their most recent jobs had gone. There are still jobs around but you may have to go further afield to try and get them."
Angela Cotton
"I have been affected quite a lot by the credit crunch as I sell new property. Because business has been slowing down I have had to sell my house and downsize.
"But people are starting to realise that they have just got to get on with their lives but do it a little more cautiously. There are some real bargains out there on the high street if you're willing to look for them."
Steven Thornley, 18, from Hawkley Hall
"I've just been trying not to spend as much as I usually do on things that I don't really need."
Lin Sargeant, 45, from Standish
"I had been considering selling my home in Wigan and going back to Ipswich, where I was born. But I've been told that my house is worth 20,000 less than what I thought it was estimated at.
"I'm not worrying too much about it though as I enjoy living in the borough."
Andrew Birchall, 23
"I can see why for a lot of businesses the recent economic situation would be a bad thing. But for shoppers I think it's great because you can find a lot of good things on sale at the moment."
Elizabeth Crompton, 40, from Orrell
"People aren't spending as much as they used to but if you go around the shops in Wigan at the weekends you will still see places busy."
Agnes Kelly, 66.
"The country has been through worse times before and has come through fine so I don't know why it should be any different this time around."
John Kelly, 70
"People are losing their jobs but this is no time to just dig your head in the sand.
"People have to do all they can to get back into work and if you look hard enough the jobs are there."
Catherine McGee, 20
"Everyone seems to be having a panic and some of that I think is justified.
"But it's a global problem and there's not too much we can do about it."
Rachel Walters, 19
"I've been looking out for a few bargains in the shops whenever I can and have tried to hold back on buying clothes.
"But it's not going too well at the moment if I'm honest."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Wigan
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
