Spending Less because of the Economy

[TromboneAl]

Every night on the news they'll have a story about how people are spending less this Christmas. They'll always interview some 20-something mall shopper, who says something like this:

"Yes, I'm cutting back this year, because I've heard that the economy isn't doing that well."

Now, unless that person expects to lose his/her job, that makes no sense, right?

[Retire Soon]

Maybe the 20-something mall shopper is only saying what he thinks the interviewer wants to hear.

[FinanceDude]

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

"Yes, I'm cutting back this year, because I've heard that the economy isn't doing that well."

Translation: Mom and Dad are pissed at me because I dropped out of college to live with my boyfriend, so they quit giving me money.............

[Want2retire]

Well, I would imagine that 50% of people are spending more, and 50% are spending less, all else being equal.

The snowstorm is probably keeping some people inside in the northeast, so that alone would probably mean most people are spending less.

I agree - - these live news stories from a local mall are pretty pointless!

[youbet]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

these live news stories from a local mall are pretty pointless!

With eleven zillion channels competing for viewers, they gotta scratch up something to put on the air.......

[Caroline]

With eleven zillion channels competing for viewers, they gotta scratch up something to put on the air.......

This brings up something I've wondered about lately -- what do news people themselves think about all the blather on TV these days? Do they just LOVE those interviews at the mall, or are they secretly hating life?

I once considered journalism and talked to some professors, students, and journalists who really wanted to change the world, be the next Woodward and Bernstein, etc.

Has anyone out there every been a journalist and what do folks on the inside think of the current state of the industry?

[dex]

Don't they run that story every year?
Have they ever ran a story - the economy is doing great; are you spending more?

[Nords]

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

Now, unless that person expects to lose his/her job, that makes no sense, right?

These are the same people who, in a few decades, will be returning to work because they ran out of money retirement leaves them bored and unfulfilled.

[Want2retire]

Originally Posted by Caroline

This brings up something I've wondered about lately -- what do news people themselves think about all the blather on TV these days? Do they just LOVE those interviews at the mall, or are they secretly hating life?

I once considered journalism and talked to some professors, students, and journalists who really wanted to change the world, be the next Woodward and Bernstein, etc.

Has anyone out there every been a journalist and what do folks on the inside think of the current state of the industry?

I have never been a journalist, nor am I on the inside.

I don't think there's such a thing as a T.V. journalist in my area. They cover the stories that people call in and tell them about, as long as covering them doesn't offend the wrong people. They don't seem to go out looking for stories independantly, at all.

I find the decline of genuine journalism in our lifetimes to be shocking.

[UncleHoney]

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

"Yes, I'm cutting back this year, because I've heard that the economy isn't doing that well."

Now, unless that person expects to lose his/her job, that makes no sense, right?

Maybe it's just a little guilt feeling coming out.

People living paycheck-to-paycheck may be concerned about bumps in the road ahead. For many, one lost or delayed paycheck would be the end of life on earth as they know it and everything would come down around their ears in a few days.

[OAG]

Gee I was exchanging some jeans at Sears the other day (bad day in China, they forgot to put one of the belt loops on them), and some young lady was trying to get to me at the mall; I had a devil of a time getting away from her. Was that what she was trying to do? I am older than dirt and had other thoughts!

[FinanceDude]

Originally Posted by UncleHoney

Maybe it's just a little guilt feeling coming out.

People living paycheck-to-paycheck may be concerned about bumps in the road ahead. For many, one lost or delayed paycheck would be the end of life on earth as they know it and everything would come down around their ears in a few days.

What's that old saying? "50% of all Americans are 3 paychecks away from homelessness?

[Babeebloos]

Originally Posted by Want2retire

I have never been a journalist, nor am I on the inside.

I don't think there's such a thing as a T.V. journalist in my area. They cover the stories that people call in and tell them about, as long as covering them doesn't offend the wrong people. They don't seem to go out looking for stories independantly, at all.

I find the decline of genuine journalism in our lifetimes to be shocking.

If you turn on the news you see only what THEY want you to see or know about, the ticker type thing...that EVERY news station gets...its easy for the local stations to just read whats written for them to say...its all about the money, they don't have to pay for a reporter to go out and investigate a story of REAL interest! Foreign countries know more about what's really going on in the world today...even more about what WE'RE doing!

[lazygood4nothinbum]

Originally Posted by TromboneAl

"Yes, I'm cutting back this year, because I've heard that the economy isn't doing that well."

Now, unless that person expects to lose his/her job, that makes no sense, right?

reflects the credit culture and hesitation to buy today what they might not have the dollars to pay tomorrow.

[UncleHoney]

Originally Posted by FinanceDude

What's that old saying? "50% of all Americans are 3 paychecks away from homelessness?

And probably only 9 meals away from violence.

[dex]

Originally Posted by lazygood4nothinbum

reflects the credit culture and hesitation to buy today what they might not have the dollars to pay tomorrow.

Might be an urban myth.
The truth about credit card debt - MSN Money

[barbarus]

Are the j*bs (or income streams for those retired) for readers of this board so secure then?

Prudence yet again raises her ugly head and says, while it's unhealthy to dwell on the idea, at least remain vaguely open to the fact that you too may fall into dire economic circumstance.

For some, the prospect is quite distant, for others, imminent.

Merry (Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, Saturnalia, Jule and whatever) to all and to all a good night.

[REWahoo]

Originally Posted by barbarus

Prudence yet again raises her ugly head and says, while it's unhealthy to dwell on the idea, at least remain vaguely open to the fact that you too may fall into dire economic circumstance.

Or get run over by a truck tomorrow...

As the guy told the cop who asked why he took a swing at a psychic after she laughed at him, "I'm just trying to strike a happy medium."

[barbarus]

Originally Posted by REWahoo

Or get run over by a truck tomorrow...

Got the truck thing covered too Wahoo.
Every once in a while I practice shoveling coal.