I have certainly been experiencing a change in my friendships since this recession began, as I chose to start-up a renewable energy company which markets and installs Solar and Wind electrical generating systems for homes and businesses. My company seems to be one of the very few which is very busy and making a profit. This has changed the way many of my friends behave around me and just as the article mentioned, it is difficult at times to know what to say and not to say to my friends whose businesses are not doing so well at this time. I believe that this will all eventually improve, so I simply need to be more sensitive to their feelings and try to be a good listener as well as adjust the ways I choose to spend my free time. It does not have to cost a great deal of money to have fun, it only requires the ability to think in more innovative ways and to keep a more open mind regarding how others may be perceiving the world around them during this difficult and unpleasant time.

This is ridiculous According to the article (read it) because one can't live the life style and impress friends and relatives like she used to, she can't hang around those who have a higher standard of living than they have. one who has always been able to impress people in the past. I know when one is not of retirement age but those who are retired and living on social security and maybe have some investments, that is the average person who lives on a fixed income still has to make sure they don't outlive their savings. That article IS nonsense when you have to put impressing your friends with what restaurant or what you can gift them. I think this has to do with values. My friend Yaya was in her nineties on a fixed income. It is too bad she didn't write a book. This lady was very wise. She understood what values were and it has nothing to do with money or having money to impress anyone. If a friendship or family has to be on the same economic level than there is no values OR we can live like they do in Cuba. That article is utter nonsense.