Posted on 10/16/2026 7:12:15 PM PDT by Libloather
Some Americans are crying poverty with a $1,500 iPhone in one hand and an $8 Starbucks latte in the other. They say groceries are unaffordable, but somehow the restaurants are packed, airports are crowded, and the neighbor just pulled into his driveway with a brand-new $90,000 SUV.
Apparently, we're one bad economic report away from bankruptcy and one Instagram post away from booking another trip to Cabo.
Consumer confidence is in the basement. Consumer spending apparently didn't get the memo.
In September, the Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell to 81.9. Yet it has been reported that consumer credit and debit card spending per household increased 6.2% from a year earlier.
As a financial advisor, I think the answer involves something more powerful than inflation or interest rates. Human psychology.
And there are five reasons our spending habits aren't matching our economic anxiety.
1. Keeping up with the Joneses has gone digital
Thirty years ago, you compared your lifestyle with the neighbor who bought a new Cadillac.
Today, you're comparing yourself with 5,000 people on Instagram. There are even college degrees on how to become a social media influencer. None of them get lots of likes by telling you to eat ramen noodles and skip third-row seats for the latest rock concert.
Someone's vacationing in Italy. Someone remodeled their kitchen. Someone bought a new Porsche. Face it. Someone is always doing better than you are. Or, it seems that way.
2. We've become a nation of monthly payments
3. There are two different American consumers
4. If tomorrow looks bad, why not enjoy today?
5. We've confused looking wealthy with being wealthy
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
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The American people are nuts. They feel like Trump has brought them down into a Great Depression. Grumble about the cost of gas as they go out to restaurants and buy luxury phones and have meals delivered with fees and tips instead of cooking at home.
We went to Texas Roadhouse early on Monday night this week. The place was PACKED and people waiting when we left. It must be at least $20 per person for a dinner there, probably more if you get any appetizers or drinks. I was kind of stunned that we hear SO MUCH about how everyone is one paycheck away from being homeless. Then on our “NextDoor” feed, there are all of these “cottage bakers”, and it seems very common for people to buy their fancy bread loaves for $11 to $15 each or “cake pops” and cinnamon rolls for $5 each or more.
“Get rid of credit cards and pay off the bills”
Yes if you are in debt. Better yet have the discipline to pay off the cards each month. Thats where i have been for as long as I can remember.
I think a lot of people are using credit cards and not paying them off.
And in the worst case, some people just go bankrupt. Rather than paying off their credit cards.
I don’t know all the ins and outs of the bankruptcy laws. But if someone has no assets,or limited assets. And the debt is overwhelming. They can still get it written off in bankruptcy
Yes, it’s a weird time now.
People take our freedom for granted under Trump. If the Dems and Socialists win they will refuse people rights like they did with light bulbs, water pressure in faucets and buying gas stoves. Beef uses more water and affects climate change so it soon will be prohibited. Or it will count against our social credit scores and mean loss of being allowed to drive more than five miles a week as punishment.
Freedom is not free. We’ll have to fight to get it back.
☝️ THIS 🔝
I think that student loans are the exception.
the same way poor Americans are simultaneously starving and in desperate need of food stamps and free school lunches and part of the obesity epidemic at the same time.
“Freedom is not free. We’ll have to fight to get it back.”
True, but NOTHING is worse than a RINO Senator, one who says mean things about Trump and doesn’t do everything he promised. It’s worth losing our freedom if that A-hole is also out of a job.
(sound about right, Purists?)
>> Better yet have the discipline to pay off the cards each month. Thats where i have been for as long as I can remember.
Ditto. Credit cards are a tool, zero cost to use if you use them wisely. Actually better than free with all the “rewards” nonsense.
Inflation is under control, wages are way up, Americans are more economically secure than ever.
The primary election is the time to get rid of a RINO.
NOT the general.
We’re too fat, dumb and happy.
Never heard one person state they’re “broke”
However, how many actually own a fully paid auto title or a property deed?
* Down hill ever since Mr. “Read My Lips” new world order Kennebunkporter.
Most of "we" are. But I admit to being overweight, and probably dumb based on retorts from FReepers here. But I'm not happy. Depressed and angry, barely able to control myself in wanting to throw things at the TV news when I see el-Sayed, AOC, Chevalier, Talarico and the others.
I never drink or use drugs but I can see why others do. They don't want to end up like me.
There are two different American consumers
Yes! He has broken the code!
Just bought a new truck. Well, a new to me truck as I gave my 1985 Ford Ranger to Oldest Cub.
I spent $6000 on a 1995 Toyota Tacoma that needs a little work but I know how to do it instead of a new $60,000 2026.
My sort of smart phone cost me about $120.
I brew my coffee at home.
My clothes mostly come from the thrift store.
I am not sure if I work two jobs or three officially.
We are the people that no one sees because we are too busy doing stuff to spend hours making videos to upload to Chi-Com.
Same reason elected officials cannot stop spending. Addicted
A lot of people don’t live within their means. My wife and I have religiously done so since we were married many years ago.
We didn’t get a large house. We got a small ranch. We paid off our house early, don’t buy new cars every other year, and they aren’t top of the line cars when we do. We fix stuff that needs fixing, when it needs it. The first five or ten years of our marriage we lived on furniture we got from other people.
It is crazy. We don’t go on vacations much anymore because rentals are crazy. Going out to eat? We used to do that a lot. I did go out to eat with a friend last weekend, Chinese, and two entrees, two sodas, two appetizers cost us $75 without the tip.
It’s nuts. But places appear to be packed.
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