I know that there’s nothing but hype about how horrible the economy is, but before you think I’m crazy, hear me out. I’m not exactly seeing the effects of this “horrible economy” besides the freaking insane gas prices. Every time I go out to go grocery shopping or go out to eat or just whatever, it always seems like there are a ton of cars parked and there are a ton of people out dining, shopping, or having a good old time.
Last week, we decided to go to one of our favorite Italian restaurants. We went on a Thursday night and we were on a wait for over half an hour! I was shocked. If the economy is so horrible, and gas prices are affecting everything, where are the effects? How can people still go out to eat like normal? I know we’ve cut back on our eating out.
On the fourth of July, Mr. Money and I decided we would take a trip to the mall to window shop. We didn’t need anything, but we were bored, so we thought we’d kill a few hours wandering around the nice air conditioned mall. We got to the parking lot and it was so crowded that I told him to go to the other outdoor mall all the way across town because I didn’t want to deal with all the people.
I am just really confused. All the hype about how the economy is horrible but yet I don’t see evidence of people cutting back! I know that personally we have cut back on eating out and spending. We’ve been very careful with how we are spending our money and we feel pretty good about it.
Today after my doctor’s appointment, Mr. Money and I stopped for ice cream. In the parking lot was a black stretch Hummer limo. We were curious as to who was riding in it. Where the ice cream store is there aren’t a lot of places you’d frequent every day. We went inside and there were about 20 little girls, all around the ages of four years old! Four! I was just in shock that someone would spend the money on a stretch limo for a four year old’s birthday party. I think that’s pretty ridiculous myself.
Have you seen the effect of the economy in your hometown? Are people really not cutting back?
Posted under Economy
This post was written by Mrs Money on July 9, 2008
I think that while the economy might not be as bad as they say, the real problem is the numbers that you can not see. What do you think the credit card bills look like of the parents of those 4 year old girls? Were all the people I saw at Lowes last night buying on home equity loans or credit? I think that people just don’t pay attention or budget and just CHARGE on through the recession. I’m just glad not to be one of those people.
Catherine- I totally agree with you! I am SO glad I am not one of those people too. I feel so stressed out when I am stretched for money. It is the worst feeling! I just couldn’t believe someone would do that for a four year old. It just boggles my mind!
The Value Of Money Today
The falling dollar is a big concern for all of us, it started with the mortgage crisis a year ago then to the real estate market.
Than oil started climbing it’s way up and now the whole economy is in a complete mess.
Today for the average person to plan a trip to europe it’s not easy, the euro is much higher than the dollar so everything that you calculate dollar wise for your trip is double or even more.
It’s much cheaper for travelers from europe to come to the us to spend money because for them it’s much cheaper.
Gasoline prices are like never before and will only continue to rise and like a domino effect everything will get more expensive, food, clothes, accessories, bottom line, all the basic needs will be harder to obtain.
The weak dollar is what caused the high prices and reduce purchasing power for all of us.
Some of you will say that changes in the economy like the ones we are living now happen all the time and no one can control them, true and not true.
True because it does happens all the time, and not true because we can prevent it by having a financial plan.
As I explained in some other articles I wrote, a financial planner will work just fine to most of us, as also some of us prefer to plan things by them selves which is fine too.
But in days like now when we’re worried about our financial situation and our Homes, we’re thinking about our mistakes and about what we could do if we were thinking in a different way.
Also how our life would look like if we had a financial plan for our family.
Real estate is on a very thin crest and it’s about to turn to the other side of the bubble.
In the years 2003 to 2006 the real estate market was in a big bubble and everybody talked about it, now the real estate market is in a bubble again but it’s going to the wrong direction.
The weak dollar as you can already tell is the result of many mistakes that we’ve all done:
Real estate, mortgages, oil, technology, etc.
know your plan and know it well, it’s very hard to succeed, it’s even harder to keep the success in our hands.
If you already have success good for you, so now you just need to keep this success in your hands and you’re good to go.
But if you don’t already have success, the steps are:
1. Make your self a plan
2. Work your plan 24/7
3. Master your plan
4. Set your self a Goal
5. Set your self a time frame
If you will follow these steps, you will definitely find the right way to success.
Yanni- Wow, what a great comment. I really like the idea of having a plan and setting goals. I am a goal oriented person! Thanks for your comment!