Great Holiday Shopping Deals!!!

[Paul B]

I love this recession.
I love this recession. A few weeks ago I bought a car. It was a GM and it cost $34,000. They took $10,000 off and another $1,600 off for coming off a lease and gave me free oil changes for life, free mobil phone for a year and a $200.00 gift certificate for Best Buy. I think if I would have asked for a Hawaiian vacation, they would have thrown it in.
Today I did my once a year run out to buy my wife some Christmas presents. I went to Lord And Taylor because she likes that store and we have three of them here. The place was empty.
Almost everything in the store is 40% off, then I had a coupon for another 25% off and I signed up for a credit card and got another 15% off. The credit card I throw away as soon as it arrives so I got 80% off. The best part is I get to walk around with a Babe salesgirl.
I went to Sears to buy a wrench which was $15.00. The guy says to me "do I want it for free?" Like Duh, of course. So he says sign up for a credit card and I can get the wrench for free. So thats another credit card I cut up and throw away and I got the wrench for free. I went to Home Depot to buy a battery drill, it was $209.00.
While I am waiting on line I see the same drill in a box with a battery circular saw which I also wanted. The drill and saw together was $95.00.
So if I want to , I can throw away the saw and have the drill for half price. It's a no brainer.
If they had this resession years ago I would be rich.
Of course it is only good if you don't have a job and are retired like me. If I had a job then I would have to think about loseing it and if I had a mortgage I would have to figure out how to pay it and if I diden't already pay for my daughter's college, I would also have a problem.
So for most people, it stinks which is the reason the stores are empty. It even helps my business. I help people save money on construction jobs by helping pick the contractors, getting the best price then I watch the job and keep an eye on the house for the people. I just saved a woman $15.000 on a kitchen. So when the economy gets worse, I do a little better.
I know it is very tough on almost everyone and I did lose some of my pension but all in all, it is pretty good. (for me anyway)
For people that have to pay for colleges, homes, cars and food without a job, it is very tough and I feel for those people.
And forget about heating oil.

 

[NYreefNoob]

ive been cutting back on cost of repairs if it is customer pay instead of insurance, which helps. i just read a thing on china where toy sales are down and factories shutting down, funny how many other countries rely on us being the lazy fat country we have become

 

[Domboski]

Sounds like you just had one of those days where everything clicks. Like the priest playing golf in Caddy Shack. :biggrin:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I call it job security not a recession.

 

[Thatguy96]

Great looking at the cup half full I see!! Add the increased utility bills / Gas / Rent / and cost of living and it balances out

 

[Paul B]

Hey Dom, I still have those snails from 2 years ago and a bunch of shrimp from this summer.

Thatguy, I hope to see my utility bills going down because I installed solar electricity on my house.
Also heating oil came down almost half from the summer.

 

[Domboski]

Hey Dom, I still have those snails from 2 years ago and a bunch of shrimp from this summer.

Cool. I still have a bunch of stuff too. We have to make more plans to go out next summer.

 

[Thatguy96]

Hey Dom, I still have those snails from 2 years ago and a bunch of shrimp from this summer.

Thatguy, I hope to see my utility bills going down because I installed solar electricity on my house.
Also heating oil came down almost half from the summer.

Solar Panel pretty cool, hope to do this when i get my own house.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

Solar is nice. Along with that I want natural gas when I get a house too. Paul you get a rebate with the solar stuff right?

 

[regal]

I don't buy anything from China and never will and I don't care how many factories they shut down in China as long as some open in the States. I only buy American if the thing is made here........

Hmm, I suggest you look at the things you just bought. Did any of them say "MADE IN CHINA"?

 

[NYreefNoob]

well seeing if you have ever bought a toy in the last 20 yr's good chance you bought something from china, as well as shoe's or clothe's, not saying i am a supporter of any other country, just that our recession is effecting alot of other countries as well

 

[Paul B]

Paul you get a rebate with the solar stuff right?

As a matter of fact I got the rebate check for $14,000 on firday and the govt. is giving me $5,000.

 

[TimberTDI]

Hey Paul,

Just wondering... What makes your pension recession proof?

 

[CIA]

What...couldn't find a couch made in America?

FYI - Many foreign cars are made in America.

 

[Paul B]

Timber, my pension is not recesion proof and I did lose some money in my pension fund but the money that they give me every month for my pension is the same. From what I understand, the day I took the job 40 years ago they had to have enough money in the account to pay for my pension until I croak. I don't know how they police that but our pension fund has over nine billion dollars in it.
I was a union electrician in Manhattan.
My 401K I took out just in time and put it in quaranteed government bonds so I diden't lose anything at all. If I would have left it there I would have been screwed. It doesen't make much interest but it doesen't lose anything either. As long as there is an America the money is safe.
I was lucky or smart enough to retire with no debt. I paid off my mortgage the week I retired and I would never think to pay a credit payment on a credit card, that is just rediculous. I put money away to buy a car before I buy it rather than trying to pay for it after I buy it. My accountant tells me I am un American because I don't owe anyone anything. If I can't afford it, I don't buy it. No problem. :tongue1:

 

[NYreefNoob]

If I can't afford it, I don't buy it

i agree there, guess thats why i dont have a big tank or a new car, a larger percent of foreign cars are made here then american cars same with a harley unless you buy a old one, as with most things alot of the stuff is out sourced for a reason, not that i dont want to make a million also, but most americans wont work for x amount of money, un-trained with no skills and want to make a 100k a yr, heck go to you local resturaunt, me personally paul i have a larger issue with people making the money from here and sending back across sea's, especiallly when half of that money if not more wasnt taxed in the first place, and this is one of the reasons our economy is the way it is, but they never bring that part up in congress or if they do ive never heard that complaint or reasoning

 

[duke62]

what the f@#$%.hey man u had a good time spending money so keep it to ur self.ive been out of work for a month now and its not cool hearing someone say "I LOVE THE RECESSION"" i have 2 kids a mortgage and christmas coming in which i have to dip into my retirement savings to make this a good christmas for them.paul i love seeing your threads on ur old tank but come on there are alot of people that are not as lucky as u.

 

[TimberTDI]

Duke,

I agree whole heartedly. It's us working guys putting the hours in paying for current pension.


Paul,
This is the first time in my career that I'm actually losing sleep. I've never collected unemployment in the 10+ years I've been in the business and I'm making more money now than I ever had. I also have job security like I've never had before, slowly but constantly moving up the ladder. It's nice not to have to lug a tool belt around.

But at the same time I find myself wondering about the what if. I find myself putting things back on the shelf, asking my wife if we can cut down on the Christmas shopping. Looking at where I can cut out in the budget. I guess because I'm second generation and remember the work slow downs of the early 80s and early 90s that my Dad went through. In 32 years I only remember seeing my Dad laid off in 1981 and 1992 and he's 61 still going.

Now this coming from me, a guy who has no debt besides his mortgage and has a very healthy rainy day fund. How the heck are the people that are really on the brink dealing with it?

Steven

 

[TimberTDI]

me personally paul i have a larger issue with people making the money from here and sending back across sea's,

Rick,

You have no idea how many legal immigrant union workers are doing just that. They come here working for six months at a time just to send the money back home. You take just 12 guys at six months wages you're talking about $250,000 taken out of the economy not being spent. Never mind that unions have no problem sending a retirement check overseas.

 

[Paul B]

Duke, thats why I said

For people that have to pay for colleges, homes, cars and food without a job, it is very tough and I feel for those people.

When I worked, which I did as a construction electrician for 40 years I was out of work every year, once for 14 months and once for seven with my kid in college a mortgage and a $10,000 real estate tax bill. Every year I had to take a 7 to 14 week furlough with no pay. I know hard times.
My pension is less than one third of what my salery was. The post was not meant to downgrade anyone I just wanted to point out some good points like cheaper goods.
Thats why I did say "read above quote"
I know it's horrible for almost everyone
,I do side jobs even though I will be 60 on Christmas day and I am retired, if I diden't work, I would not be able to live in my house. And I have been dipping into my retirement funds for years.
I paid for my wedding, home and everything in it and I will get no inheritance, but I am very happy.
I think fighting in a war kind of changed my attitude as to whats important in life to me.

Sorry if I offended you Duke