A Comment about Consumers these days

[Catty1]

Amen.

Giving from our hearts, not our pocketbooks, would be a nice change.

And the recipients love it more.

[Puckstop31]

Sadly... Most people understand this. The problem is that people who DON'T and lived a life WAY above their means, on credit, are going to be "bailed out". The healthy thing to do would be to let them fail.

Worse... Our governement does not even remotely understand the concept of living within your means...

[Pam]

My comment will probably only serve to point up how old I am. I heard on the news the other day that people have been being approved for mortgage payments which equal 40-50% of their monthly family income. I remember back when hubby and I bought our first house in 1970 the typical mortgage payment could not exceed 25% of your monthly income. Also back then the mortgage company wouldn't consider my salary because it could stop coming in should little ones come into the picture (that was back in the days of stay-at-home moms). People were not running up their Visas and Mastercards because they were not yet on the scene. The only credit cards then were for retail stores. You simply saved up your money when you wanted to buy something. Those were some conservative times but much wiser times for sure and now you can tell just how old I am.

[gini]

My comment will probably only serve to point up how old I am. I heard on the news the other day that people have been being approved for mortgage payments which equal 40-50% of their monthly family income. I remember back when hubby and I bought our first house in 1970 the typical mortgage payment could not exceed 25% of your monthly income. Also back then the mortgage company wouldn't consider my salary because it could stop coming in should little ones come into the picture (that was back in the days of stay-at-home moms). People were not running up their Visas and Mastercards because they were not yet on the scene. The only credit cards then were for retail stores. You simply saved up your money when you wanted to buy something. Those were some conservative times but much wiser times for sure and now you can tell just how old I am.

What a concept!!! Live within our means? Cut up the credit cards - actually SAVE??? Yes, Pam, now everyone can figure out how old both of us are....................but who cares.

[RICHARD]

Bite me!

Us "old folks" remember the time when we paid cash for our purchases?

If you didn't have cash, you could not afford it.

T.V. that came from an antenna?

No microwave ovens?

Gas for 25 cents a gallon?

A phone call was 10 cents from a booth?

Drive in movies?

Home cooked meals?

Afternoon Newspapers for info?

Milk delivered to your home?

Cloth diapers?

AM radio?

Clothes without labels?

Non-Organic food?

It's not the government to blame-It's our own selfish desire to make our lives simpler.

We kneel before everything that we believe will make life simpler.

It's keeping up with the Jones-our thought that what we own and have make us more 'better' than the rest of the planet.

--------
Faster, easier!
30 minute meals! GPS! Text messaging! On line shopping! Ebay!

When the 'lights' go out see how impotent we are!

UGH! The thought of having to interact with people!

Us 'old people' will survive longer than the AHs who depend on electricity and tech in our lives.

LOL,
I have a manual can opener and plan to use it when the end of the world comes. God forbid I starve -I can open a can of raviolis when I get hungry.

Luddites Unite!

[moosmom]

Amen Richard!!!!!!

[Catty1]

One of the main characteristics of an addict is the "I want it when I want it and I want it NOW."

In a way, all North American society has become an addict.

Let's slow down:

1. No 'instant' anything - mashed taters, puddings, Pop-Tarts (ecch!)

2. No processed foods - cheese, etc

3. I do frozen veggies - but get better results with fresh-cut.

4. The basic foods - protein, veggies, fruits and healthy starches.

5. Do without until you have a grocery list long enough to warrant a trip to the store. Splurge on reusable shopping bags and/or a plastic shopping bin. (Plastic can be recycled).

It's funny - when I buy groceries and it is all healthy basics - I am surprised at how reasonable my bill is. I think it is the junk and processed stuff that really adds up.

Anyone else have ideas on how to slow parts of our lives down?

[Edwina's Secretary]

Us 'old people' will survive longer than the AHs who depend on electricity and tech in our lives.

So what are you using to generate the non-tech computer you are using? AH's?

A nostalgic look back at how things were must include...limited opportunity for women and minorities, segregated schools, lack of knowledge about what constituted healthy and not healthy foods, far less medical advances, dangerous food additives and lots of other not so good things.

With the good comes the bad.

(For the record, I am older than R and the only debt I have is my home.)

I agree that as a society, overspending is a problem. It is extremely apparent in the area where I live.

I just don't think we should throw the baby out with the bath water!

I like my computer. I like the convenience of being able to order books, make reservations, research and learn on line. I like being able to make friends all over the world. I like voice mail. I like the microwave oven. I think a vacuum cleaner is much nicer than beating rugs and a clothes washer far better than a rock at the river.

Of course I could do without these things. But I would rather not.

It is a matter of whether we manage our things or let our things manage us.

[ChrisH]

A nostalgic look back at how things were must include...limited opportunity for women and minorities, segregated schools, lack of knowledge about what constituted healthy and not healthy foods, far less medical advances, dangerous food additives and lots of other not so good things.

With the good comes the bad.

I agree that as a society, overspending is a problem.

I just don't think we should throw the baby out with the bath water!

I like my computer. I like the convenience of being able to order books, make reservations, research and learn on line. I like being able to make friends all over the world. I like voice mail. I like the microwave oven. I think a vacuum cleaner is much nicer than beating rugs and a clothes washer far better than a rock at the river.

Of course I could do without these things. But I would rather not.

It is a matter of whether we manage our things or let our things manage us.

Well said, Sara.