Frugality Among Consumers Is Outliving Recession

AP ^ | 5-2-1010 | Jeannine Aversa and Bernard Condon

[Drill Thrawl]

In our area rice has be stable. I can still get 20# for $9. Dried beans on the other hand have about doubled.

[piytar]

“A new frugality among consumers whose wealth has shrunk is outliving the recession.”

Um, no. The so-called “recovery” is a figment of government spin and propaganda. The reality is that a huge number of consumers are BROKE.

[blam]

"Contrary to whatever the statistics may be saying, food does seem to be going up in price. Significantly. Factor that in and I’ll bet consumer spending in real dollar terms probably hasn’t gone up much at all."

Food and energy prices have been going up while others have dropped. I can't find the article I posted about this a week or so ago.

[Pining_4_TX]

“Does it occur to the ass-hats at the AP that many American consumers are still freakin’ unemployed?”

Or underemployed. I know many people whose household income has been drastically reduced.

[RobRoy]

>>I found a cherry cabinet that works PERFECTLY....for $15...at a garage sale!<<

:)

I found a couple of really dated leather and Chrome chairs at a garage sale five years ago. I was almost done paying off my IRS debt from five years before so I had NO money. The guy wanted $50 for them but nobody wanted them. I came up Sunday afternoon and offered him all the money I had on me: $14 and some change. He took it.

After using and seriously enjoying them for those five years I had a niggling feeling that they HAD to be worth something. I did an internet search and found out they were Milo Baughman chairs. When we downsized last summer in prep for our move to Kentucky, I sold them on Craigslist. The guy that bought them was visibly nervous because he thought he was ripping me off because of the price. Nevertheless, I felt $500 was a nice compromise to get rid of them and move on. Make this one mint condition and in tan leather and it is the chair.

And I got one just like this for $5 at a garage sale last year (JVC's flagship receiver from the late 70's):

Like frugality itself, garage sales can become addictive. Add to that the simple fact that I am in a strong Ecclesiastes phase right now, and I'm not too worried about the future, financially speaking.

[fwdude]

Article on being frugal, but I see smart balance there in the picture.

Maybe she "lifted" it (kidding!!!!)

[blam]

"Our dishwasher broke two months ago and we let the landlord know, but we told him it’s not necessary to fix it. So far, we enjoy doing our own dishes and it is more energy efficient"

I own my own home, no mtg, etc.

What's amazing is that I actually diagnosed what was wrong with my dishwasher, retrieved the part and fixed it myself. The part was $32.00. A few years ago...I'd have just bought a new unit.

[Drill Thrawl]

It could have been on-sale or a big coupon. I don’t typically buy brand name food, but if a sale or coupon makes it cheaper...

[RobRoy]

>>I never used to spend more than $2 a pound on meat. <<

When we bought our farm in Central Kentucky, the previous owner leased back for a while. He and I bought two calves last spring and slaughtered them in late fall. My total out of pocket was $430 and I got about 480 lbs of meat. He also canned over 70 jars of POTATOES that fall. Food is pretty cheap when you grow your own.

[AmusedBystander]

“Does it occur to the ass-hats at the AP that many American consumers are still freakin’ unemployed?”

All of the non-commie reporters have been layed off over the past couple of years.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Don’t do all our shopping there but at least 50%. Have to make every penny count these days or we’ll all be in Obamavilles.

[RobRoy]

Yeah, in my last home that I rented (five bedrooms) the fan in the heat exchanger for the central air conditioning went out. I just replaced it myself and sent the landlord a bill for parts.

This place we’re in now is very temporary. We’re getting ready for our move from Seattle to central Kentucky. We’re in a holding pattern for another month or so.

[fwdude]

people are also probably saving up for when the Bush tax cuts expire next year.

Good point. They won't be extended or made permanent, even if R's re-take both houses. There are too many RINO's infecting government, and Oh-damn-ya will veto "tax cuts for the rich" as certain as the sun will rise.

[FormerACLUmember]

Ass Press is claiming that the Obama-created mega-recession is over.

Why? Did Obama resign?

[Domandred]

Swamp cooler at the house I bought last year was well in bad bad shape, probably hadn’t been cleaned or serviced in 10+ years.

Wife called a “service” company and they recommended buying a new one $500+. Then a new one wouldn’t fit the existing cutouts so the exterior wall would have to be retrofitted, dunno on cost there. Labor for the company to install it after the retrofit done (cause they don’t do that part) about $1000 including delivery charges.

I told my wife no way in hell until I take a look at it first. Ended up costing me about $150 in parts from Lowes and an afternoon of tinkering with it.

[RicocheT]

“Frugality”, is that what being skinned by Wall Street, broke and laid off consists of? This recession has legs and won't go away for some more months or even years. We now buy what is necessary and avoid buying anything frivolous or unneeded. I get my TV over the air and dumped cable, got a cheaper cell phone contract and turn off the lights when I leave a room. Going fishing or a picnic in the park is a substitute for going to the movies or expensive vacations.

[goodnesswins]

HA....a few months ago our 1 yr old washing machine wouldn’t start....I was looking at it thinking....I DO NOT WANT to CALL A REPAIRMAN! Sooo....I looked on the internet and gave the symptom....and voila found a few ideas for what was wrong....had to take the back off so I could take the TOP off...and jiggered with a part....and guess what...FIXED it MYSELF! And then my husband came home!!! I prolly saved us a cool $150! And, it’s been fine ever since! Too many of us have been taught to be helpless....my husband, had he been home, would have freaked out with me taking the thing apart and fixing it.

[fwdude]

Starving the beast regarding income is a bit more of a challenge, but I’m working on it. ;)

Yeah, me too. Putting more money into the 401(k) (assuming Oh-damn-ya doesn't end this tax shelter) is tough, but every dollar in is one that doesn't feed the beast while the illegitimate Øne is in office.

I also just opened a health savings account, but understand that these might go away shortly because of our wonderful "health care" legislation.

[padre35]

Same here, much less beef, more pork and poultry.

AP does not seem to understand that US Consumers were badly shaken over the last 2.5 yrs or so and that leaves an impression that last for a very long time.

The one thing I will pay for is quality when it is called for and worth the money.

[fwdude]

I started “stocking up” RIGHT AFTER Obomba was elected....my friends probably think I’m loony...but, I don’t care....

So you're the one who bought up all the ammo! :{)