Lowcountry feeling squeeze
The Post and Courier
"The economy has pretty much made everyone reassess their situations," said Bert Campbell of Pawley's Island as he shopped at the Goodwill Thrift store on Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant on Monday, Oct. 6, 2008.
Previous Stories
Bailout bill does zilch for markets; All major indexes take big losses, putting cap on a volatile week, published 10/04/08
Congress OKs historic bailout bill; Bush signs it, published 10/03/08
Chances are, you're not going out to eat as much as you once did.
You buy what's on sale at the grocery store these days, do all your errands at once to save gas, maybe even turn off some of those 357 channels on the cable plan.
Impulse buying? A thing of the| past. You're dreaming of a sparse Christmas.
Everybody's doing it.
Around the Lowcountry, all this bad economic news has people watching their money closely, cutting back on their spending. It's not that they are in trouble yet. It's that they don't know how long this meltdown is going to last — or how bad it's going to get.
Bert Campbell was browsing Monday in the Mount Pleasant Goodwill, looking for a bargain after a doctor's appointment in town. He's been out of work for a few months and, more than most, is feeling the economy's pain.
"We assess our needs better, we eat at home a lot more," said Campbell, a Pawleys Island resident.
Claudine Ottinger of Mount Pleasant said it's the little things that aren't making the cut in her family. Instead of dropping $19 for two people at the movies, they go to the video store and rent a $3 flick. Dining out is a once-a-week occasion.
"We're just not buying extra stuff," Ottinger said. "We will do less for our children than we normally do because we don't know what the economy holds."
The good news is that despite the condition of the Dow — and rumors that it might be renamed the Dow(n) — most people who still have a little money aren't acting like this is a crisis.
"While we are hearing a lot of concern from our investment clients, we are not, at this point, seeing panic," said Paul Lehman, the Director of Investment Management at First Citizens. "We are in the eye of the hurricane and, usually, making long-term decisions during this kind of upheaval tends to be emotional, rather than logical, in nature. It rarely works out well in the end. For the most part, our clients are staying the course."
There are many others, however, who don't have enough money to worry about losing it in a bearish market. The nonprofit Family Services Inc. in North Charleston has never been busier. Hundreds of folks are coming in every month for help with their home foreclosures and credit counseling.
Debbie Kidd, the director, might be the only person in town hiring. They have 25 people doing the work that five people used to handle, and they could use a few extra hands. She says the instant gratification generation has caught up with people. They have the big houses, the flat-screen plasma TVs, the $600 car payments — and no way to pay for them. Six out of 10 of them, Kidd said, are juggling at least five payday loans.
"To be quite blunt, families are overextended," Kidd said. "They have the I-want-it-now syndrome. They've got all these things but can't afford to pay for them."
Family Services offers credit counseling in Kidd's Homeownership Resource Center, and says they are teaching folks how to budget. The first thing that goes is entertainment and superfluous stuff, like daily trips to Starbucks for some frappin' cappucino thingy that costs $3.50.
People eat out for lunch every day, go out to eat at night, and go to the movies every weekend. Entertainment budgets, Kidd said, add up. When you show that to folks, they are amazed and sometimes horrified.
Laurie Little of Daniel Island pointed out that very thing to some of her friends, with similar results. Little said she's watching grocery spending, dining out less and not spending as much on entertainment.
Little is looking at the bright side. She said her family stays home together more often now. The kids are just as happy with your time, she said, as your money, at least when they're young.
"Hopefully there are more conversations in households these days," Little said.
As long as they aren't talking about money.
Reach Brian Hicks at 937-5561 or bhicks@postandcourier.com.
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Comments
eyecantspel (anonymous) says...
I have an idea, save money by dropping the P and C. It will save countless trees, tons of carbon from the trucks/cars that bring them out, and you will feel better about yourself at the end of the day.
Plus, landfills will lie empty as yesterdays newspaper is growing as a tree besides the landfill, not cut down, smeared with ink used to depress and scare people, then thrown away like, well, yesterdays newspaper.
So... are telling me payday loans are a bad thing?
You know someone else who really has to be hurting? Johnny Suzuki. To call his clients "high credit risks" would be like calling Hurricane Hugo a "wind and rain event". I know he "owns one of the banks" or whatever, but you know that man is scared, really scared. I would normally be the last one who would think that selling a 10 year old car with 200,000 miles on it for monthly payments of 200 dollars over 10 years is a bad business model, but could it be that he build or took over too many dealerships? Is there a Johnny Izuzi bailout, then rescue package, in the works? Will the P and C lose its only online ad buyer? What will channel 5 show if his "show" doesn't take up 3-4 hours of programming a day? I have to admit, the used car salemen "shows" in Columbia have some really good looking girls. They are geared to a more racially diverse audience as well... its kinda like Johnny, but more tanned, with rap music and Natilie Phillips replaced with her daughter, but as an off-duty stripper. Much better production values and a "Shield" like one camera hand-held set up. I swear I have seen one of those girls at the Pink Pony in Irmo before.
Anyway, yeah, we are all doomed, the sky is falling, and all hope is lost. The end is near, etc.
October 7, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoCares (anonymous) says...
What's up with that last comment, "As long as they aren't talking about money."... is that an editorial comment interjected by the writer Hicks? If so, I think he missed the entire point his subject expert at Family Services was trying to make... that families (and individuals) need to talk about money and a better way to manage it. Discussing ways to cut back on the family budget is not only wise...it is absolutely necessary!
October 7, 2008 at 5:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
"They have the I-want-it-now syndrome. They've got all these things but can't afford to pay for them."
THIS SORT OF SUMS IT UP DOESN'T IT? THIS IS WHAT GOT US IN THIS MESS. GIVING LOANS TO PROVIDE THE "AMERICAN DREAM" OF OWNING SOMETHING YOU CAN'Y AFFORD AND HAD NO REASON BUYING! NOW WE'LL LIVE OUT THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE. DID YOU GUYS HEAR THE MSNBC CLOWN THAT TOLD EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR MONEY OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET, NOW? I DID BUT WAS THINKING WHAT A PANIC THAT COULD START AND HOW IRRESPONSIBLE THE MEDIA ARE. I WONDERED IF THIS IS ALL DONE TO BENEFIT OBAMA? IF THE ECONOMY SANK IT HELPS HIM. ASK YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR JOB, HOME, ETC. I'M FINE MADE MORE MONEY THIS YEAR THAN I DID LAST YEAR! I EAT OUT EVERY WEEK! I FISH EVERY WEEKEND, I STILL WENT ON VACATION, I'M TAKING ANOTHER IN DEC!
FABRICATED? I DON'T KNOW, JUST THINK ABOUT IT...
October 7, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nurse7798 (anonymous) says...
How to Live the American Dream... well I live the american nightmare. I have been out of work for over a year, no income, no car, and no way to get to work except walk dorchester rd. I have walked countless miles and all I hear is "not hiring" " no retail experience' ect. The economy is horrible. I only wish I had the credit and a job to get one of Johnny's cars. I might no longer have to live with relatives and sleep on thier floor. I might feel human again.... Oh yeah forget riding a bicycle on d-road.. my adult son was nearly killed rding his to work a few months ago only to find out thousands of dollars in medical bills later that the jerk who hit him was "underinsured" and he can't even get all his bills paid.... gotta love SC...... I am glad that family services can help some people.. they just can't help unemployed homeless people.
October 7, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
... and many people are caught in the "rainy day syndrome." They worked, saved, lived within their means and as luck would have it sustained a series of "rainy days": being downsized, medical bills (even with insurance), the foundation of a house that needs repair, the new roof because the one put in after Hugo finally bit the dust and the beat goes on. After all of that I find myself with a mountain of debt, that I know I can eventually get rid of. Yet the monthly fear of not making ends meet has put me in a foul humor. I often wonder why politicians are never asked if they balance their own checkbook?
Bottom line: those of us who suffered the crash of '03, and never caught up, are scared to death.
October 7, 2008 at 7:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Riptide (anonymous) says...
CB..I hear what you're saying.
I'm the opposite of most people, instead of credit card debt, car payments, payments to Best Buys for that Flat screen TV, payments to the furniture store, etc.. I stay cleared from all that and worked from a savings account. When I see my savings account start to shrink like it's doing right now, I start to worry. We are in for some rough times ahead.
What's that old adage:things will get a lot worst before they get better. Well if the liberals get control of the White House and Congress, then this is only the beginning.
October 7, 2008 at 7:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
Nurse7798-With all the nursing positions open around here, if you really are a nurse, why aren't you working?
October 7, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
"DID YOU GUYS HEAR THE MSNBC CLOWN THAT TOLD EVERYONE TO TAKE THEIR MONEY OUT OF THE STOCK MARKET, NOW? "
Must be a Paul Klugman economist. If you're smart you're buying as much as you can afford right now, because stocks are at bargain basement prices and going to go up. The not so secret way to make money with stocks is to buy low and sell high, and it's time to buy. What's really stupid is having bought high and now selling at a loss while it's low because you're scared.
October 7, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lowcountrydawg (anonymous) says...
This article is complete junk!! It's about saving money and living within your means. My family eats at home 6 days a week. We've found that you can make better food at a lower cost. You can cut some of the "fat" out and still live comfortable.
I love the comment about "Personal Responsibility"...because that's what it comes down to!
Do you really need 3G Iphone?
Do you really need 500 cable channels?
Do you really need $100 jeans?
Something to think about...
October 7, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
I was wondering the same thing about nurse7798. How can you be a nurse and not find a job?
October 7, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whome (anonymous) says...
"Must be a Paul Klugman economist. If you're smart you're buying as much as you can afford right now, because stocks are at bargain basement prices and going to go up. The not so secret way to make money with stocks is to buy low and sell high, and it's time to buy. What's really stupid is having bought high and now selling at a loss while it's low because you're scared."
Actually, the idiot was Jim Cramer, whose been calling a bottom for over 3 months, even though the broader markets have decrease about 15% just in the past month.
So, from the sounds of it, majorjohnson is calling a bottom in the equity markets.
October 7, 2008 at 8:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
5thGenerationLocal (anonymous) says...
If people would have planned for their future, no one would be in this trouble. Instead, no one saves and then cries foul when crap like this happens. I still take my wife out to eat. I drive where I want when I want. As a matter of fact, I just bought her a new Volvo. That's because we planned for our future, and saved money. We also got educations early on and work hard. If you are feeling the pinch, then it is your own fault.
October 7, 2008 at 8:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MsPiggy (anonymous) says...
Honestly, there is no excuse for people who are living with others and not contributing to the bills. I was watching an episode of Judge Judy the other day (Yeah, I know-pitiful right?) and she asked the defendant if she had a job. I can't remember the exact words, but the woman said no, and Judy told her this: You need to find something-SOMETHING to do that will bring in income. I don't care if it's collecting cans!
And thats the truth. McDonald's is always hiring. But people's pride gets in the way because heaven forbid if former co-workers or people they know spot them in the drive thru window.
I kind of laugh when I hear people who've been 'out of work' for X number of months. Why? Because you were a painter and only want a painters position? So you're going to wait around on the couch all day until a paint contractor knocks on your door and offers you a job? Come on!! Get off yer butt and do something-anything. Clean houses (which my mom did that for almost a year because she was laid off) watch somebody's children, start a pressure washing business.
WCP is right--it's all about personal responsibility. We have to be accountable for our own actions--stop putting the blame on others/situations
October 7, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
msn2it (anonymous) says...
I for one, think that we, as Americans, should say, I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore. Shame on our government for bailing out these CEO's who were too greedy to see what they were doing to the economy in the first place. This country seems to be all about making the rich richer and the poor poorer. We as a nation need to quit depending on our government to bail us out of anything! If we have a storm, some people think it is the governments responsibility to come in and bail them out. Whatever happened to neighbors helping neighbors? Don't we as a society care about each other any more or has it come to the point that it is every man for himself? We have way too many government bailout programs that someone needs to go through with a fine toothed comb and wipe out any that are unnecessary. I know that some are needed, but when I see someone getting food stamps that I know is making way more money than myself, then something is definitely wrong. I say, I AM MAD AS HELL AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE. I go to have my eyes examined, for which I have to pay out of my hard earned money, and can barely afford, yet there are young adults getting theirs with Medicaid? What's that all about? I am single, I work every day, I own my house, I own a car, I am not up to my a** in debt, I have pride that I am able to make life work on my own two feet. I could not ever see myself asking for government help. If there is a will, there is a way. OK, I have vented this morning, and feel a little better now!
October 7, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
guidedbystewart (anonymous) says...
It really gets me how some cry personal responsibility, as if everyone's life is the same, as if that everyone has the same problems, and as if everyone chooses the same paths. Every situation is different. Do people live beyond their means and make bad decisions, sure! Yet sometimes the system does not help with these bad decisions (predatory lending, ARM loans, etc.). There are people that do not have the support network : There are people that work all there lives at one job, their job moves overseas and now they only have experience on how to do that one job and are too old to train for something else. Some people have to deal with health concerns, some people have to deal with mental health problems. Yes, they are people that abuse the system, expect handouts and do not want to put out the effort to better themselves. Yet, there are ones that try to do the right thing but just have bad luck. The problem is, because of people taking advantage of the system, there is little help for people that try to help themselves, but there are plenty of people that will exploit them in their time of weakness.
October 7, 2008 at 9:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
supportfamilyfarms (anonymous) says...
Instead of focusing on the negatives, (which is easy 'cause bad news sells, everybodys doing it and misery loves company), work on seeing this time as an opportunity...then, months from now you'll look back and realize it was the best thing that could have happened...a wake up call that changed your life for the beter. It's really not the circumstances of the world that matter, but how you choose deal with them.
As for these folks in the midst of long term (more than 30 days) of unemployment, stop the pity party and get to work. My 12 year old wants an $1800 guitar, so I helped him with a flyer and told him to prospect neighbors where he saw lawn service people working. In three days he found enough work mowing and washing cars to make $160 a week, so he'll have his guitar in less than three months. He could have kept prospecting for more business, but doesn't have any more time available for work. There's no reason an adult can't get out and earn at least $100 dollars a day almost immediately...unless they're like cousin Eddie and holding out for a management position.
What's really troubling isn't that most American born adults believe the world owes them a job, or that since everyone else lives on credit so it's OK to make minimum monthly payments for everything, or that they take personal responsibility for almost nothing...the scary part is that by their pathetic example, they're passing this mentality along to the next generation.
October 7, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
katrenavantassle (anonymous) says...
NURSE WHO CANT GET A JOB...HUMMMM....WONDER WHY?
SARAH PALIN WAS RIGHT AND I SHOULDNT BE PUNISHED FOR A GREEDY PERSON WHO COULD ONLY AFFORD A 100,000 HOME WHO SIGNED A LEGAL CONTACT TO PURCHASE A 300,000 HOME... NOT THE BANKS FAULT THESE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO LIVE BEYOND THEIR MEANS....NOW THEY NEED TO LEARN THEIR LESSON.
NOT THE TAXPAYERS!!!!
October 7, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rebel_Yell (anonymous) says...
I'm all for people not eating as much. There are way too many fat people. Just drive through Bessingers BBQ and observe the food gluttons stuffing themselves. I can barely get my car around the fat mamas toting their fat kids around. Gross. Maybe a little less $ will be good for the food gluttons.
October 7, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
crankyyankee (anonymous) says...
If credit is so hard to get why is my mail box regurgitating endless credit offers every day?
October 7, 2008 at 10:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ballachulish (anonymous) says...
Sarah Palin charged the Alaskan taxpayers $17,000 per diem(tax-free)to stay in her own home.
I hardly think she is credible when it comes to the economy.
October 7, 2008 at 10:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
Its really bad when you are out of work .BUT, its worse when you wont take a job because it is beneath you well cant say that for my hubby he had a job (they let him go do to no work) making 480000.00 a year, to working 2 days a week at a pizza place. Till something better comes along. The point is he is working. We live within our means. No dinners out no movies no shopping.
I pay my bills first, buy food if needed, then my meds in that order. And we are making it. Sometimes certain meds don't get bought but I still live with in my means. Anything to survive till times get better and I am sure they will.
October 7, 2008 at 10:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
disco (anonymous) says...
The Army is always hiring as long as you are under 43.
October 7, 2008 at 10:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
"NOT THE BANKS FAULT THESE PEOPLE WERE TRYING TO LIVE BEYOND THEIR MEANS....NOW THEY NEED TO LEARN THEIR LESSON.
NOT THE TAXPAYERS!!!!"
huh?
It most defnitely is the banks fault for loaning money that most likely could not be repayed.
If I loan money to a worthless, jobless, bum of a cousin, I pretty much know I will never get it back. If I make multiple loans to a lot of people like that and end up depleting my assets, then it is my fault. If I was counting on their monthly repayments to me in order to pay my bills then whose fault is it when my lights get cut off?
I can see making a few bad loans. But not the volume that these banks have done.
I don't think that the borrowers are innocent by any means. They are not "victims" of the banks. They knew that they could not afford a 300k house but they did it any way.
I don't feel a shred of sympathy for the banks or the borrowers.
October 7, 2008 at 10:55 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suec (anonymous) says...
Granny, did you mean $480k a year? or is there an extra zero there? :)
If I made 480k a year, I could retire real soon.
October 7, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blondjes (anonymous) says...
i have a friend who quit his job because he didn't like the management and thought he would be able to find one in the same field in no time, well it didn't work out that way and when i mentioned just getting something else in the mean time he was refused to find something in another field because it wouldn't pay enough and was "below" him, but he was unemployed which didn't pay anything, i didn't understand that, he didn't have a back up plan, no money saved but was stubborn when it came to getting another job, it made NO sense to me?! i like my job now but i've had to do some crappy jobs that i hated to pay the bills because i just knew i COULD NOT go without a job, some people do have that mentality that they are "to good" for jobs that are just meant to get them through
October 7, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
I'm glad that I've got money sitting in a bank in Oslo. At least if the Dollar collapses I can always fall back on that for savings.
Want to know what caused this mess? I can give you the short version:
Greed, corruption, dishonesty, irresponsibility and impatience.
In a nutshell, that's what killing the country.
October 7, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
suec yes it was a mistake he made 48000 got a bit heavy with the zeros LOL sorry
October 7, 2008 at 11:19 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
Posted by blondjes on October 7, 2008 at 11:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
i have a friend who quit his job because he didn't like the management and thought he would be able to find one in the same field in no time, well it didn't work out that way and when i mentioned just getting something else in the mean time he was refused to find something in another field because it wouldn't pay enough and was "below" him, but he was unemployed which didn't pay anything, i didn't understand that, he didn't have a back up plan, no money saved but was stubborn when it came to getting another job, it made NO sense to me?! i like my job now but i've had to do some crappy jobs that i hated to pay the bills because i just knew i COULD NOT go without a job, some people do have that mentality that they are "to good" for jobs that are just meant to get them through
----
I can understand that mentality to some extent. When you've got a college degree with a double-major, years of management experience, and have to take a job like the one you did while in college; it's pretty insulting. People go to college because there are certain jobs that they don't want to do. I agree that sitting around and doing nothing won't help either, and that you have to do what you have to do sometimes, but it's insulting nonetheless.
October 7, 2008 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Blondjes- I so much agree with you on that one. I know people that want to work, but want to work with certain conditions and then complain about the economy while they are on their cell phone.
I just gave up my cable and I want to cry, but I have to do what I got to do. I am carpooling with people I barely know, but I'm saving money on gas. I do not eat out for lunch or dinner anymore, cooking is cheaper and I can teach my kids to cook too. I stop going to the salon every two weeks and now go once every 6 weeks, I can style my hair and my daughter's hair as well without the professional help.
I think I am doing good for my family, but if I feel I have to do more to provide, I will find a second job at somebody's restaurant, or store.
October 7, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ceecee (anonymous) says...
Posted by katrenavantassle,
"SARAH PALIN WAS RIGHT AND I SHOULDNT BE PUNISHED FOR A GREEDY PERSON WHO COULD ONLY AFFORD A 100,000 HOME WHO SIGNED A LEGAL CONTACT TO PURCHASE A 300,000 HOME... NOT THE BANKS FAULT"
First of all any post that starts with Sarah Palin was right will probably end with a ridiculus comment like that one. Of course it is ALSO the banks fault. How do you not consider the bank greedy as well. They lent $300,000 to someone they knew could not afford it. What did they think would happen? The truth is that they knew what would happen but they didnt care because they always intended on selling it to another bank who would wrap it into one of these CDO's and be sold again. They made a quick dollar and then passed a loan they knew would default on to someone else. If that is not greedy I don't know what is.
I agree with you we should not pay for it but the banks share the blame.
October 7, 2008 at 11:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
I see almost everyones point.I think it's a combination of things.The CEO's are greedy as crap and banks were throwing money at people.But...most people should know not to get a $350,000 home loan when they make $30k a year.Just because someone will give you a loan doesnt make it free.The payments will roll in.When building my new home almost a year ago we asked for a certain dollar amount and not a penny above.(we hadn't even picked a home yet)We were told oh we can give you more.We said NO WAY!Self control and personal accountablilty.
October 7, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Riptide (anonymous) says...
Spanky:
Your welfare check depends on wall street not the government. It's important for the government to stay out of the economy as much as possible. Extending mortgages to people that can't balance a checkbook is not a very good business practice. I realize you liberals like to help the poor but there are reasons why they are poor. A lot of them can't hold down a job or manage money it's just that simple. Now we have all these bad loans and government has to buy them back after the government force the lending institutions to extend credit to all Spanky's of the world. You don't want to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Your welfare check depends on people like me making money and paying taxes.
October 7, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
blondjes (anonymous) says...
he didn't have a college degree
October 7, 2008 at 1:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
Hubby and I own three homes (two rentals) but we still cut back to afford "extras" (like a Van Morrison concert): Last night he had a can of black-eyed peas for dinner; I ate eggs and sliced tomatoes. Why go to restaurants when you can relax at home? I shop at Goodwill and Community Thrift for clothes--Friday I found an Ann Taylor skirt w/ tags still on--and don't waste money on manicures, pedicures or salon visits. (Buy a box of $7 highlights @ Target, cut your fingernails and get over your vanity.) We watch a 6 YO 26-inch TV and it hasn't killed us yet. We stopped subscribing to four magazines per month (HUGE money waster) and instead of buying CDs, we download iTunes for 99 cents per song.
Movies 8 in Oakbrook charges $2.75 per ticket until 6 p.m., and library books and DVDs are free. Wash dishes by hand & save money. Turn on ceiling fans and sweat a little before you hit the AC. Buy batteries, toothpaste and greeting cards (2 for a buck) at the 99 cent store. There are so many ways to save $$... it's easier than you think!
October 7, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Thank you Walley for reminding me about the free DVDs at the library!
October 7, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ashleyatwork (anonymous) says...
If everyone is cutting back why are the roads congested as always, waits at all the nice restaurants on the weekends, Wal Mart packed like a sardine can, etc.....
October 7, 2008 at 2:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
grannyofseven_2 (anonymous) says...
WalMArt is packed because NON americans shop there all night long
October 7, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Missing_Home (anonymous) says...
I just ordered HBO at 20.00 extra per Month, but have decided to quit smoking to pay for it.
I Don't have a car pymnt, nor Sears, Best Buy, SAms, etc....
Personal responsibility, WoW!, what a concept.
October 7, 2008 at 3:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Missing_Home (anonymous) says...
Oristo,
I disagree, This is Bill Clintons doing, A diorect result of the previous administration.
In 8 years we will be living in the current administration.
October 7, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MtPNative (anonymous) says...
CB- Don't rub it in... :)
I have a good job, no credit card debt, and even just bought a car (that I can afford), but Come On!, you don't have to rub it in CB; you're usually better than that.
Have fun! I'll look for the guy with a cold beer in his hand...!
October 7, 2008 at 3:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Missing_Home (anonymous) says...
Oristo my Amigo,
While true the GOP controlled the H and S, they were just trying to be patriotic and show the dems they could work across the isle when they voted for crap.
As far as OPEC goes, I am certainly aware of this terrorist organazation. I can't wait til the USA starts treating it as such. "I'm thinking....regime change". :)
I also agree with the buck stops with the man at the top, but what is done is done, unfortunently we won't feel its true impact for another 5-10 years.
October 7, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
prosperous_hb (anonymous) says...
don't forget about those student loans!!!
October 7, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
walleyedwoman1215 (anonymous) says...
Stand, we cut back so we COULD see Van Morrison w/out gutting the monthly budget. Because we know how to live within our means, I'm able to be a stay-at-home wife. (My husband brags to his friends about his frugal woman :-)We have zero credit card debt and no mortgages. But if the bottom drops out, I have no problem putting on a polyester uniform and asking, "You want curly fries with that?" I was raised to believe that no honest work is beneath me...
October 7, 2008 at 4:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mkris (anonymous) says...
Following the Great Crash of 1929, one of every five banks in America fails. Many people, especially politicians, see market speculation engaged in by banks during the 1920s as a cause of the crash. The bill that ultimately repealed the Banking Act of 1933 was introduced in the Senate by Phil Gramm (R-TX) and in the House of Representatives by James Leach (R-IA) in 1999. The bills were passed by a 54-44 vote along party lines with Republican support in the Senate[7] and by a 343-86 vote in the House of Representatives[8]. Nov 4, 1999: After passing both the Senate and House the bill was moved to a conference committee to work out the differences between the Senate and House versions. The final bipartisan bill resolving the differences was passed in the Senate 90-8-1 and in the House: 362-57-15. Without forcing a veto vote, this bipartisan, veto proof legislation was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on November 12, 1999.
See: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontli...
PAY YOUR MORTGAGES OFF.... ITS GOING TO BE A BUMPY RIDE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS>
October 7, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
prosperous_hb (anonymous) says...
CB - can I borrow $157K to payoff my house??
October 7, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
I'm thankful each day that my home is paid for.
October 7, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
msn2it (anonymous) says...
Talk about greed. I just read where AIG Ex spent $440,000.00 for a corporate retreat, Sep 22 one week AFTER the 85 billion emergency loan to keep it from going bankrupt. - 139000.00 on hotel rooms for 8 days, 147301.00 on banquets, 23380 on spa treatments, 6939 on golf and 9980.00 on room service and food and cocktails at the hotel lounge. WTF??? I am mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!!!
October 7, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
Posted by msn2it on October 7, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Talk about greed. I just read where AIG Ex spent $440,000.00 for a corporate retreat, Sep 22 one week AFTER the 85 billion emergency loan to keep it from going bankrupt. - 139000.00 on hotel rooms for 8 days, 147301.00 on banquets, 23380 on spa treatments, 6939 on golf and 9980.00 on room service and food and cocktails at the hotel lounge. WTF??? I am mad as hell and I'm not going to take it anymore!!!!!
---
Who do you think these execs will be supporting next month?
October 7, 2008 at 5 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Missing_Home (anonymous) says...
Walleyed Woman,
I like the way you move.
October 7, 2008 at 5:05 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
abitskeptical (anonymous) says...
walleyedwoman-I'm with you on the manicure,pedicure, salon thing--what a waste of money!
I try not to be vain, I really do, but sometimes when I feel the need to pretty up a bit, I whip out the $2 name-brand mascara I bought at Big Lots (aka Large Junks).
Actually I stock up when they get a shipment because, even though I do not use it often, after about 2 months of being opened & used, mascara makes my eyes burny & red--of course that is a good cure for vanity ;)
October 7, 2008 at 5:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
halfsheli (anonymous) says...
"While true the GOP controlled the H and S, they were just trying to be patriotic and show the dems they could work across the isle when they voted for crap."
REALLY?????????
Is that your justification?
O.k., well then. Well, at least they were cordial and cooperative. At least (by this effed-up logic) the liberals were voting according to some sort of belief system. These guys were apparently just being easy to get along with.
UNBELIEVABLE ARGUMENT!
Some people are so stuck in their beliefs and traditions that they actually use this kind of illogic to sace face?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
October 7, 2008 at 8 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Spankerass and whoever else thinks the dems are steer and clear from this just have your head in the sand. Barney Frank is the committe chair that is was asleep at the wheel when Fannie mae and mack were giving loans to everyone irregardless. And when brought up we might have a problem, he played the race card! ALSO His gay lover worked for fannie mae for 10 yrs and received some nice dough for doing so. Vested interest? So you see Barney and friends are to blame squarely for the mess we are in. Oh yeah did I mention Chris Dodd got a nice loan from Country Wide mortgage, one you or I couldn't get, right before they bellied up! So do your home work and don't get your news from main stream outlets. You'll never see this reported on the main stream news outlets, including the all liberal P&C! credit the John Gibson show.
October 7, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dawhetsell (anonymous) says...
All the lying politicians are saying they are going to bring the economy and jobs back. The only way to do that is cut spending, tax businesses that took their factories out of the country and help people start factories here. There are no jobs to go to. All the jobs in the last 15 years have been from people spending borrowed money. Every thing is maxed out ,no more credit and everyone overseas has the money you spent except, the money the bank thieves kept in all those trillion dollar bonuses they got in those last 15 years.do not vote for an incumbent.If you do you are going to get something that you don't want.
October 7, 2008 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jsmith8993 (anonymous) says...
The crisis we are experiencing right now did not happen overnight. IT started in the early 1990's w/ CLINTON administration w/ the de-regulation of the banking industry. Did you hear Barney (Fife) Frank? Years ago he stated that Fannie and Freddie were great organizations, joke. His boyfriend ran one of them into the ground. People think that an administration is to blame. It takes years for policies to run full tilt. The early years of the Clinton administration was a direct result of Bush #1, not Slick Willy. If you understand economics and finance, business cycles and market trends take time.
We are looking at mid year 2009 for a recovery according to the real people we should listen too, the economists (not the media-liberal, B Hussen Obama (or McCain) or the poloiticians). Everyone wants the public to panic and create more of a mess and it is working. How do you think the Great Depression going rolling? Panic that was not necessary (to some degree). I suggest people understand the market (now is a great time to get in the Market and not sell), finance and economics and get their information from reliable sources not the bias media. Listen and read. Starbucks is crap (and expensive). Wal-Mart will bankrupt you as well.
Time is what is needed. Also, November, there will be change and vote out those idiots in Washington who voted for the "Pork" Bailout Bill. $700 billion grows to $810 billion b/c of greed and idiots who run the country. Elect me for Congress, I could not any worse.
October 8, 2008 at 1:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
charlene68 (anonymous) says...
Boy.... I tell you what.. the economy is really going to save alot of money cause the busted the Chicken Factory in Greenville .
October 8, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
steve (anonymous) says...
moonpie used "irregardless."
October 8, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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