Are You Shrugging?

11.09.09 | chickensoup

[Chickensoup]

So, are you doing anything different economically?

Are you cutting back?

Will Christmas and Thanksgiving be any different?

Are you spending, saving, paying down?

[afraidfortherepublic]

Me too — paying down and not buying anything new. I just spent $125 at Sam’s on groceries. I expect to make that last almost 3 weeks and I fed my husband and an employee lunch at home instead of taking them for fast food. No Christmas at all this year.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Me too — paying down and not buying anything new. I just spent $125 at Sam’s on groceries. I expect to make that last almost 3 weeks and I fed my husband and an employee lunch at home instead of taking them for fast food. No Christmas at all this year.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Me too — paying down and not buying anything new. I just spent $125 at Sam’s on groceries. I expect to make that last almost 3 weeks and I fed my husband and an employee lunch at home instead of taking them for fast food. No Christmas at all this year.

[CharlesWayneCT]

I’m still putting up my Christmas lights.

I am pushing to get all our major surgery done this year, before the democrats destroy my health insurance. But that’s not really about Christmas.

[afraidfortherepublic]

Me too — paying down and not buying anything new. I just spent $125 at Sam’s on groceries. I expect to make that last almost 3 weeks and I fed my husband and an employee lunch at home instead of taking them for fast food. No Christmas at all this year.

[KYGrandma]

No debt but the mortgage. Christmas will be small this year.

[KTM rider]

I invested a lifetime in construction experience. Immediatly after hope and chgange took over, more than 300 capital investors cancelled shovel ready construction projects with our company. So now I am in the process of attempting to adapt to the new socialist order, scrounging up about 1/3 of my previous income selling off toys and using savings to pay the mortgage and the outrageous utility bills laden with taxes, suplemental tax bill, etc, etc.

I am about ready to tell congress and their puppetmaster debt brokers to take it all and shove it all up their collective communist @$$es.

[The4thHorseman]

And no Christmas shopping this year at Costco after they put ALGORE on the cover of the NOVEMBER Costco Connection.

I was disgusted when I got my copy--immediately tossed it in the bin without even cracking it open.

In fact, when I saw this month's Costco Connection, the first question I asked my husband was "Isn't there some conservative, or at least not obviously liberal, alternative to Costco?" If any Freepers know of one, let me know--I'd love to cancel my Costco membership and tell them this is why.

So, even though Costco usually gets hundreds of dollars out of me for Christmas gifts, they're not getting a penny this year. Unfortunately, now that our household is down to one income, no other retailer will be getting much from us either--looking to do more homemade gifts this year (which my family loves because I usually do things with fun, old family photos).

[bikerman]

Yes, yes, yes and yes

Same here nothing out there worth buying all China crap.

[NativeSon]

Same here. We are focusing on paying off credit cards and cars. Going out a lot less and paying closer attention to sales when shopping.

Christmas will be austere and more about the meaning.

and speaking of cc's, had a Chase card that I had for emergency use only and I got a letter last week that stated that Chase was closing the account because I wasn't using it. If you use the thing, they jack the rates up and if you don't use it, they cancel it.

I'm finished with them, pay them off and forget them

[Republic of Texas]

The leadership at Costco is extremely liberal, and proud of it.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Working like hell.

Paying off debt.

Saving like crazy.

Buying tangible essentials like crazy.

[thefactor]

all my debt will be gone in 2 months. i have never paid any interest on CC's and i don't plan on starting.

my family draws names for xmas. keeps the gift giving to a minimum. being there is the best part.

we always go nuts with the food, though!

[Zeddicus]

Hell yeah, I’ve already moved to Galt’s Gulch. Paid off every last bit of debt, and when the sale of our house closes next week - can’t tell you how grateful I am that it actually sold - we will have absolutely $0 debt.

I got laid off and will not be returning to another six-figure high-tech job. I’m cashing out my 401k and will put it somewhere less liquid and less accessible for the .GOV to confiscate.

I’m a mere shadow of the consumer I once was, and that is not going to change. I’m not coming back.

The only way to stop this runaway government is to starve it, and that will require personal sacrifice.

[homegroan]

Glamour Magazine has Me-chelle my belle on the cover. I didn’t even take it out of the plastic sleeve-just threw it in the trash.

[Graybeard58]

I’m blessed, we have everything we need and it’s paid for. We’ve never been big spenders here at my house anyway, so no need for “cutting back”.

[wally_bert]

Me too. When the last of the VT photo gigs are done and accepted, I should be able to eliminate a credit card. Other than essentials, I am not doing much spending. Most of my relatives (that don’t care for gifts anymore) will get charitable donations in their names and they are cool with it. My wife is very easy to shop for and I am expecting a list any day now.

[lapsus calami]

 

 

I’m cashing out my 401k and will put it somewhere less liquid and less accessible for the .GOV to confiscate.

 

I'm going to suggest a good shovel, grubbing hoe and a case or two of Mason jars, under the cover of darkness.

 

 

[DumpsterDiver]

Other than our mortgage; zero debt.

The same here.

Paid it all off in the last 6 months. Believe me, it hurt.

Don't you at least feel good about being out of debt? I've been out of debt since around 1973 and the feeling of being debt free was tremendously exhilirating for me.

In fact, buying a house back in the 80s and being in debt again was a bit of a downer for me.

[scottdeus12]

ugh.