[wisconsin_cur]

Article by Jill Cooper

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I') keep asking myself, "Has the world gone crazy?" What are people talking about when they say "these hard economic times?" I am so confused because I hear so many people say these are such hard economic times but, at the same time, what I see happening with my own eyes and hearing with my ears is a totally different story.

Let me give you some examples what I mean. Are these examples of hard economic times?

* Last year we spent more at Christmas and all year shopping than the year before.

* Americans spend 500 million dollars a year to have their teeth whitened -- not cleaned, just whitened to look nice.

* A single mom on welfare spends $350 on a cell phone-- not on the calls, just the cell phone.

* On a home shopping show they were selling American Girl dolls for $135. The woman selling it said "Kit is our most popular doll."

The other woman said "That is probably because Kit represents the Depression Era and girls nowadays relate so well to that because they have to sacrifice and give up so many things in these hard economic times." They sold out of the doll. This meant several thousand of these poor little girls who have had to give up so much received a $135 doll for Christmas. What was it they had to sacrifice? Maybe it was the $25 outfits that went with the doll. (I have never paid $25 for an outfit for myself let alone for a doll!!)

* A woman just lost one of her part time jobs. She was sobbing and crying because her family was going to have to sell their house, which they could no longer afford. For the past several years they have been making very good money but they have been spending it on everything including $150,000 for decorating their home, several trips a year for the whole family to travel across the country and to Canada for sports events their sons wanted to play in, buying a couple of new cars every year, eating out frequently and the so on.

Even after she lost her job they still took another cross country trip to go to a game. After coming totally unglued about the thought of having to sell the house she was asked if they might be able to save the house if they would cut back on their spending a little. Her reply was, "No way. I hate to scrimp and save and do without. I won't live like that." As my son in law loves to say "Allllrighty then..."

[Schmuto]

We, as the modern world, don't know what pain is.

Those few left who do are now in their 90s, but their words would not be considered by younger generations who consider them to be - not sources of wisdom - but doddering, out of touch geezers who serve as nothing more than punch lines for Depends jokes.

We will know pain.

[Caffeine]

The news I had heard suggested that the Christmas retail season was actually not very good. I would have to recheck, though, to make sure. (Anyone have the Christmas 2008 retail numbers?)

Many people will use a cellphone as a substitute for land-line service. I don't think I'd spend $350 for the phone itself, though.

I suppose I'd like to emphasize that by no means are all Americans like this. Many do seem trapped in a "BUY BUY BUY" consumerist trance, though. Many equate owning "Heavily Advertised Name Brand Product" with high status and tie their own sense of self-worth to having more-more-more.

Turning off the TV more often would help.

Two things that help to destroy even thrifty Americans economically are the astronomical rents in some parts of the country, as well as the grossly overinflated home prices during the housing bubble. Not to mention extortionate healthcare costs.

[wisconsin_cur]

I do not have the statistics on hand (hopefully some one will correct me if I am wrong) but I believe that there was less growth than hoped for. This, obviously, is not the same thing as a decrease in spending.

[goodbye_bluesky]

This article from CNBC the day after Christmas havn't looked for later revised which could alter the numbers quite a bit.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')otal holiday sales excluding auto purchases were down negative 5.5 to 8 percent. Including gas and autos, purchases were down negative 2 to 4 percent. The results are well below the plus 2.2 percent forecast made by the National Retail Federation in September.http://www.cnbc.com/id/28387383

[misterno]

Individual cases of stupid people can not be generalized I think.

[Ludi]

Maybe some "hard times" will encourage people to be a little more frugal and thoughtful with their money, instead of blowing it on cel phones and decorating.

[Taco]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('misterno', 'I')ndividual cases of stupid people can not be generalized I think.

[wisconsin_cur]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Taco', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('misterno', 'I')ndividual cases of stupid people can not be generalized I think.

[Blacksmith]

I have a step son who spends and spends as if there is no tomorrow, bankrupt twice.