Shoppers have already spent a record $5.4 billion online on Black Friday: Adobe Analytics

Not so hard to believe. I own my home and vehicles free and clear. I use one credit card a lot, but like cash, paying off the entire balance every month. Granted, it wasn't always that way. But, at age 64, that's how it is. It's not so hard to believe.

 

I warned many friends to reconsider college for their kids and lost them as friends. I have witnessed on Facebook how their kids are deep in debt and have jobs that have NOTHING to do with their degrees, yet they have to payback the debt for most of their lives.

 

Yeah growing up it was a given that you HAD to go to college, and if you did not you were doomed to sweeping up floors (no offense to any working person).

But when everyone gets a degree, that drives down its value and now you have people 5 years out of college working at starbucks, and they are bitter and resentful.

Incidentally, the "free college for all" democrats will only make that worse.

 

Yup, I'm sure. I've been in several ad agency war rooms where all people do all day long is post on social media to support the brand/political party ...whatever.

 

Not only is individual debts at all time highs so is U.S.corporate debt which has now reached $10TRILLION.Much of it borrowed to artificially inflate stock prices via stock buy backs, something which was illegal until the Reagan administration.

 

All new California hospitals have to be earthquake proof and capable of providing emergency power.

It blows my mind that there are naval ships that can power entire cities.

 

It's different times. Most Parents are of the WWII era and after that, yes, college was VERY important, it became a paradigm though. It's not the same times.

 

Maybe the last Black Friday with Trump as President, so shop while you can... Democrats are anti-shopping, as we all know...

 

Thats nice, my job is consistently rated one of the best professions.

And it is beneficial to all involved.

 

Hey Falcon61, my friend from DH. You are retired. Good for you, you earned it. I worry about you posting here and I get the feeling you get all boiled up when you should be on the beach with your grandkids or hooking up with Muldoon in Cali, Am I wrong?

 

Consumer spending if 68% of GDP. You don't want to cause a recession, do you?

 

Ugh... I spose theres something to be said here for faith in the economy, but I was just reading about how something like 40% of Christmas shoppers are still paying off their debt from Christmas a year ago. I really hate this season...

Yes, Bah Humbug! Not what Christmas is sposed to be about!

 

He is around 35.

 

Unfortunately those jobs did not exist when I got out in 1986.

 

Who is “you people”?

*rereads post* I never mentioned war or anything that can even be construed as war

Where did I blame anyone? Reread what you quoted, slowly. I said the crash happened during the last republican administration. I did not say anyone created it.

The ACA is a failed program — but since you have a crystal ball that know what I am going to do can you tell me the lotto number for the next powerball?

What heroes are you specifically mentioning, I have so few and most of them have passed

You must be having a bad day or a melt down, you need a hug?

False

Personal insult

I hope you find the help you need friend.

 

We believe you, because you have a history of truthful and reasonable posting on this forum. Others, who post 5 fake stories every day, not so much.

 

Hey, last time the bottom dropped out a GOP president was in control, and the Dems had JUST taken congress. So, how is that fantasy of GOP = good for the economy / Dems = bad for the economy working out?

The truth is that the GOP, with reckless tax cuts in good times (i.e. government stimulus) fuels the debt bubbles, which then pop and leave the majority worse off than they were before. Of course, the rich can then buy assets for pennies to the dollar, and inequality grows further.

 

Sure. I borrowed to buy my first car and my first house. Then you just live below your means. I kept my first car for ten years and payed off my mortgage after ten years which was easy if you don't buy the sort of house the real estate industry claims you can afford but a smaller and cheaper one, so long as it can keep you dry.

It is called deferment of gratification. You save a lot of money simply by not paying interest to credit card companies. The credit card companies lend you a few thousand dollars and they collect interest (at usurious rates) on it for the rest of your life.

 

Jim Grant once observed that recessions were the markets way of returning money to its rightful owners.

 

I tend to agree with you. I'm happy for the good economy and consumer confidence ---- after all, my business relies on selling expensive luxury items ---- but it boggles the mind how so many Americans are so irresponsible with debt, credit cards, and spending, and I hate the commercialization of Christmas.

Me too, pretty much. I don't know why some folks here find this so hard to believe. I think it is more a reflection on them, that they don't think it is possible to live a fiscally responsible life. Clearly they have failed to do so, so they don't believe anyone else can either.

 

My credit card company actually pays me to use their card, and they never get a dollar of interest out of me.

My home is nice but modest. Throughout our adult life, my wife and I kept vehicles for many years before getting newer ones. Right now, her commuter car has over 200k on it. It's in great shape, but I have offered to by her a new one. She can have a new one any time, but she doesn't want one yet. She's got 3 years until retirement. Then she wants a new one, she says.

 

Yeah, don't watch the HGTV house hunter shows, where everyone ends up with the dream kitchen on the front cover of the glossy magazines. That's not how real life is. People don't get the "dream", they have to compromise.

Our house is paid off, but we have a kitchen with tiles from the 70s, painted cabinets, and a laminate countertop. Not once have I thought my life would be so much better if we had $8,000 quartz countertops. I'd rather be debt free and have the luxury of heading towards the possibility of early retirement and financial independence. My time is much more valuable to me than things. My kids, of course, have a different opinion .

 

Some people do get the 'dream home' and when life bites their ankle, they lose it also.

Too many people haven't learned the difference between need, and want.....

 

A large indoor shopping mall here has been slowly closing down, and has announced it's final closing on January 31, 2020. It has been struggling for a good 10 years now. My greatest concern is what will become of it: a crime ridden zone not safe to travel? There are several places around it on the out parcels like Sam's club that I still go to, but I may have to find another if it starts to get nasty.

Rumor has also mentioned the possibility of turning it into residential condos... interesting concept. The center courts are already there, just enclose all the little shops and plumb them....