Originally Posted By alexbook How do you measure how the economy's doing? Is there something in your life that tells you that things are good or bad in your area? I'm curious if other people have "non-standard" indicators. My indicator requires a little explanation: Like any other well-run retail business, my employer keeps sales receipts stored away for years, just in case. One of my jobs is to box up old receipts and stack them away. If business is good, it takes three large boxes, tightly packed, to hold all the receipts. Lately, there have been months that have taken just two boxes, loosely packed. Not good.
Originally Posted By fkurucz 1) Took the in MINI for warranty service. Unlike last summer there was no mob lined up to place orders and wait 3-6 months for their MINI. Instead they had about 100 new MINIs on the lot. 2) I had a 5% pay cut and am expecting another one in May. 3) I know people who held "critical" positions at their workplaces who got the axe. The kind who are supposed to be recession proof. 4) On the rare ocassions when we eat out there is never a wait, and more often than not restaurants are half empty. Black Eyed Pea closed shop and I suspect others will soon follow. 5) The house across the street took 3 years to sell, after knocking 40% off the original asking price (and less than what they paid for it 7 years ago). 6) I rarely see anyone driving a brand new car. 7) A friend owns a mom-n-pop coffee place. He says that business is way down and they are losing money.
Originally Posted By alexbook >>2) I had a 5% pay cut and am expecting another one in May.<< Ouch! That's bad. My sympathies.
Originally Posted By wonderingalice Hey Alex... I hope things pick up for your boss soon. The most obvious of mine are the many "For Sale" signs and silent construction sites all around Southern Nevada. It's a pretty sad drive in our town now, if I pay too close attention.
Originally Posted By jasmine7 I've been noticing a few little signs. There are several homes for sale in my neighborhood, and a couple of them have been up for sale for a while now. I've also been noticing more homes being taken over by Home Vestors (they advertise themselves as the "Ugly House People"; they come in and buy houses, then renovate them & rent or sell them). Heck, the house behind mine was taken over by Home Vestors. In literally about 2 days, the family with a couple of kids was living there, and then they disappeared and Home Vestors came in. Another sign I noticed was when I went to get my taxes done this year. I go to HR Block and have been going to that branch since I moved to town about 8 years ago. Ever other year, the place was poppin' with several people getting their taxes done & lots of representatives. This year, however, there were only two reps and I was the only customer there.
Originally Posted By SingleParkPassholder -As a department, we're adding about 500 new cases a day to our caseload for child support. -the sports bar I frequent used to be be packed Fridays and Saturdays. There;s always room now. -more obligors are filing motions claiming they've been laid off and we believe them. Much to the chagrin of custodial parents, courts are setting lower child support orders.
Originally Posted By Dabob2 <I recently got a new job with over a 50% pay increase. > Good for you, man! I remember your situation and that's really nice to hear. Congrats.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Good for you, man! I remember your situation and that's really nice to hear. Congrats." And the worst part is I had to move from Appalachia to Orlando. It really sucks to be surrounded by sunny skies, palm trees and world class theme parks. I am 2.5 miles from Universal. I will be using my brand new $99 FL Resident Season Pass this Thursday. <a href="http://en.sevenload.com/videos/RpBZD9o-Ren-And-Stimpy-Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy" target="_blank">http://en.sevenload.com/videos...-Joy-Joy</a>
Originally Posted By ecdc >>I recently got a new job with over a 50% pay increase.<< Extremely cool, dshyates! My indicators are that my wife just had to get a part-time job because no one is paying for professional photographers right now. It's too easy to go to the El Cheapo Photo Studio at a department store instead of hiring a pro. My friend's wife got laid off last week. My other friend moved back home after working as a manager of a finance company in Vegas. Now he's a call center rep. The problem is things like my wife and my friend aren't really reflected in any statistics. They have jobs, just much lower paying ones, so they don't show up in unemployment figures. So when people talk about the economy somehow being "mental" or "attitude," I get that that's part of it. But for a lot of people, they're directly impacted in negative ways, even if it isn't as dramatic is moving to a tent city at the California State Fairgrounds.
Originally Posted By ecdc >>And the worst part is I had to move from Appalachia to Orlando. It really sucks to be surrounded by sunny skies, palm trees and world class theme parks. I am 2.5 miles from Universal. I will be using my brand new $99 FL Resident Season Pass this Thursday.<< Well now my jealousy compels me to take back my congratulations So I take it you worked it out with your ex and the kids? Will you still get to see them as often as you'd like?
Originally Posted By -em >>I am 2.5 miles from Universal. I will be using my brand new $99 FL Resident Season Pass this Thursday.<< 2.5 miles- you sound like your almost in my neck of the woods.. As for me.. I've personally been in this "recession" for over a year so sadly have adapted to 10 dollar limits on grocery shopping per week, the dollar menu with a 2 item limit (3s a HUGE splurge) every other week, etc... In the end I don't think I've truly missed anything and have come to value what I have, though I will be so incredibly grateful to someday see a better paycheck again and not have to justify buying both juice and milk in the same week
Originally Posted By dshyates "So I take it you worked it out with your ex and the kids? Will you still get to see them as often as you'd like?" I will get them for most of the Summer, and either Christmas or Spring Break. And anytime I can get back to WV. But I have a strong suspicion that my oldest will come to live with me when she turns 14 next year. Where she lives with her mother, she is so far in the woods there isn't cell service, and she is an hour from a crappy mall. I am .5 miles from The Mall at Millenia. Which is teenage girl nirvana. 2.5 miles from Universal, and 12 miles from WDW. It isn't great being 700 miles away from my girls. But I needed to get my career going and stable so IF my girls want to live with me I would be in a position in which that could happen. As it was, I was only getting them 6 nights a month anyway. So the extended time during the Summer with be better than before.
Originally Posted By -em >>I am .5 miles from The Mall at Millenia.<< okay you are REALLY in my neck of the woods.. I live right off Texas
Originally Posted By dshyates "2.5 miles- you sound like your almost in my neck of the woods.." I live at Millenia West Apartments. We should hook up for some juicy Disney gossip session.
Originally Posted By hopemax That's the same area, my parents lived while they were waiting for their house to sell in Washington St. They lived in the Cason Cove apartments on Conroy, behind Holyland.
Originally Posted By dshyates "I live right off Texas" Yep, me too. "Cason Cove apartments on Conroy" Pass it when I go to WalMart.
Originally Posted By -em >>I live at Millenia West Apartments. We should hook up for some juicy Disney gossip session.<< So how you liking the complex.. Its not a bad place to live.. though I have half a mind to think you are now stalking me -em
Originally Posted By dshyates "So how you liking the complex" The complex isn't bad, but some of the residents scare me. Not really for my safety, but I am always surprised that my stuff is still there when I get home from work. I am on my way to take advantage of the laundry room now.
Originally Posted By -em >>The complex isn't bad, but some of the residents scare me. Not really for my safety, but I am always surprised that my stuff is still there when I get home from work.<< Hey I resemble that remark but agree... Been here almost 3 years and had only 1 minor issue though (and you get used to the sirens..) and I think we have successfully derailed (well not exactly if you see this complex..) this topic sorry Alex...
