To add to my daughters comments about these "hard economic" times, I have heard it said so much that I told Tawra the other day I had decided that I am going to require people to watch 2 hours of a home shopping network before they say those words.
I am shocked at the 100's of thousands of dollars worth of things that are sold just within a couple of hours and yet everyone keeps saying times are hard. The other night they were selling 3 loaf pans half full of mac and cheese for a total (with S&H) of $40. They sold out of it so fast they had to take advanced orders for more!
I love to people watch and every time I go to Wal Mart or the grocery store I peek at what they have in their cart. I can say I have as of yet seen one person with only essential items. If things are that hard what is every one doing with candy bars, DVD's, pop, toys, etc. in their baskets?
I agree with what one our readers comments that the problem is that everyone has just charged up their credit cards so bad that now when there is a price raise at all it can be enough to throw people over the edge.
I remember years ago when the price of gas double in one week and shortly after bread prices double and hamburger prices jumped way up. People weren't happy about it but it was no big deal why because that was before everyone was living on credit cards.
I find it very interesting that I who am on a very fixed income (as of yet I haven't received an income from the book) I am living on only $50 more a month then I was 10 years ago, haven't really noticed much change in the way I spend my money.
I still use my car as usual, buy the same groceries etc. I also so have noticed that those with no credit card debt don't seem to be hollering near as much as others. I wonder why? Is it because of their attitude towards money, the fact they have their money under control enough that that can ride out prices changes? It's something to think about.
Jill
I am shocked at the 100's of thousands of dollars worth of things that are sold just within a couple of hours and yet everyone keeps saying times are hard. The other night they were selling 3 loaf pans half full of mac and cheese for a total (with S&H) of $40. They sold out of it so fast they had to take advanced orders for more!
I love to people watch and every time I go to Wal Mart or the grocery store I peek at what they have in their cart. I can say I have as of yet seen one person with only essential items. If things are that hard what is every one doing with candy bars, DVD's, pop, toys, etc. in their baskets?
I agree with what one our readers comments that the problem is that everyone has just charged up their credit cards so bad that now when there is a price raise at all it can be enough to throw people over the edge.
I remember years ago when the price of gas double in one week and shortly after bread prices double and hamburger prices jumped way up. People weren't happy about it but it was no big deal why because that was before everyone was living on credit cards.
I find it very interesting that I who am on a very fixed income (as of yet I haven't received an income from the book) I am living on only $50 more a month then I was 10 years ago, haven't really noticed much change in the way I spend my money.
I still use my car as usual, buy the same groceries etc. I also so have noticed that those with no credit card debt don't seem to be hollering near as much as others. I wonder why? Is it because of their attitude towards money, the fact they have their money under control enough that that can ride out prices changes? It's something to think about.
Jill
posted by Jill Cooper at 1:53 PM
9 Comments:
The items you see as luxuries (candy, soda, dvds), we are skewed into thinking are necessities, or as I like to call them, my GGRs (God-given rights)! I used to do without so much of what I now consider normal. It is difficult to ratchet back, once something's become a part of us (cell phones, cable tv, dinners out). I am trying to wean myself off these GGRs and do with less. You all are a help to me in accomplishing this!
In Southern California where I live, high end restaurants are so packed every Friday and Saturday night with people eating out, we can never find a parking space when we need to go to the ATM. As you say, eating out is one of the main causes of debt.
Hi Jill,
I don't even have to go to Walmart to see how people "waste money".
Just by going for my daily walks, I can count dozens of "drinks" bottles, candy wrappers,take out food containers, coffee cups,etc.
laying on the ground.
Or go to a school at lunch time where they have small plazas near them with restaurants and small shops. The students are all there standing around,drinking drinks that they have paid over a dollar for and eating "fast foods".
Maria
You hit the nail on the head. Those of us with NO credit card debt are not flipping out about prices. I am living on about $200 month less than 1.5 yrs ago (20% cut) (by choice - moved closer to family) and have NOT had a problem with still saving $$ each month. But then I've been living-the-frugal-life for years :)
I also love to people watch at the grocery store. The other day I watched two women ahead of me in line. One had a cart full of Hot Pockets, frozen burritos, pizzas, pre-packaged junk... She spent $120 and got like 5 bags of groceries. The next lady had a cart overflowing!!! She spent $145, but got an unbelievable amount of food (with no coupons).... but she was buying bulk ground beef, tortillas, milk, flour, beans... essentials. We try to limit the convenience foods, but I really want to be the 2nd lady!
And I also find it funny that we have NO credit card debt, yet we are the one's looking at ways to trim our grocery budget... while friends of our always buy national brands and pre-packaged everything.... then complain about how they don't have any money -- or that she can't wait to pay DOWN the credit card enough to charge her new bedroom set.
I have to agree, also, except in situations where someone has lost their job. And the gas situation is pretty bad here in California!
But all in all, you are right. I don't eat out hardly ever, unless it's a birthday thing. I never buy "gimmick" food, junk food, or lattes, and I make most things from scratch, or get amazing deals at our Grocery Outlet chain stores.
My truck driver friends are having a very hard time, though. But the average person is pretty OK.
In our town, there is hardly a parking space left in restaurant parking lots on Friday and Saturday night...but for the most part, it's the people who A) have the few remaining "good" jobs left in town, or B) are using credit cards.
We're trying to pay down our debt, but we have pared down our eating out from 4 or 5 days a week to 1, and I'm cooking more. I figure that if I am spending $5 on some convenience foods to cook at home, it's still better than spending $30-40 on 4 restaurant meals.
I have credit card debt and I feel justified in hollering about prices. The reason I have debt right now is because I had to use the cards to pay for my husband's medical expenses. He's had surgeries and I couldn't afford to pay for his deductibles, medical supplies or surgeon's visits on my income. He is currently not working.
Not all of us are using credit cards to buy DVDs, soda or candy. We never eat out or order in! I work in Manhattan and I bring oatmeal in for lunch that I slow cook at home. My co-workers make fun of me, but my tummy is full and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything good.
My salary can only afford our rent and bills. Our food is now being paid by the money I slowly saved up. My husband changed his medical plan to have no co-pays on medication. I transferred the balances of two of my cards to a new one that will have 0% interest until June '09. I'm working very hard to keep ourselves from falling further behind and I'm very proud of what I've accomplished so far.
And perhaps that's why I'm a bit taken aback when I see those of us who have debt are not "allowed" to fuss about prices going up. Not all of us have debt for frivolous reasons.
I'm not the one in Wal-Mart with the candy bars. They won't allow Wal-Mart to even come into Queens, NY! :)
As we've stated before, we aren't talking about people who legitimate debt such as from medical needs. We are talking about the people who are still just spending on junk.
Tawra
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