That was the last line in a NY Times about spending in the budget crunch. They mean household budget crunches . . . not the massive, incomprehensible governmental/societal budget crunch.
Apparently, we consumers have completely irrational thought processes when faced with money shortages. People will buy a 30k car to save 2.00 a week in gas. People will burn half a tank of gas to save a dollar on veggies.
I have to admit, I have my own list of purchases that I could live with out should the money give out. I wouldn't buy white castles or processed cheese slices or bacon. (sniff, bacon. BAAAAACCCOOOONNNNN) But, I also wouldn't buy arm loads of flowers or designer undies or a new television.
And, I have my own ways of being cheap. I don't send back the little post card to the bookclub because I don't want to waste a stamp . . . I just write "return to sender" on the box that arrives and after a couple of months, they get the message. Recently, I stopped buying those tubes of pre-moistened wipes in favor for the bottle of spray cleaner under my sink and a "rag."
But, mostly, I stop buying everything not absolutely essential . . . and I start buying store brand fabric softener. You can tell my feelings about my finances based on what brand fabric softener I have in the laundry room.
So, in addition to getting my oil changed and new glasses . . . I think next time I'll splurge on downey.
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