Has anyone noticed ...

Avatar for colomom99
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Has anyone noticed ...
5
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 12:28pm

That as the economy goes into the toilet everyone is embracing the ideas and philosophies that have been discussed on this board for years? Dave ramsey and the like must feel mighty vindicated right about now. I read the NYT story this morning (which I thought was a tad sexist even though I suppose the point is women do the most shopping) But anyhoo, it has been dawning on me of late when they do these breathless stories, esp. on TV, they give these "new" tips like creating emergency funds, raising money through garage sales and on craigslist, cancelling expensive cable or cell phone extras, using cash only when you shop, brown bagging it for lunch, etc.

I guess we're all "trendier" than we thought. Smile. Happy Thanksgiving.

Jenny

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-07-2003
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 12:42pm

Great point Jenny!


Makes you feel ahead of the curve, doesn't it?

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Teresa
http://www.affordingpickles.blogspot.com

Avatar for colomom99
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 3:09pm

Actually I think it's really interesting that everyone keeps saying that people need to go out and spend money when people like Dave Ramsey have been saying exactly the opposite for a long time. I think more and more people are going to become a lot more frugal even if the economy does recover. I know that is hard on people in retail but it's not a terrible thing to think before you spend. Think about how everyone conserved gas when it was expensive. I think those habits are still in place even though gas is cheap again.

BTW, my husband applied for a credit card tied to a sporting goods store just to get the $40 incentive so he could replace his hiking shoes that have a hole in them. The shoes cost $60 and he would pay off the $20 remainder immediately. I'm not a big fan of that sort of thing anymore but since I racked up all the credit card debt in the family and he never uses credit cards I don't have too much say.

Well, it doesn't matter. He was declined! The last time I checked his FICo score was in the mid 700s but we do have a lot of debt. That is the first time either of us have been declined for credit in the 15 years we've been married. I think this would be the credit crunch everyone is talking about. And to think I just paid off five credit cards to the tune of $11K. I wonder when/if that will improve our score.

Jenny

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-17-2007
Wed, 11-26-2008 - 6:16pm

I believe in paying down debt and getting debt free what I have never agreed with is how Dave Ramsey says to do it.


say you have 5 cards.


1. limit on it is 3,000 and you owe 2,000 on it.


2. limit is 5,000 and you owe 3,000 on it.


3.limit is 1,000 and you owe 800.00


4.limit is 500.00 and you owe 300.00 on it.


5. is paid off.


Just paid off 5 So what you do is pay off the 300.00 next

Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 11-27-2008 - 11:27am

Yep!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-14-2008
Thu, 11-27-2008 - 2:25pm

I have seen a trend in buying habits for quite some time now. When I was in the states, cant remember the name of the store, my girlfriend and I did a deal together. It was buy one hoodie, get one free. I wear hoodies or a jacket(zip up) to work all the time. I knew I needed a new because the zipper broke off the one I usually wear. So I bought two(dif sizes LOL) and we split the difference. What normal person needs two? If we all just bought what we needed instead of what we were talked into we all might be happier, or at least our wallets and CCs. I am going to have a fun night with the girls soon. Everyone is to bring clothes they don't wear anymore, or perfume they dont like and an appetizer and what they want to drink. We will throw all the clothes into a pile and have at it!