Posted on 09/27/2013 11:39:41 AM PDT by The Working Man
I used to go to Black Friday when the kids were small and if I wasn't working....little kids are easy to shop for.....
we seem to get a little "something" for everybody even though as adults, my family and extended family gave that up years ago....
Daily/monthly expenses have gone up, the pay check has stayed the same. My 20year old cars need replaced but there is not enough left to save up for newer ones. I refuse to go into debt or take government "freebies" (that I don't qualify for, because I am paying for those who do).
Hiring will be at a much lower level than usual, then mainly for temporary jobs totaling less than 30 hours a week. With Zero benefits too! The 47% is about to reap what it has repeatedly sown per presidential elections.
However, not all state exchange plans will have "huge projected increases in rates, copays and deductions".
For example, the "Silver" plan I am looking at has a "Deductible of $1,500/$3,000" and an "Annual Out-of-Pocket Limit of $6,350/$12,700". Prescription drugs are as low as $5 co-pay (mail order) with no deductible. Office visits are $20 copay but I think the deductible does apply to them.
I don't know what the federal exchange deductibles look like..
Should also mention co-insurance is 20% (insurance pays 80% after deductible is satisfied).
Christmas for me is a: water purifier, generator, food storage supplies, etc. I need to catch up quick. Looks like dark skies ahead for gun tote’n, bible believ’n folks like me. Never imagined I’d think about being a prepper.
I just came from WalMart ,, their seasonal area is stuffed with summer merchandise ,, gas and charcoal grills ,,, garden implements ... they’ve got to blow that out before they can put out Halloween... I’m in a good area so I’d have to say they’re screwed.
Probably buy a lot of second hand stuff for the kids.
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Donations to Goodwill are down in quantity and quality ,, their customer count is up and they’ve raised their prices.
Yes, it probably will.
But even though the media acts as if retail sales -- particularly at Christmas -- are the foundation of the American economy, they're wrong.
Business investment drives the economy -- not consumer spending. And business has not been investing in growth since 2007 [oil-drilling a notable exception]. The general lack of business investment, though, is the cause of the current stagnation.
I suspect that, to everyone's relief, this year's Christmas sales will beat last year's. It will be meaningless. That will be an effect of the true costs of inflation running higher than what the government publishes.
It's production that matters -- not consumption. You can't consume till you produce. A lot of people ain't producing any more.
Yeah, I’ve noticed the prices. $10 for jeans, $5 for plain old shirts. Ridiculous really.
You can get new clothes at Wal-Mart for those prices, low-end on sale but you can.
But the dudes running the insurance companies, providing computer services, etc? They'll reach even greater heights of prosperity and domination.
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