Are You Buying Less Because Of The Current Economy ?

[Mikey]

With gas pushing $4.00 a gallon here, i'll be the first to admit I have cut down my FUN spending a lot lately.

Just wondering if the current economy is effecting your collecting ?

This is not a political thread ......

Just wondering if you are buying less collectibles because of the current economy.

m

[Earth 2 Chris]

I took the opportunity to cut out my monthly comic buying, which was around $60 a month. I was pretty disastisfied with most modern comics and just quit cold turkey. With that extra cash every month, I can still justify my toy purchases.

Chris

[toys2cool]

I've cut down simply cause I was saving for a home,but yeah I would've stopped either way cause of the gas problems

[Adam West]

To some extent....

I am much more discerning with discretionary spending than I was a year ago.

I was at a continuing education class last week and a guest speaker who was an economist pointed out that "every day we are reminded of how the economy is doing by the 3x3 signs we pass every day to the 9/10th of a penny"

It really hasn't changed our habits as far as cutting back on air conditioning, changing our vacation plans, etc. but it has cut down on what I call the impulse buys. There have been many times over the last couple of months where I have picked up a DVD or book to buy only to put it back down and think "nah, I really don't need this right now"

However, I did purchase a Wii Fit yesterday....weeeeeee!!! I haven't tried it yet, but my kids hooked it up and love it.

[Airdave817]

I feel bad that I switched from shopping at my local comic book store to online. The discount was much bigger. I keep what I buy either under $30, $25 or $20 depending on titles, trade paperbacks. My wife is cracking the whip - absolutely no figures of any kind.

And, I'm reading more back issues...

We don't fly, so we're saving big there. We don't travel, much - just a trip here or there to my sister's in St. Louis.

We're still working toward an adoption - we switched from China to Vietnam, and now we're back to a domestic program with Catholic Charities. I shudder to think what life will be like with kids. I want two - girl and a boy - my wife wants one.

My rule - they have to get their own toys and comics.


Awhile back, the vending machine in the breakroom here raised their prices - candy up from .50 to .60 or a dollar in some cases. That was something like a year ago. A month or two back, the soda went up from .50 to .75. I snapped. We go to Wal-Mart and get a twelve pack and I keep it in my car. It may or may not be cheaper, but it sure feels better. I know we're all trying to make a living, but that .75 sure felt like a $15 dollar bag check fee.

We've been looking at our phone bill. The only calls at home are bill collectors looking for people who've had the number before us. We use our work phones and cell phones for most everything else. Our service is now just the internet at home.

So, yeah, we're looking at where we can cut back and keep more money in our own pockets.

[SUP-Ronin]

I am definately cutting back on figures, and home improvement projects, and road trips, and food and other stuff I would like to buy but don't really need, and some stuff I need, but will buy later. Without a doubt my household is definately feeling the crunch. It sucks. This gas thing isn't even political, its simple greed. Look at the oil profits for the last several 1/4s, it isn't cause of supply or the war. They raise prices if the wind changes direction. Up $0.10 overnight here this week. Starting to really **** me off.

Thanks for the tax rebate, wow a weeks worth of food and a couple tanks of gas.

[spaceace35]

between gas prices and shipping prices it really makes you think twice.
a $10 action figure becomes $20 with the shipping added usually

[Mikey]

Makes me wonder ......

Why, back in the 70's did we have a "gas shortage"

Today, it's not a shortage --- gas is just priced nutty high

What's their explanation for this ?

With all this crap going on, I haven't bought one FUN thing for months

All I want to know is WHY ?

[toystalker]

yes

i am having to cut down, my sales are half now compared to this time last year.

and im in the uk! i would be buying moc megos all day long if gas was $4 a gallon here

if my sales are down that cuts my spending, i sell to buy, and buy to sell... vicious circle

trading with members here has been pretty good though, not a lot of folks got money to spend but they have toys to trade, im only going to buy toys with the money anyways, so for now perhaps ill carry on trading while things are tight

[grayhank]

Deleted

[Adam West]

We already had the gas price discussion before....it really isn't the oil companies fault.

China and India are increasing demand for oil.

The U.S. dollar is weak. A recent economist explained it this way....the Federal Reserve is kind of stuck right now. Lower the interest rates to get us out of the housing credit crunch and what looks to be a recession or at least slow growth. That creates a weak dollar because foreign investment would rather earn higher interest rates on their money. Once we pass through this cycle, interest rates will rise and the U.S. dollar will rise with it.

The only thing driving up commodity oil prices right now is speculation. I have been an avid investor of the stock market for at least 15 years and one thing I know is that speculators always get burned eventually.

Two things the U.S. is attempting to do to reduce gas prices is place a hiatus on stockpiling the national oil reserve so as to ease up demand side constraints. They have been talking for a while about a gas tax break for some time now but haven't seen it yet.

We are definitely making less impulsive trips and trying to consolidate errands into one to save on gas. We are also making use of carpooling with neighbors to school or sporting events to save as well.

[garagesale]

Makes me wonder ......

Why, back in the 70's did we have a "gas shortage"

Today, it's not a shortage --- gas is just priced nutty high

What's their explanation for this ?

With all this crap going on, I haven't bought one FUN thing for months

All I want to know is WHY ?

Speculation in the market based on fears of supply shortage. The upward pressure is also fueled by China's current stockpiling of oil and gas for the Olympics. They don't want to lose face and have local supply shortages, so they're buying up what we're not buying (yes, Americans are finally starting to cut back!), which supports the stock market upswing.

This time next year, look for the bubble to burst and prices to come down. Not as good as it sounds, since it could happen because of decreased demand in China and the developing world caused by decreased purchases from us cash strapped Americans (I.E., we buy less of their, and then they begin to feel the downturn). If it gets that bad, then we are most certainly in a depression.

JamesD

[thunderbolt]

Yep, we are cutting back here. I just saw the first over 4 bucks a gallon station on the way home from work. We stopped shopping at WalMart for groceries and switched to SaveALot. Not going out as much on weekends, spending more time doing stuff around the house and dog playing.

[mitchedwards]

We have cut back on alot of stuff. Generic brands are now our friends.

However I keep a separate fun fund, and as long as it has $$$ i can buy fun things with it.

[Bionic Joe]

I'm a lot more picky on what i buy both in MEGOS and comics, The biggest drop off is in the amount of time i take my Vette for a joy ride anymore it just sits in the garage