tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post3538152996422424662..comments2023-11-18T01:21:55.631-05:00Comments on My Open Wallet: Economic IndicatorsMadame Xhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11536189690094235926noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-71573048985623803592010-02-08T04:11:42.323-05:002010-02-08T04:11:42.323-05:00The economic recession is impacting people's p...The economic recession is impacting people's personal lives in subtle ways. The attendance at a New York gym observed over a one year period is a case in point. Last year same time, the gym remained packed as more and more people came to stretch to beat away their blues; this year the attendance was thin, as many let their memberships expire due to lost jobs and paucity of income.Online Payday Loanshttp://cashone.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-28693993650161802732010-01-19T16:01:33.712-05:002010-01-19T16:01:33.712-05:00Because we have kids, we always go to those chain ...Because we have kids, we always go to those chain salad buffet restaurants. When the economy started tanking, they started offering 2 for 1 coupons. (They never had coupons during the boom years).<br /><br />When I stop getting coupons in my email, then I'll know the economy is picking up around here! (Unfortunately, we are still getting coupons)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-72811308326168010502010-01-15T14:52:24.765-05:002010-01-15T14:52:24.765-05:00I hear ya on the gym thing. My husband is a perso...I hear ya on the gym thing. My husband is a personal trainer and there hasn't been the flux of "I need a trainer to get fit" people just flowing thru the door like past years. Everyone thinks "oh, it's January, time for resolutions, I'm sure he's doing great at work right now!" Negative... I just don't think people are quite ready yet. I keep wondering, "where is this turn around in the economy" we keep hearing about. Obviously not quite here yet!Katyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08253277245569988642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-35421810007834486622010-01-14T14:43:20.321-05:002010-01-14T14:43:20.321-05:00I think it varies depending on where you are in th...I think it varies depending on where you are in the world, but there is no question that the economy is taking a toll overall. This leads to many people eating out less, and staying in more, to the chagrin of the club and restaurant owners... I don't think that we have any insurance of a quick rebound from this recession, no matter what the talking heads on the news say about it. Sad, but true.<br />Jerry<br />www.leads4insurance.comJerryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02297947643006068426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-44559399050468511942010-01-12T18:57:48.878-05:002010-01-12T18:57:48.878-05:00One thing I've noticed is the crowds in the gr...One thing I've noticed is the crowds in the grocery store, and the coworkers who don't cook learning to cook. I think it's the fear of the economy and belt tightening.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07469382982063659778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-64516573720673072512010-01-12T13:37:45.312-05:002010-01-12T13:37:45.312-05:00I started Weight Watchers again just after Thanksg...I started Weight Watchers again just after Thanksgiving, and expected the meetings to go from 25% full to 100% full after the new year. Attendance is usually down around the holidays as people just throw in the towel. I did see a big line of people signing up for new memberships at the January 9th meeting, but only about twice as many as the weeks before the new year. That meeting was only about 50% full, which really surprised me. Perhaps a sign of the economy, or perhaps I just hit a less popular meeting time - I haven't settled into a favorite day and time yet.<br /><br />A recruiter contacted me about two different positions last week. I thought about it for a while and then got back to him 2 days later. The positions were already filled! That's a sign to me that there are more job seekers out there now than last summer, when I usually saw a few weeks between a contact and interviewing, never mind hiring. I would say it is an employer's market more than ever now.Amy K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10979615306528968897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-11489973564500074212010-01-12T00:49:32.173-05:002010-01-12T00:49:32.173-05:00Not true here in Houston. The gym I go to has been...Not true here in Houston. The gym I go to has been ridiculously packed right on cue starting January 1. In fact, it's a huge LifeTime Fitness and it's completely full in the evenings, which it has never been to this degree, even last January. I am hoping people start dropping out soon.. :) RoopRoopnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-25939795052427564782010-01-12T00:31:27.569-05:002010-01-12T00:31:27.569-05:00I didn't get a raise this year! Neither did an...I didn't get a raise this year! Neither did any of my coworkers!<br /><br />Plus, rents in NYC have been really low and a lot of my favorite restaurants in Park Slope have closed down (Little D Eatery, anyone?). <br /><br />Woe.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04193929369095785929noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-85351499548049494552010-01-11T21:09:53.516-05:002010-01-11T21:09:53.516-05:00Superbowl ad prices are falling (Pepsi isn't g...Superbowl ad prices are falling (Pepsi isn't going to run a soda ad) and gasoline is inching toward $3/gallon (it's already over that here) are both signs that it's still bad and getting worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-78024231926776350982010-01-11T20:39:24.931-05:002010-01-11T20:39:24.931-05:00My friend who's a big box supermarket front li...My friend who's a big box supermarket front line manager said the supermarket biz is way up from this bad economy. When I was unemployed, I was too preoccupied with looking for work to be in the gym. Now that I'm working, I'm too preoccupied with keeping my new job to join a gym! It does seem like there are a lot of new banks popping up all over the place and drug stores too!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-63583039498177550472010-01-11T18:06:17.904-05:002010-01-11T18:06:17.904-05:00There's no recession here :) And it is very ho...There's no recession here :) And it is very hot (100F)...mOOmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440274434662150925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-63546841538124149212010-01-11T17:32:02.354-05:002010-01-11T17:32:02.354-05:00NYSC in the UES has not seen a decline in membersh...NYSC in the UES has not seen a decline in membership. I'm a year round gym user and it has been PACKED lately. I dread going right now. I've been trying to time my gym visits at later hours and around football games, so it's not nearly so miserable.Raehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00440608298015005414noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-33591798950488097222010-01-11T16:43:09.462-05:002010-01-11T16:43:09.462-05:00Since I don't go to the gym, I can't say s...Since I don't go to the gym, I can't say specifically. <br />However, we just had a county gymnastics class for our kids cancelled due to insufficient enrollment. That almost never happens.<br />I have also noticed other little things like my oldest son's college is now offering more extended payment plans for tuition.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04658247713778554562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-85006505125026344462010-01-11T16:23:15.835-05:002010-01-11T16:23:15.835-05:00I live in small city in a rural area and have noti...I live in small city in a rural area and have noticed that the YMCA is much more crowded. When I go in about 6 pm I'm fighting through a crowd of people to get to the locker room. I think this is an effect of the bad economy because one or two smaller gyms in town have shut down (meaning more members) and more kids are participating in sports at the Y because they can't afford the sports programs at school.<br /><br />Just guessing, though.Annenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-36485306567848559592010-01-11T16:13:03.650-05:002010-01-11T16:13:03.650-05:00Agree, my gym wasn't more or less crowded. I ...Agree, my gym wasn't more or less crowded. I judge more by the basis of people looking for jobs who tell me they are having tons of trouble.Craighttp://blog.budgetpulse.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-29091454421928801242010-01-11T14:35:10.134-05:002010-01-11T14:35:10.134-05:00I too was waiting for the gym deluge and it did no...I too was waiting for the gym deluge and it did not come. I can still get a 6/6:3 pm treadmill at the Grand Central location.Brooklyn Moneynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-79733793768160360112010-01-11T14:17:38.257-05:002010-01-11T14:17:38.257-05:00I've noticed less competition for items on eBa...I've noticed less competition for items on eBay, and longer lines at TJ Maxx. <br /><br />Grocery stores do seem more crowded--never connected that with the economy before now.Wendynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-50886900667228191762010-01-11T14:11:20.917-05:002010-01-11T14:11:20.917-05:00I was actually wondering about that too! I notice...I was actually wondering about that too! I noticed that the streets are quieter and my commute is less crowded lately. I wonder if it is because of the super cold temperatures? I thought last week that New Yorkers were taking a longer holiday vacation. But it's already the 11th and traffic hasn't picked up.Native New Yorkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16452473466019101531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14245531.post-90462067480629629432010-01-11T12:35:07.971-05:002010-01-11T12:35:07.971-05:00My commute to work is a little quicker, our favori...My commute to work is a little quicker, our favorite restaurants are less crowded, and the grocery store is more crowded on a regular basis.Crystalnoreply@blogger.com