In this economy what services or things you will never forgo? (loan, layoffs)

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by hank0604

An old roommate of mine is a salesman for a company that makes the surgical lap-bands for dieters. He said his business has almost shut down, as that treatment is almost always out of pocket for the patient.

Elective procedures and those who make money from them are going to be hit hard. I bet plastic surgeons and dermatologists will suffer the most.

[billybones]

I dropped my Sirius satellite radio and thats about it. I live well within my means but always looking for ways to stretch a buck just a little further. No way I'll drop cable internet since I'd lose my Vonage phone service if I did.

I did try Magic Jack phone service and it does work well. The only down side is you have to have your PC running to use it (module plugs into USB). If times get bad enough I will drop Vonage and just use Magic Jack. How can you go wrong for $20 per year with all the features?

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by lincolnparker

Yeah, I agree. Second or third tier cities are doing very well if not booming in this economy. Look at twin cities, Milwaukee, Richmond VA. They are all expanding.

The experts disagree. Places like Milwaukee, Pittsburg, and even the more cosmopolitain Seattle are getting hit the hardest in this recession, while "global gateways" like New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston are fairing better in most long term forecasts. PriceWaterhouseCoopers just forecasted that Chicago and Minneapolis will be the only Midwestern Cities to to have moderate economic damage from this recession, while the other less-diversified cities will be hit hardest. The Sun Belt is getting killed as well. Houston was expected to fair the best because of high energy prices, but now that those prices have dropped they are sinking with the rest of the sun belt. Florida should fair the worst.

[Lookout Kid]

To all of the people who think they have been unaffected by the recession so far:

The effects of this recession haven't really been felt by most YET because events are still transpiring that will take a while to shake themselves through the entire economy. Architects have long been considered the "canaries in the coal mine" for economic trouble, and the massive layoffs in this industry didn't start happening until very recently (most have happened in the last few weeks). Financial and legal services are supposed to be the next to get hit hard. Manufacturing has been feeling the pain for a long time. How far will it spread? It's hard to say at this point, but the depth of the problems are quite troubling--and I advise anyone who's not in healthcare, government, or education to pad the savings account a bit! I for one am trying to get rid of my last student loan before the ax falls.

[long101]

Originally Posted by coldwine

I've never met an ALDI I didn't love. Just bring your own bags, which can be a bit of a pain for a city person who doesn't have a car

wait Aldi doesnt bag your stuff??? wtf Never been but I would like to give it a shot soon

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by long101

wait Aldi doesnt bag your stuff??? wtf Never been but I would like to give it a shot soon

No bagging, and the cart costs a quarter.

Aldi and Trader Joe's are the same company, by the way.

[cdc3217]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

No bagging, and the cart costs a quarter.

Aldi and Trader Joe's are the same company, by the way.

But you get your quarter back.

[JustJulia]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Aldi and Trader Joe's are the same company, by the way.

Good to know! I love TJ's.

[Milwaukee City]

I plan on stimulating the economy by spending a ton of money, I have enough in the bank I'm not worried. Bars,clubs,trips...Maserati's

[Lookout Kid]

Maseratis are funny.