"'Tis The Season To Be Broke"

'Tis the season for retailers to be jolly if American consumers empty their wallets over the next three weeks. But how can we empty our wallets if our wallets are already empty?

Consumer confidence appears to have bounced back from the low brought on by the hurricanes and subsequently high gas prices. But it’s still below what it was before Katrina. And last week’s survey by the Conference Board showed something of a drop in shopper enthusiasm. Households say they intend to spend a bit less this holiday season than last.

Consumer spending is now more than three-quarters of the whole national economy – a record high. There’s nothing left to spend. Yes, gas prices have settled down a bit, but so have paychecks. General Motors, Merck, and major airlines are laying off tens of thousands. Job growth is anemic and pay is lousy. American families have exhausted all the coping mechanisms we’ve been using for years to spend more.

The first coping mechanism, which began decades ago when mens’ hourly wages first began dropping, was for spouses to go into paid work. But now that most adult women are on payrolls – including even the mothers of toddlers – this strategy has generated just about all the cash it can.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/1201-33.htm

When women first entered the job market (unrelated to war) they did so for "extra money"....NOW their income is NECESSARY to keep a roof over the family's heads and food on the table..

If men's jobs had continued to "support" families, and women's wages to "supplement", we would be in a very different place..

Realistically, we are in a worse place now, because Mom's wages barely cover the new expenses like child care and meals not eaten at home..:(

I heard on focus on the family several months ago that the reason women work is so hubby can buy boats and other expensive "toys." Pure evil, women should stay home where they belong. I used to listen to their talkshow for about five minutes a day but since the hurricane I've changed my priorities.

Not when both need to work and unwind and have no trouble for the kiddies.

Yet these idiots keep votin' for them.

But it's only because the previous 3 years were awful. I was out of work for 3+ years and my wife went through breast cancer surgery last fall (she's now got as clean of a bill of health as one could have, fingers crossed). This June I finally landed a good-paying job, and now that we're dug out from most of the medical bills etc, it's time to cut loose a little and get the kids a few toys that weren't delivered in a Happy Meal.

Still, I no longer believe in job security. I HATE that feeling of looking over your shoulder, wondering when you're going to get the ax because some higher up thinks your work is less valuable to the company than saving a few bucks by eliminating your salary and medical costs.

With all that, I'm thankful for where we are at this point in history. Compared to our recent history, I'll take it. The best Xmas present I could get would be for bushco to go down in flames. That ain't gonna happen this year, so being an aging male, I'll settle for my family's health, a few chatchkas for the kiddies...and a BJ from wifey.

we know that heating oil is gonna be expensive and we will have to get it a couple more times this winter.

My wife and I have had a hell of time with vehicles this year...and with the gas/energy costs it hurt even more...but compared to the last few years, we are spending about the same....thank god for dollar/five dollar stores...:)

very reasonable prices. :)

ordering stuff online, i have done it in the past...i usually shop for bargains and what nots...i usually start xmas in september actually...and just pick up a few odds and ends....and usually by ...like, now, i'm done...i only have a very few more gifts to get, but just little things for the wife....

cause i usually find a ton of stuff i want, me, i'm a huge superman freak, so anything with his name/logo/whatever i usually have a strong desire to order it, and there is a ton of that stuff online...so i try to control myself...:)

I have ordered some superman stuff from ebay back in 2000, but since then, i haven't had a bunch of money to order any more...sometimes i go to ebay to look around, and i usually quit looking very fast...casue there is a ton of superman stuff...and i check out like hasbro, and other toy sites....but...restraint is key!....:)

Most of that increase will be for charity, family & friends will get about the same as last year.

We went into a debt reduction program in March, ripped up all the plastic and will be out of debt in 5 years except for the home mortgage. Going to be a bleak christmas though, no more $1000 of presents on the plastic cards.

cause they were very worried about a lousy xmass season, I'll bet come january they'll start rising again...

but I can blame that on buying a house this past summer. If it weren't for that, I'd probably be spending like crazy.

Because I'm a cheap bastard. Nothings changed there.

Besides, my garage is filled with more shit than I know what to do with. Is it too late in the season to have a garage sale?

Luckily November was not too cold -- but how are We the Economically Strapped going to eventually pay our utility bills this winter and still have this Fat Christmas the media is raving about?