[usmcfamily]

Sick of hearing times are tough? Its what you make of it? Are you kidding me? I have owned my house 16 months now and in that time its value has declined over 100k. And, its not going anywhere but down for the time being. I have 2 kids going off to college within the next 2 years. Of course, I have hope things will getter better. I would love to know how I can "think" away this recession and make it something that it isn't!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

A person can't wait that long.... I finally have a job now, but the pay isn't enough so I am looking for a second job. Regardless, I look at things as "I need it now, not later, but now"! You're right, we're not in a depression, but the times are depressing NOW! A person like me can't wait until a few months or years later. A person like me needs something NOW. Impatient and selfish, yes that's me and I make no apology for it. When your survival is under fire, you tend to get that way. And if you're wondering how I am typing this message, someone is letting me use their public computer. I am also looking for jobs on craigslist.

How about this. Stop freaking out and looking for everything now. Stop being selfish. Stop relying on conditions around you for your happiness.

I had to snicker at the "survival" comment. I'm sure you're down to your last lima bean. No?

Oh you mean, I can't live without my $5 morning coffee, piles of new clothes every month, 15 pairs of shoes, eating out 3 times a week, purchasing the latest electronic gizmo NOW just because you WANT it...yea that kind of survival.

Boy, times are a tuff - lemme tell ya.

Reading your post helps me understand where this "we're in a depression" garbage gets traction.

Originally Posted by usmcfamily

Sick of hearing times are tough? Its what you make of it? Are you kidding me? I have owned my house 16 months now and in that time its value has declined over 100k. And, its not going anywhere but down for the time being. I have 2 kids going off to college within the next 2 years. Of course, I have hope things will getter better. I would love to know how I can "think" away this recession and make it something that it isn't!

Okay, I'll do my best.

Your mindset about what your home is, is wrong. You should not rely on your home as a primary investment. It's a place for shelter and raising a family. I'm not sure when the idea of purchasing a home for investment income started to get traction, but it's partly what got us into this mess. I could care less if my home lost 50% of it's value. I'm not moving anytime soon. I wouldn't be happy, but it's not my investment vehicle. You should be happy you can afford a home and not what kind of return it's giving you.

Do you cry everytime you trade in a vehicle and it's lost 80% of it's original value?

Do you have a job? Can you afford food and the neccessities? Are you living off your savings?

My business has slowed down, but it's steady. Gee, I guess we are not going to be putting the addition on for a couple more years. Big deal.

I'm so sick of seeing spoiled people used to an unrealistic lavish lifestyle that they really can't afford have to cut back a little and start about it and playing Chicken Little that we are in a depression.

Where's the soup line? Where's the government coupons for food? Where is the 25% unemployment rate with another 25% having wages and hours cut?

Has the overinflated stock market crashed to less than 11% of it's value?

Please...we are far from a depression and we all live in conditions that are a magnatude better then what "well off" folks in the United States lived with in 193X.

In my service business I sometimes go into homes like a 1950's cape that's maybe 1200SF and realize that folks lived in these homes and were happy to own them and raised 2-3-4 even 5 children in them, were lucky to have one car and a TV set. Now it's "we are having a second child so we NEED to purchase that 2500sf home with the three car garage and uber storage space for all our 'stuff'".

We are a spoiled nation.

Learn to focus on the blessings you have and realize how well off you are compared to someone in Sudan, Somalia or Sri Lanka. Then go cry that you can't send your kids to an ivy league college or that the value that your home HAS is more than a lifes wages for the average Chinese worker.

Maybe then you'll stop focusing on filling your cheeks with more nuts then the next squirrel and focus on what matters in life.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by JViello

How about this. Stop freaking out and looking for everything now. Stop being selfish. Stop relying on conditions around you for your happiness.

I had to snicker at the "survival" comment. I'm sure you're down to your last lima bean. No?

Oh you mean, I can't live without my $5 morning coffee, piles of new clothes every month, 15 pairs of shoes, eating out 3 times a week, purchasing the latest electronic gizmo NOW just because you WANT it...yea that kind of survival.
Boy, times are a tuff - lemme tell ya.

Reading your post helps me understand where this "we're in a depression" garbage gets traction.



Okay, I'll do my best.

Your mindset about what your home is, is wrong. You should not rely on your home as a primary investment. It's a place for shelter and raising a family. I'm not sure when the idea of purchasing a home for investment income started to get traction, but it's partly what got us into this mess. I could care less if my home lost 50% of it's value. I'm not moving anytime soon. I wouldn't be happy, but it's not my investment vehicle. You should be happy you can afford a home and not what kind of return it's giving you.

Do you cry everytime you trade in a vehicle and it's lost 80% of it's original value?

Do you have a job? Can you afford food and the neccessities? Are you living off your savings?

My business has slowed down, but it's steady. Gee, I guess we are not going to be putting the addition on for a couple more years. Big deal.

I'm so sick of seeing spoiled people used to an unrealistic lavish lifestyle that they really can't afford have to cut back a little and start about it and playing Chicken Little that we are in a depression.

Where's the soup line? Where's the government coupons for food? Where is the 25% unemployment rate with another 25% having wages and hours cut?

Has the overinflated stock market crashed to less than 11% of it's value?

Please...we are far from a depression and we all live in conditions that are a magnatude better then what "well off" folks in the United States lived with in 193X.

In my service business I sometimes go into homes like a 1950's cape that's maybe 1200SF and realize that folks lived in these homes and were happy to own them and raised 2-3-4 even 5 children in them, were lucky to have one car and a TV set. Now it's "we are having a second child so we NEED to purchase that 2500sf home with the three car garage and uber storage space for all our 'stuff'".

We are a spoiled nation.

Learn to focus on the blessings you have and realize how well off you are compared to someone in Sudan, Somalia or Sri Lanka. Then go cry that you can't send your kids to an ivy league college or that the value that your home HAS is more than a lifes wages for the average Chinese worker.

Maybe then you'll stop focusing on filling your cheeks with more nuts then the next squirrel and focus on what matters in life.

I don't get $5 coffee in the morning and I only have two pairs of shoes. And no I don't have piles of new clothes every month. I haven't bought clothes in 9 months. I haven't bought any electronics in a long time either. I am talking about rent and school and other stuff. That is what I meant when I said survival.

[Uconn97]

Originally Posted by JViello

Reading your post helps me understand where this "we're in a depression" garbage gets traction.


I'm so sick of seeing spoiled people used to an unrealistic lavish lifestyle that they really can't afford have to cut back a little and start about it and playing Chicken Little that we are in a depression.

Best i have seen in a while

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by usmcfamily

Sick of hearing times are tough? Its what you make of it? Are you kidding me? I have owned my house 16 months now and in that time its value has declined over 100k. And, its not going anywhere but down for the time being. I have 2 kids going off to college within the next 2 years. Of course, I have hope things will getter better. I would love to know how I can "think" away this recession and make it something that it isn't!

It's really pretty simple. Stop watching CNN and FOX News and listening to fools around town who think it's the end of the world. The value of your home is artificial. Be thankful you have a home.

I agree with JV (wow that seems to be happening more and more lately!). Americans are so darned spoiled.

[Snowman27]

Originally Posted by JViello

My business has slowed down, but it's steady.

Wow -I guess you have no right putting yourself in someone elses shoes. Seems like you're "still" doing well.

Thats one problem with this country - people are neive and blind to reality.

I agree we're not in a recession but you judging someone about buying $5 coffee and clothes puts you in a category of a "typical" American. Just because everyone does it, doesn't mean everyone you meet does.

I can make your head spin with how frugal I live - but back to my first comment -- Why was McDonalds and Wallmart the ONLY 2 profitable companies in 2008??

I guess you were the only one at Starbucks because you're still doing well.

[Snowman27]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Be thankful you have a home.

I agree - I'm not in a home because it's a money maker but because of the comfort. But what's happening is, people just don't care ... they can just rent & that can be their home ...so they walk away from the mortgages or can't pay because of job losses.

I just wish we were back to the dark days of candles and horses. Serious. I use a wood stove for heat, it's 49 degrees in bedroom until I turn on the wood stove for heat. I just boiled water on the stove because I didn't want to turn on the stove and use electric!

Anyway - how did we get off course here?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CTHere

Wow -I guess you have no right putting yourself in someone elses shoes. Seems like you're "still" doing well.

Thats one problem with this country - people are neive and blind to reality.

I agree we're not in a recession but you judging someone about buying $5 coffee and clothes puts you in a category of a "typical" American. Just because everyone does it, doesn't mean everyone you meet does.

I can make your head spin with how frugal I live - but back to my first comment -- Why was McDonalds and Wallmart the ONLY 2 profitable companies in 2008??

I guess you were the only one at Starbucks because you're still doing well.

Please elaborate on what you consider a "typical American" to be.

Lets see - the things that Americans are cutting back on: vacations, material items (new TV, furniture, new clothes), and eating out. All of those are luxury items. It's so sad the sense of entitlement some people have (I'm not saying you, CThere). When people can't live in luxury, we're automatically in a recession/depression. What has this country become?

[Snowman27]

I'm suprised to see liquor sales drop. I figure people would be drinking more. I guess we're really in a recession and it's not all media driven. People have less money to spend, credit cards charging 30% rate, consumers maxed out from years ago, gas prices at $4/gall drained many... people haven't gotten to the brink yet but crime stats accelerating.

http://news12.com/CT/topstories/article?id=223384


Booze sales dry out as Conn. deals with recession
Play the video
(01/05/09) NORWALK - State officials say they've collected $2 million less in alcohol taxes for 2008 than the year prior, possibly due in part to the recession. Heading into November, excise tax collections were down in Connecticut by $925,000. Sales had spiked in September, but November collections slumped by more than $1 million. Richard Beladino, manager of a Norwalk Stew Leonard's, says customers are buying cheaper alcohol and less of it because money is so tight.

[Snowman27]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Please elaborate on what you consider a "typical American" to be.

I got plenty of meanings.

Make $1 spend $2.

Neive.

spoiled was a good word

little ducklings who have to follow what was passed down to them

but mostly oblivious to reality.