I have given up buying lots of unnecessary crap, we don't travel or eat out very often. But it does not seem like many other people have changed their ways.

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~Happiness is a large family~

I agree! I noticed Easter weekend that the malls and stores were packed, and even since then, they have been full. I have noticed longer gas lines. Gas around here is anywhere from $3.02 to $3.31 for regular unleaded. I have noticed that the more expensive stations are empty and lines are forming at the cheaper stations. But this is probably bc there was never such a discrepancy in price like there is now with gas.

I have also noticed that the supermarket where we shop is going up on items and this store is the chepaest by far.

DH and I have not bought anything extra other than food and gas lately, which is HUGE for him bc he likes to spend money!

I'm not a big mall shopper in the first place so I can't tell you if there has been a change at all in that aspect.
I think people are finding cheaper alternatives. Maybe that's why we see more people on Ebay, or shopping at Walmart or Target.

I will say that we were at Gap yesterday and it looked like a feeding frenzy by the sales racks.

I can see it here in Maine. A few restaurants in the area that just opened a year ago in brand new buildings have closed. Chilis & Fridays both have closed because there just wasn't the demand out there. The real estate market has definitely taken a huge hit and the local mom and pop stores are very slow. I worry that we will end up with to many open buildings in the commercial market. Which leads us to a very run down environment. I am also in Southern coastal Maine so its not like way up there. This area had been booming, they consider us just a suburb of Boston.

I live north of Boston, I had to go to the Burlington Mall this past Sunday (dd has a spring formal this Friday and didn't have a dress)..anyway, there was a mile long backup jam on the highway to get into the parking lot. After I get near the mall, I am not kidding, I could not get a legal spot in the entire mall, and this is one of the bigger ones in the area. I lucked out and spotted someone leaving in one of the annex lots near a corporate building, way way way away from the mall. And the mall was packed and everyone had bags, it was crazy...I said at least 4 times...What Recession? The dressing rooms had at least 25 people in line, I had to go to the mens dressing room with my daughter so we wouldn't wait. Again, CRAZY! Maybe I just picked a busy day, but I haven't even seen it that bad at Christmas!

Where I live, businesses are closing down, or laying off employees. People are more mindful of making unnecessary trips because of the cost of gas. The summer vacations being planned are more like camping or renting places on the beach . . . destinations that one can drive to in a short time, as opposed to more exotic locations where you'd have to fly.

I hear people talk about prices going up. And just because they're out shopping does not mean that they aren't cutting back. I can't presume to know what they're buying or their motivations for doing so, so I don't assume that because they're in a store, they're spendthrifts.

And homes are not being built here because the homes already for sale are languishing on the market longer than they used to. In the town where my parents live, the new home builders are taking desperate measures to create incentives to draw in buyers . . . free new cars, free new furniture, or a hot tub with your purchase!

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Attaining financial freedom is like eating an elephant . . . it takes one bite at a time.

well the small owned businesses in our area are hurting big time my inlaws own two small businesses and they had to lay off their workes in hopes its a hot summer and people need their car airconditioners fixed...its bad they are on the verge of going under people are not fixing the heaters and air conditioners in their cars... so i think it depends on where you live in the country and what sector of living or dare i say "class" how much it affects you..

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fALL SEVEN TIMES STAND UP EIGHT!

It certainly hasn't seemed to stop people from ordering products online. It seems like i am delivering more packages now than i did at Christmas time. It's been crazy! I'm not sure if it is just people spending tax return money or what?

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"Go on, get outside, get the stink blown off ya!!"

I was thinking Tax returns too.... Yet I Have Not seen a Decrease in months have you?
It seems People are spend Spend spending.
It really Makes Me wonder those ecomomy Stimulus Packages as I Am Waiting in line Forever at Walmart .. I Am thinking " 3 people in front of Me Just dropped $200 Plus on Items and We want to Increase spending?r

I Know its a National Thing ....
Its just an opservation I Dont' Get.


Companies are Laying Off lots of people around here too.

I Don't think Everyone who is out are wasting Money and Are Spendthrifts. I know Some people are hit with Hard times around here! We Know Some first Hand.- But I guess I Think I Should See an actual Decrease in People out there. spending away - If we are in or going to a recession.

Going out to eat at An expensive restaurant , Getting Nails and Hair Done, Grocery Carts Overflowing at target?
There are More People out there spending On Non Necessities By far.

I have seen a drop. We live in a pretty low-income, isolated area, so I think people are feeling it a little more. One good thing is that our local grocery store has started to get very competitive about their prices - they're usually outrageous - in order to keep up with wal mart. I hope it's working for them, I would hate to see them close, but price adjustments and sales are very welcome here.