Posted on 12/01/2023 2:51:56 AM PST by davikkm
In a drastic turn, US boat sales, once thriving during the pandemic, are expected to plummet to a decade low, driven by the impact of soaring interest rates. The average per-person collection amount has surged from about $1,200 last year to over $1,600 in Q3 this year, signaling intensified financial strain. As 92% of Americans adapt their spending habits and gross domestic product and income diverge to levels not seen since 2007, urgent challenges emerge in the economic landscape.
Compounding the pressure, credit card debt has soared past the $1 trillion mark, reaching unprecedented levels. The Federal Reserve’s assertive interest rate hikes have pushed credit card interest rates to a staggering 21.19%, further squeezing consumers. This economic strain is accentuated by the fact that only 39% of Americans can cover a $1,000 emergency expense.
(Excerpt) Read more at citizenwatchreport.com ...
I just hit the mileage limit on my company car, which enables me to buy it if I want.
I’ll be completing the paperwork today. It’s a 2020 F-150 with 70,000 miles. I’ve only had it a year and a half. it sat in a parking lot unused for two years.
The price is the lease turn in price and is well below market value. I’ll be paying cash.
Following that will be a smaller layout on a camper shell.
I’m a little nervous about pulling that much out of savings while the moron is still President and is determined to destroy our Republic, but I’m doing it anyway.
Regular Americans: We need a loan for our grocery shopping this week...
All worth it to the 81 million or so votes to get rid of mean tweets and orange man bad.
I wonder if the author restrained himself so that he wouldn't get decked, or hulled off to the home for wayward writers.
Sometimes it is wise not to Rush right in,
but when you can't stop plunging boat sails, the next best thing is to sink to gallows humor.
Puns are *the* lowest form of humor, so by letting them drop anchor, it's the sure-fire way for the sea to give up the dead which are in it. That's because even the dead will arise in order to flee a pundemic.
"All rise." ~ Bale if..
“Both the poor and rich are cutting back on spending, with 92% of Americans tightening their belts.”
My wife and I are in our 80’s and are not poor nor rich.
Since Biden became our resident, we have cut back on many things.
One of our heirs got our Honda Ridgeline, and we are down to
our 20 year old Lexus. We sold or gave away our many kayaks
and fishing boat/engine/trailer and other items being insured and their upkeep costs.
My wife isn’t going to a monthly expensive ladies lunch.
We seldom eat out or buy take home food.
Each week my wife checks the flyer for our grocery store. Usable items really on sale which can be stored or frozen are bought and stored.
Our monthly purchases at Costco take advantage of items with longer shelf life and really good prices.
With some basic home adaptations, our PGE bill has plunged and is constantly rated as an energy efficient home.
We have not “gone on vacation” for close to 3 years as the good nightly rates are now, 3+ times pre Covid.
Our few if/when needed new clothing items are bought from Costco or Amazon on sale.
I remain skeptical about that "really good prices" part. Average $10 per item, and the temptation to buy something because you like it is overwhelming. The last time we came away with one item and some spy who worked there hailed us, "Wow, just one item!" We only buy what is discounted and a couple of items that beat out the other store prices. Same with Walmart, poorer people may think prices are cheaper there. Some items, yes.
Love your attitude Grampa Dave.
We are in our mid-60s still working full time and for 2023, our savings rate is about 50%. This was not the case even 7 years ago when we had quite a bit of misc debt. This problem we started to seriously address in 2018. An interesting to me at least tid-bit is that when we really got serious about getting our finances under control, the economy was doing well and Donald Trump was our President. But in-spite of the good things we were starting to worry about our finances so we got to work.
By the end of 2020 we had perfected our a spartan budget based on needs and few wants. By the end of 2022 we were completely debt free, mortgage paid off and starting to work on a savings and investing program and plan for future repairs and improvements on our home. In a concise statement we are in good shape, a full 180 degree change in where we have spent the bulk of our adult years—living paycheck to paycheck.
Today is especially important to me because my paycheck just handed to me reflects a contribution rate to my 401K that is going to max me out for 2024. Last week we opened a brokerage account and purchased two ETFs with plans to make monthly investments and we currently have 8 months expenses in a high yield savings account and about 1 years’ worth of food in the bunker.
We are not really as affected by the high costs of items like many but I believe a economic downturn is in the menu and it’s going to be painful. I can’t stop it but we can do our best to prepare for it.
Great work and a positive story!
Keep up the good work, and thanks for sharing your story!
I know my kids (19 - 22) will be spending less, because they all live with me. The 22 year old is pregnant, and her baby-daddy/fiance whatever lives here, too.
My presents to them are pretty much “rent, electricity, food, water, internet, TV”. I’ve got some smaller things for them, but the “big” stuff just isn’t there.
“In a drastic turn, US boat sales, once thriving during the pandemic, are expected to plummet to a decade low, driven by the impact of soaring interest rates. The average per-person collection amount has surged from about $1,200 last year to over $1,600 in Q3 this year...”
I never considered that my per-person collection amount affected my plummeting US boat sales.
I will donate $2.50 to the bar tab of the person who can successfully explain whatever that means.
I had to cut back on going to the Global Warming Conference as my private jet has become too expensive to operate and besides it is frozen to the runway in Munich....
https://rumble.com/v3z9xf2-private-jets-in-europe-intended-to-take-leaders-to-global-warming-conferenc.html
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