Sometimes for lunch I visit this little mexican food joint downtown. You used to get three enchiladas with the lunch special, now you only get two... :'(
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Sometimes for lunch I visit this little mexican food joint downtown. You used to get three enchiladas with the lunch special, now you only get two... :'(
Bacon - regular price now $3.99/lb - 6 months ago was $2.99/lb.
Noticeably fewer day laborers at the usual haunts waiting for work (gone home?).
Homeless panhandlers - was rare to see one, now there are 2-3 in front of the grocery store at all times (including 6 am) - they are also much more aggressive.
Getting junk mail almost daily from Cable and Dish companies offering to undercut each other with deeper discounts as they try to maintain service population.
Credit card companies are sending those "checks" and balance transfer promos weekly (I've no balance on the 3 cards - Amex, Visa, and M/C), so I assume they'd really like to have some low-risk debt on their books.
Local restaurants - empty - no lunch crowd here downtown. The parking lots are empty in the evening except for the "All you can eat Buffets".
Only about 3000 miles away. Same clientele, though. Only mine are Air Force (I'm ASSuming your neighbors are Navy....) And it's even worse than I thought. I assumed this guy was about an E-6 or E-7. Nah. I finally got a good look at him in his uniform - he's an E-4. The pay must be A LOT better than when I was in....Quote:
Originally Posted by BrewTech
Did go to the Navy Base (Pensacola) this weekend, though. If I hadn't ducked into the commissary and seen the 100 meter long checkout lines (express AND regular), I'd have assumed everyone had gotten an early start on the weekend and bolted town, because the exchange was pretty empty. Very unusual. But the few people that were there were dropping coin on big-screen TVs, living room sets, etc.
Back when I was an E-4, many of my married co-workers were on food stamps (or eligible, but didn't apply on principal). Things have really changed. And don't get me started on the officers....
I was in the grocery store yesterday morning and ahead of me was this lady, who while checking out had to "put Back" several items Due to not having enough cash on hand, and all other forms of plastic were "maxed out". Then, as I'm walking to my car I see her loading what was left of her groceries into the back of a brand new 40K dollar SUV....Kinda make ya wonder
People are differentiating their yard sales from the competition by having the yard sales on Thursday/Friday instead of Saturday/Sunday. Apparently they are getting customers, which means maybe some elderly collectors, but more likely pickers looking to resale or unemployed looking to save money. How the hell do you go junking on a Thursday or Friday if you have a job?
Add to that why you would need to differentiate your "permanent" yard sale from the competition.
Hmmmm.
You know things are getting bad when Dollar Stores are getting robbed at gunpoint. If that's not desperate, I don't know what is.
But that's where the dollars are!! :whistleQuote:
Originally Posted by Argentium
Baby formula is often sought by druggies...it's used to "cut" crack and other street drugs.Quote:
Originally Posted by Galen
Took a ride to Pismo beach today went to the outlet stores to buy shoes, I got shoes and left, it was packed ! everywhere people going here and there, we are supposed to be in a recession.
Then came back north and through Los Osos into Morro Bay the traffic was ridiculous, (even on 101 on the way down) nobody seemed to be in a recession there, kept going north into Cayucas stopped there and had lunch, went to the beach and walked the pier, people all over and restaurants full it was about 3;00. :conf:
Shoes probably due to school shopping I'd guess. Or end-of-season sales.
Gas down to $2.61 here in MN.