I guess I am Anti-America. I don't go shopping

to help the economy.

Earlier this morning, before the market even open, there was a comment that one reason the overseas markets crashed was because they need the American consumer to start... consuming. That the American consumer is the largest in the world.

We don't have a flat screen or an HD TV (are they the same?) We do not exactly live frugally, but we do not purchase things that we don't need. For example, we have many nice tailored suits, for both of us, but at work it is dress casual.

We like to eat out on occasion, and we purchase grocery items that are more expensive, like imported cheese. Last summer we replaced our 1993 car with a new one. The other is 10 year old. We do invest in exercise gear; running shoes have to be replaced every six months, or so, and if we want to exercise outdoor, we need warm clothes that can wick the sweat away.

And when we do have extra money, it goes to 401K and IRA and am now looking at HSA. Oh, and Long-Term care insurance.

Thus the malls and the shopping centers cannot depend on us to improve their bottom line.

If if this behavior is un-American... sorry. Our savings and insurance will always take a priority over a pair of socks, the way papa Bush did in 1992.

the only time i shop is when i absolutely have to and i try to get it over as fast as possible.

He said the German economy does not rely much on the US economy and they do not export much here. He also said they did not have a huge housing boom like we did. He thinks they will not be hurt too badly.

My cars are a 1991 and a 1999. I have every insurance known to mankind and firmly believe that insurance companies are the curse of our lifetimes. Just got the bill for my homeowners today, $2495 will be due on March 1.

was the most likely thing to bring down the empire.

Boycotting one merchant, no one notices
Terrible year over year sales numbers across the board, that will get someones attention

Haven't bought a vehicle in 15 years, no credit card debt, haven't been to the mall in years, rarely eat out. I'm an econo-terrorist.

from within by not participating.

At least, the war is having some effect in that it is wasting so much money that people are starting to feel it.

Every time a car hits a pothole, the fill is over in Iraq.

If we could get this theme into peoples' minds effectively, I think it could do more to bring down the corporatocracy.

We started living on what we figured our pensions and SS would pay. The rest went to IRA's and company plans (I was Fed employee, my wife worked for the state).

We now have more spendable income than while we were working.

on edit: We also paid cash for everything. A good way to avoid the sucker "Save!!! 50% Off Sale!!"

I never "saved" a dime by spending it.

5 dollars -4 shirts and a cd. plus a free stuffed toy!

Haven't been in one for years, with the exception of the local one which has only two stores functioning in it now. My weakness is fabric, and I did get a new sewing machine after mine broke after 18 years of use. My other weakness is books, but hey, you can get them online.

Saving up to pay taxes. I always have the minimum withheld so I get to spend it and not the government, then pay in April 15.

i can't figure out who buys that crap, when gas is $3 a gallon and milk almost $5, where do you have any money for extras? everything has to go to food and getting to/from work and the grocery store

i get my clothes from goodwill or from freecycle or from friends cleaning out their closets

i don't "invest" in exercise gear, walking is free and at this stage of life i don't need to be losing any more pounds anyway -- besides any exercise that involves "gear" will sooner or later lead to either knee or shoulder surgery in my humble observation

long term care insurance is not available or affordable -- good lord, isn't that at least $1K a month for basically...maybe they'll still be in business when you're actually old enough to need it but probably they won't? that kind of thing is way out of our league with only a couple thousand of month after taxes/deductions to spend to begin with!

i think all hd teevees are flat screen teevees but not all flat screen teevees are hd teevees but i'm not sure, our teevee is from the early 90s

we are pretty close (although yes below) the median income for americans and we simply would not be able to pay our bills if we had such things as new cars or new teevees or children, i don't see how there is anything "extra" to pay to consume just for the sake of consuming, it's up to the rich people to have $50,000 weddings and all that crap to put money in circulation, there is no extra money down here in the real world


if the market wants this to change, the market needs to advocate for better wages for the people who are doing the real work of the world, also there needs to be state-sponsored health care, socialist health care, crap, i don't care what you call it, it needs to be universal and provided out of the common tax fund so that all can have some basic financial security

there is no way to "live frugally" and be "free," no matter how "frugally" you live, you can't make up for the cost of health care when an accidental injury can be $100K and treatment for some cancers can be $600K, we live frugally but don't kid ourselves that retirement is ever an option until my husband is at medicare age (which he might not likely live that long, considering his health issues), he must work forever no matter how carefully we save because that is the way our system is set up -- an older person with health issues can't get affordable health insurance so they can't ever get off the treadmill, early retirement no longer exists for responsible people

I enjoy looking at the things I'd like to have but can't justify buying. We're on a cash only basis, we only buy what we need and have cut back on the little luxuries we were enjoying, like a meal out.

and world, I am NOT shopping to help you out of your screwups.

peace and low stress...

My DH & I pay our credit card balances in full every month, rarely go to the mall unless it's for something we need, buy clothing on sale or on eBay or from consignment stores, and haven't made car payments since 1993. The only thing we owe money on is our house.

We refuse to get caught up in the credit card debt cycle. We prefer to spend our money on family excursions or an occasional night out. I don't understand the attraction of buying things we don't need.

but whenever I go to a store I get incredibly depressed by the "made in" tags. Buying anything makes me feel like I'm contributing to the loss of American jobs and the forced labor of some little kid somewhere. Life must be a whole lot easier if you're stupid or just don't care.

I did buy new bedding this winter. . .using the money I had planned to use for a much-needed vacation. As a grad student working part-time, I don't have a ton of disposable income, and i spent a fortune on bedding I expect to last me for the next twenty years.

But clothing is another story. I cringe at the prospect of buy a couple of new suits for the job search. . .ugh. I rarely find any of them attractive, feel they are all way overpriced (even on clearance sales), don't generally enjoy wearing them. I already have too many clothes, and often give things away (not because I'm clothing-greedy - it's an issue of fitting into them as my body changes). . .

Otherwise, I hate shopping, haven't been inside the mall in almost a year, and do most everything online now. But I do agree about the "made in" tags - it's outrageous how difficult it is to find things made in the USA, especially at stores on the lower end that I can afford to browse.

Most Americans have too much - and most don't like to admit it, either.

I shop more online than I do in stores, except for food, of course.

I shop for books, for professional supplies, and for tools and materials to do repairs and keep the place going. I shop to make sure that I've got enough clothing that fits, and is in good repair, for work and home.

I don't buy useless junk because it's "cute," I don't buy things for "fun," and I pinch every single penny. When I go "shopping," I do so with a specific item in mind. I don't stop to browse and see things that I suddenly want or need (except for my one vice: books.)

I don't have to have or try every new fashion. As a matter of fact, I get one haircut a year. From supercuts. My last hair cut cost me 12.99 plus a generous tip, and took 10 minutes.

The most recent thing I bought was a new chainsaw, since my old one disappeared with the handyman who "borrowed" it. It supplies me with wood for the winter. I'll be using it later this morning, when the sun comes up and (hopefully) the frost melts.

I don't, though, go shopping "for fun." I once lived 2 miles down the road from a major shopping mall. I successfully avoided darkening their doors, and chasing my tail in their parking lot, for the full 5 years I lived there.

Somebody has to be buying something for you to make any money.

Everyone's job depends on someone else being the market for the product. That's the fear Bushco panders to. If you don't have $$ to buy stuff, whoever works at those companies could lose their job. If people quit spending, whatever your company is selling is what they cut. Only people who work for grocery stores and General Foods are relatively safe, and even they, not absolutely.

Which is why we need a social safety net, because some products do become obsolete.

but only because I won it in a charity raffle. . .for $5.