Dear recession:

[kydisneyfans]

The Saturday edition of the Lexington Herald Leader-www.kentucky.com.

more than 75% in a survey state that they will spend at least as much or more than they did last Christmas. State sales tax receipts increased 6% in July and 4% in August-the buyers are out there.

My personal situation is the opposite of the nation's, we struggled in 01-02 when the economy was strong. I took a buyout at my employer, my wife made 9.00 an hour answering phones, it was ugly.

We moved and now things look bad nationally, but we are better than ever. I have had 2 raises in the past 10 months, and was informed of another coming in December. My wife is making double what she was in 2002 in Ohio doing the same job. Our health benefits are great, her job stability is solid, and things are going pretty well here.

Don't underestimate the dropping gas price effect, that is an instant stimulus package in my book. I have nearly $200 a month more in my pocket this month than I did in July, and prices are dropping daily.

 

[kinntj]

Being in Michigan is definately a different scenario. We're mostly concerned over our jobs staying here. I don't like to worry too much, because that doesn't do any good, but I'm not going out foolishly spending money either. Christmas here will be a little slimmer, but that's because our 401k is being hit and we're not spending as much to put towards our retirement.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'd love to think this was true, but we've been in a recession in Michigan for years now. I really pray it doesn't hit the whole country like its hit here. Every day it only gets worse with more job cuts announced, more foreclosures, higher unemployment, strip malls with missing stores, and closed down factories.

My grandparents were on 6 Mile and other ones were 12 Mile.

I remember visiting them in my youth in the 70-80's. 6 mile was not great in the 70's, however in the 80's we would drive around and take pic's of the burned out cars and houses there.

Areas of MI have been depressed for a long time. I can't imagine the spread of it. People will have to go out of state.

We compare St. Louis to Detroit. We are bleeding corporations. Plant closures and layoffs effect our economy here.

I hope that we really start up a renewable energy program. There is real area for brand new jobs. I would love to build a house that makes money (off the electricity). We looked into it and the incentives to help get this off the ground will require government intervention. Just a fact. I think it is the right way to go. Other countries are ahead of us. We need to come into the 21st Century.

 

[bjgrazi]

Hey, I'm glad all of you are not dealing with the effects of the recession. I wouldn't wish that on anyone. It really all depends on where you live, and even then your personal situation as far as income, job sector, etc. can influence how much you are affected. While DH and I have been affected (he has been unemployed since June), we're fortunate to have positioned ourselves in such a way so as not to have our world crashing down around us.

However, it's obvious that here and in many other places across the country more and more people are facing the negative effects of the downward trend in our economy. Locally, I'm noticing more and more people are shopping at the outlet stores. Last weekend, while shopping for clothes for the grands, Carter's was packed. In the past, usually I'm the only one in there. DH and I stopped at Chili's for dinner the other night (we had a BOGO coupon). The place was literally empty. A few months ago, there would have been an hour wait. Parking lots at food stores and WalMart are still packed; go to the mall, you would think it was closed there are so few cars in the lot. Friday night at 6:30 PM and several car dealerships are closed. I've never known a car dealership in this area to close before 9PM on any night other than Saturday. Just signs that things here are not so good for many people. Let's not even begin to discuss the housing market.

Hopefully your areas will continue to buck the trend. I really hope that's true, but please don't think that because you don't see it locally, that there aren't people in our country facing really difficult times.

Sorry to hear your husband is out of work.

What part of Jersey are you in? It's not like that around here. We just brought a new car last week and in talking to the dealership they said they were doing just fine. We know they weren't going to cry to us; but there were people in there looking and their phones were ringing and it was a Thursday during the day. We were approved with a great rate without a problem. We were even given a better rate than first quoted us. I work retail and although its a bit slower on some days we're actually beating our numbers.

I think the media has to give up the sky is falling reports and stop scaring people.

Also our friends put their house on the market and everyone told them they were nuts to do it at this time. They sold in 2 weeks. Go figure.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Kohls - Business up Job Security...

 

[sahd2one]

Another Saturday and the malls are full! The movie theatre was packed! It is fantastic how we are telling the recession to take its pessimism and shove it!

 

[taylor1293]

Optimism is great, and we should all keep that attitude! However, different areas of the country are currently being affected differently.

Our area isn't doing that well. A lot of foreclosures, job losses, etc. Last night we went out to dinner and the restaurant was 80% empty...on a Friday night

 

[C.Ann]

I find it interesting how many people blame all of this on the news media - because I for one, very, very rarely watch the news or read the newspapers..

My opinions are based purely on what I see (with my own two eyes) going on around me - both here at the lake and where I live with my DD and her family in the winter..

I base my opinions on what others are telling me of their own personal experiences - those who live in all different parts of the country..

I'm very happy to hear that there are areas of this country that are doing well right now - however, that does not cancel out the areas that aren't and to call it "raining on someones parade" is insensitve at best.. When all is said and done, everyone in the country (except the very wealthy) will feel the impact - one way or another.. It's going to be a bumpy ride - with no "quick fixes" anytime in the near future.. I'm certainly not encouraging anyone to cash out their 401K's - or sell off their stocks in a panic - but it's better to be prepared (stick a little extra cash aside somewhere) when it finally reaches your neck of the woods - as opposed to being totally unprepared because you felt as though someone was "raining on your parade"..

Oh - and when the time finally does come that everything is peachy keen again - for everyone - could someone be kind enough to give me a heads up - because I won't be hearing or reading about it in the news..

 

[ntsammy5]

We are just now going into a recesion (maybe). There is a lot of pain yet to be felt. There are tons of companies just now announcing huge layoffs - that is what will cause economic problems - within 6 months to a year there will be lots of pain to go around.

 

[sahd2one]

This is NOTHING compared to what it was in the late 70's. People's memories are so fleeting.

We do not have double digit employment nor double digit mortgage rates.

Yes things are great right now all over, you just need to know where to look.

 

[rparmfamily]

Where do you live that is so great? Maybe we all want to move there, LOL.

 

[C.Ann]

This is NOTHING compared to what it was in the late 70's. People's memories are so fleeting.

We do not have double digit employment nor double digit mortgage rates.

Yes things are great right now all over, you just need to know where to look.

---------------------------

I'm sorry, but you are wrong.. I was an adult in the 70's - with 3 kids - so I know exactly what it was like back then.. No "fleeting" memories here.. Personally, "we" were in much better shape then than "I" (alone) am now.. Interesting, huh?

There is also "double digit" unemployment rates in certain areas of the country.. "You just need to know where to look.."

 

[bumbershoot]

more than 75% in a survey state that they will spend at least as much or more than they did last Christmas.

You know....I take surveys on a site I use, and it's really interesting, to see the "innards" of the surveys and think about what they are being used for. I have taken a few surveys recently that throw questions about the economy into a survey that SEEMS to be about different brands of food. And they are sneaky little questions, VERY biased sometimes. I have "reported" surveys to the main company that hosts them for having really bad questions. The survey-makers can easily lead an answer, and it also depends on the context.

Just today I was doing one about store vs name brands, and my "store" brand is actually an Organic brand. And the number of items this brand makes has increased drastically this year. So my answers will look as though I am buying more "store" brands, which people think are cheaper and lower quality, this year, which could be made to appear as though I'm economizing more, but it's simply that the store I shop at is making more and more items in their organic line, so I'm replacing other brands with their brand! I know my reasons, but the surveys don't ask questions.

Another tricky one is the "will you spend more this year than last year" question. And the answer this year is "yes". So that might sound like we're doing better (which we are, so far, knock wood). But the REAL reason is that DS is 4.5 years old now and wants Playmobil and accessories for Yule! That's going to cost MUCH more than last year, when he was over the moon about pajamas and some little toys.


Anyway, it's not that I disagree, but it's important to think about the surveys that were created, the questions and the way they are put along with the context in the surveys, and the fact that surveys don't ask for write-in answers, you just have to choose the best answer from what they give.



Michigan sounds scary! Sorry, all you Michigan-residents! (you have an interesting history, though, in How The States Got Their Shapes!!!)

 

[ntsammy5]

There is also "double digit" unemployment rates in certain areas of the country.. "You just need to know where to look.."

Right now, in the city of Buffalo the unemployment rate for black men is 50% - for white men 25%.

I lived through the 70s too and, well, I think if this thing we're in now continues to roll, the 70s will look good. My third child wasn't born until 1980 though, so I had only 2 in the 70s.

 

[bumcat]

---------------------------

I'm sorry, but you are wrong.. I was an adult in the 70's - with 3 kids - so I know exactly what it was like back then.. No "fleeting" memories here.. Personally, "we" were in much better shape then than "I" (alone) am now.. Interesting, huh?

There is also "double digit" unemployment rates in certain areas of the country.. "You just need to know where to look.."

I don't know where he lives but here it was horrible in the early 80's to mid 80's, it might have started in the late 70's but it didn't hit us until 1981. Again I guess it depends on where you are from. Right now things are good here so far.

 

[Nancy]

As long as the media keeps talking the economy down, people will be convinced that the sky is falling and "Wall street" is burning!!! Gosh I have more money than I know what to do with in the past three weeks with gas now at $1.50 less per gallon.

It will be an awesome Christmas around these parts!

Won't be awesome around here,gas is still over 3.00 a gallon, businesses are closing. As one poster above said unemployment rates in Buffalo for me aren't looking all that great. I plan on cutting way down for Christmas even though my DH is making more moeny right now because he is getting lots of OT. We are one of the lucky ones. My job is not allowing ANY OT and this is open enrollment time when we usually have mandatory OT.

Where do you live that is so great? Maybe we all want to move there, LOL.

Yeah really, sounds like Shangri-La

 

[Planogirl]

I think it's wonderful that many people aren't feeling the effects of the economic mess and that they intend to go on as normal. I imagine that this will actually do more good for the economy than most anything else.

However, it could be foolhardy to play ostrich completely. It's always a good idea to "be prepared" as the saying goes. I also hope that no one thumbs their noses at those who are struggling. We have lots of shoppers here too but also many who are being laid off and many foreclosures. I too often see a tendency for some people to say "I'm doing alright and therefore everyone else is". Um, no.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Another Saturday and the malls are full! The movie theatre was packed! It is fantastic how we are telling the recession to take its pessimism and shove it!

I saw the same thing today and even commented about the amount of traffic on the road this morning. Meijer was jammed almost as full as a Black Friday. All checkouts were open and lines went into the clothing departments. Macys had nowhere to park at all.

My job is partially related to travel and my sales numbers for October are the highest they have been in October during my 5 years in KY.

I also am having problems filling an open position in my territory and recently asked a former contractor to help since nobody wanted the work. I am getting applicants, but the willingness to work just isn't out there right now. Unemployment is about 5.5% in my area.

 

[kstategrad]

The malls here are crazy busy-you can hardly find a parking space.

I saw the Disney Visa discount and decided to apply for one. This was the week after the hurrah about the $700 billion bailout, so even though our credit rating is excellent, I thought we might not get approved or maybe we'd get $1000-wrong! We were approved for $20000! That's crazy,IMO.

I was thinking about applying for one too, for the benefits...do you remember if you were approved instantly when you applied online, or did you just find out by getting something in the mail? I like "instant" decisions, LOL!

 

[Colleen27]

Its a strange thing right now. The last time I was at a mall, the place was packed even though my county has about 10% unemployment, housing values in the toilet, and a ridiculously high foreclosure rate. I have to wonder how many are shopping and how many are there for other reasons (like the free wi-fi).

Our business is really hurting. People are unable or unwilling to invest more money in their homes when they're teetering on the brink of foreclosure or at the very least watching the value of their largest asset plummet. Our house is worth about 70% of what it was worth in 2002, which is a rather depressing thought, but we're in an okay position overall because we don't have non-mortgage debt and save compulsively for the ups & downs of a seasonal business. We're planning on taking advantage of current market conditions to buy a house outright, and then use this one as a rental. With the rental market where it is right now rent will easily cover the mortgage, so we'll basically be cutting our monthly obligations by $900. Which of course frees up more money for the important things in life, like Disney vacations.