People will continue to buy things like shampoo, soap, windex, razor blades, baby formula, diapers, etc even in a down economy. Companies like Proctor and Gamble etc are largely insulated from recession as a result. Discount retailers that sell these staples may also do well. Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, Sams Club, BJs, etc. They will see a reduction in big ticket items, (electronics, power tools, lawn tractors, etc.) but low margin necessities of life will continue to sell.
We buy our diapers at Sam's Club (.11 cents per diaper -- can't find em' cheaper than that). We also buy chicken breasts there, along with frozen fruits, vegetables, and milk. Everything else we buy at the local Supercenter. (There are a few other grocers in the area but generally speaking prices are much higher). We also invest $1.50 on the Sunday paper to get the coupons.
As for jobs, we all joke about working for Home Depot, Costco, etc.. but you may be surprised to find out what a store manager earns (including bonuses tied to store performance). My company has store managers who earn six figures.
During the furloughs in 2001/2002 a lot of pilots took the opportunity to go toss boxes for UPS/FedEx. This may have made them more competitive when those companies hired pilots. A handful of people I know went to work for Home Depot in the manager training program. Some went back to flying. Some fly recreationally now. If you find yourself locked in the golden handcuffs of aviation when industrywide furloughs occur, you will be in trouble. If there was ever a time to look outside of the box -- this is it.
There is no such thing as indentured servitude in the United States. Use your furlough to try something different. Keep flying on the side, but try your hand at other jobs or other industries. Network and you might end up in a corporate jet.
Before 9/11 I never, ever, imagined that flying a light jet for a corporation would be a very good job. I had common misconceptions about being on the pager 24/7, cleaning up the cabin, catering the airplane, carrying people's bags, etc.
With a little luck and networking I ended up flying a Learjet for a large corporation and I came to realize that almost all of my misconceptions were indeed wrong. I enjoy a better lifestyle than I ever had at the airlines even if the paycheck isn't quite as large as it was at the majors pre-9/11.
If I hadn't been furloughed(again) I never would have looked at this job... never would have moved to the country...never would have been home 25+ nights a month...and therefore probably never would have had a baby. That would have been a shame because he's a really neat kid! I love him alot.
So don't mock those who went to work at Costco or Home Depot (or other large retailers...) They might just have had an out of the box idea that worked for them!