so, i'm trying to see if the media coverage of "recession", whether it's really here or not, has had an impact on your spending habits. I have read, with horror, that the business i'm in is down significantly (overall market segment, not just the company i work for) and i'm wondering how much of this is attributed to all the bad news that's being covered on the news, and how much is media hype.

i'm still employed (i'm assuming most people reading this haven't lost their jobs in the past quarter), still making the same money, and still need to eat. however, because of this fear generated from all the bad news i hear, i've cut way back on eating out, i've cut way back on any planned vacation, and i've cut way back on planned purchases (like PS3, new seats for my rex, etc.)

anyone else cutting back purely for psychological reasons and not because you got a notification that your job is going away?

 

I work for a financial company. Didn't make its goals for the last FY. So no bonus and no raise for me. Still employed at least, but who knows for how long. So yeah, I've been watching my spending a bit better than before.

 

I'm more worried about available credit, or lack thereof. My spending has stayed the same since I bought my home 4 years ago.

 

so looks like a majority of people here aren't worried enough about the economy to change their spending habits.

 

the price of gas has gona up 60% in the last year. compared to euro/japanese/chinese/canadian currency the dollar has lost ~20% value...nominal inflation is 3%(per the lying governmnet) but real inflation is about 7%

if you didnt get a raise you are getting paid less than you were a year ago... relative to the world you are making less, and the money in your bank account is worth 10-15% less than a year ago relative to the world/gas/wheat/corn.

items such as clothing and other luxury goods have not gone up in price because they are already marked up beyond their intrinsic worth. however if you calculate inflation based on gold, commodities, and oil, you will see the US has been in a recession...officially its defined as 2 quarters of negative gdp growth, but an educated person knows that the government controls the stats for gdp and the private institutions will not publically disclose their own calcutations based on other criteria.

i have shiftd my investments to companies with world wide exposure and commodities. i still spend my dollars like a mofo tho, because they willl be worth less next year. hell my plane ticket i bought to europe has increased in price 400 bux. so i am happy i spent it when i did.

 

oh crap! i was the only one that voted option 4 and i just got a new credit card so i can get furniture for the home i just closed on last week!!!
i thought i was gonna save some money by getting a house with a 3 car garage so i can install my new inlinepro turbo myself while i drive the winter beater ( 03 v10 excursion).
i think i might be screwed.

 

I voted #3. I just got a new job, and am making 2-3 times what I have ever made. I pay for things cash...but then again I always have (except for cars)

I'm hoping interest rates go down...about time to buy a nice gas guzzler while everyone panics about gas prices. (looking at you, C6! )