[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CTHere

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.

This has everything to do with media driven fear - so people don't spend. Simple economics notes supply vs demand. No demand (because people refuse to spend), lower prices. Just because people refuse to spend doesn't mean they can't afford it. It means they're keeping a close eye on what's happening. Thanks CNN.

[Snowman27]

Gees, even Police and Firefighters taking pay cuts, making less. Like I said, some people are oblivious to whats really happening.



Galveston Police, Firefighters to Take Pay Cut

Galveston Police, Firefighters to Take Pay Cut - PoliceLink

[Snowman27]

I still am laughing at this:

Originally Posted by pirate_lafitte

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

So you went from what...1 million to a steady $800,000/yr? At least you can think about additions when most people out there cringe when they need to fill up their tanks to get to their part time job.

Note: My rants, opinions, and remarks have absolutely nothing to do with my situation. I always take a fair approach and put myself in other peoples shoes. While I agree with you on some points, I need to shed some reality in some minds.

[Stratford, Ct. Resident]

Originally Posted by CTHere

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!

I'm thinking that perhaps you were abducted from an Amish family when you were an infant?

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CTHere

I still am laughing at this:


So you went from what...1 million to a steady $800,000/yr? At least you can think about additions when most people out there cringe when they need to fill up their tanks to get to their part time job.

Note: My rants, opinions, and remarks have absolutely nothing to do with my situation. I always take a fair approach and put myself in other peoples shoes. While I agree with you on some points, I need to shed some reality in some minds.

Listen - don't think you're doing us a favor by outlining for us the pure ignorance of so many Americans that are blindly accepting what's going on. I don't accept it. We are NOT in a recession, I've concluded.

Reality is not listening to what we're being told or what we read on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, USA Today, and the WSJ. Have a mind of your own. Consider what's happening here.

[kidyankee764]

Originally Posted by CTHere

Gees, even Police and Firefighters taking pay cuts, making less. Like I said, some people are oblivious to whats really happening.



Galveston Police, Firefighters to Take Pay Cut

Galveston Police, Firefighters to Take Pay Cut - PoliceLink

IMO employers are using the "current economic conditions" as an excuse to cost cut. The company I work for laid people off, but not because we're hurting financially. They did it out of fear, to save ourselves from becoming worse off as this fear progresses. AT&T did the same thing. Sikorsky, one of the state's largest employers, is doing amazingly well.

I remember Stratford posting an article on Stamford having a huge vacancy rate - but I looked into it a little and found that most of the vacancies are in brand new buildings that have just been constructed. Maybe the city got a little ahead of themselves but I have yet to see fear grip that city the way it has much of the nation.

[Rich Lee]

Unemployment figures for December are due out this week. Analysts predict another 500,000 jobs lost.

[usmcfamily]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

Listen - don't think you're doing us a favor by outlining for us the pure ignorance of so many Americans that are blindly accepting what's going on. I don't accept it. We are NOT in a recession, I've concluded.

Reality is not listening to what we're being told or what we read on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, USA Today, and the WSJ. Have a mind of your own. Consider what's happening here.

Yup, my bank account is growing fat with all the money I am saving as I watch CNN along with all the retirees who want to retire in the next few years but can't because they have lost 1/2 their savings accounts. Joining us are the parents whose 529 savings have plummeted!

Yup, we are having a party with the fact that taxes, groceries, insurance, electricity etc. prices are outpacing pay increases.

Ignorance is bliss!

[JViello]

Originally Posted by kidyankee764

IMO employers are using the "current economic conditions" as an excuse to cost cut. The company I work for laid people off, but not because we're hurting financially.

BAM! Totally true words!

EVERY company hires folks they wish they didn't during the "good times" so during the bad times it's when you "thin the herd". Granted lots of good folks get let go as innocent casualties but it's reality none the less.

My addition is taking our 11x13 "master" bedroom to a larger size and at the same time adding a second bath. And I won't do it till I can pay for it up front because I know how to save and live within my means. You're just the type who believes the hype that all business owners sit back and laugh at the cash they make off the sweat of others. It's NOT the case 90% of the time. Some of my employees make more than I do.

[JViello]

Originally Posted by usmcfamily

Yup, my bank account is growing fat with all the money I am saving as I watch CNN along with all the retirees who want to retire in the next few years but can't

So is your bank account...the REAL one, not the "portfolio" increasing or decreasing?

Are you still putting cash in the bank every week and coming ahead, even a dollar more per month? Ahuh...

My in-laws CAN retire RIGHT NOW if they wanted too. They have a 3/4 million dollar house clear and free. BUT if they do, then they can't afford the beach house and my MIL can't afford to spend money like water so my FIL will continue to work till they "can" with a 7 figure "nest egg".

Retirment as we know it is another fallacy and modern invention. We were never created to sit on our ass and do nothing. Never. Most folks I know who do so, just rust. I plan on being active till the day I die. Will I be on the front lines? No...but I'll be working in some capacity - believe it.

Originally Posted by usmcfamily

Ignorance is bliss!

Indeed.