With the Holiday season upon us and a New Year jus around the corner, I wonder people are currently spending and how they plan to budget and spend going forward

 

Retailer sales and profits are way down and people say they have cut, the economy has slowed down dramatically and people are spending less and less.

 

I also wonder, what is your main method of payment?  Cash (debit card) or credit card?

I'll be spending more this year because I really didn't spend much at all last year.

 

I won't buy gift cards though.  That's quite a risk, these days.

I don't like "consumers". They are monsters.

^Like it or not, you are one yourself, haughty.

I have a budget for almost everything yet a good sale comes along or a new "gotta have it toy" is introduced and my budget for that category goes up in smoke.

 

I'll be spending more this year because I really didn't spend much at all last year.

 

I won't buy gift cards though.  That's quite a risk, these days.

I'm not in favor of gift cards, however, I think if a person has a specific need for something a gift card is a good thing. 

 

My nephew is into painting and photographyer and he's on a pottery kick now  :?  , I gave him a gift card to buy supplies.  This way he can manage what he needs to buy.  It's a practical gift.

If we're talking specifically of holiday-related spending, I will spend less than last year.

 

I do about 80% of my holiday shopping online so my method is credit card.  It's not safe to use a debit card online, nor do you have any recourse if there is a problem (can't dispute the charge).  The remainder of things I buy at the retail store where I work, where you are required to use the store charge to get the employee discount.  I pay it off every month (or else there'd be no advantage to using the card since store cards are 22-24% interest).

If we're talking specifically of holiday-related spending, I will spend less than last year.

The holiday season and Calendar year 2009

My nephew is into painting and photographyer and he's on a pottery kick now :? , I gave him a gift card to buy supplies. This way he can manage what he needs to buy. It's a practical gift.

 

I suppose it's easier for me because one person wants the Best of Tom Jones, and another wants a collection of The Adventures of Tin Tin.  Everyone else can get candles or alcohol. :-D

 

I know what you're saying though.  Just be careful about where you buy the gift cards and the conditions for each one, of course.

Calendar year 09 I will spend about the same.  I don't really have any place I can comfortably cut my budget.  I refuse to give up cable, it's my sole form of entertainment. 

I pay it off every month (or else there'd be no advantage to using the card since store cards are 22-24% interest).

 

Thats what I do.  I have one credit card, charge everything to it and pay off the balance every month.

I pay it off every month (or else there'd be no advantage to using the card since store cards are 22-24% interest).

 

Thats what I do. I have one credit card, charge everything to it and pay off the balance every month.

 

I wish I could do that with all my cards, but the hole was dug too deep on many of them early on. I will never be out of debt, I don't have enough years left to live.  Unless I win the lottery.  But I do keep that card paid off.

I refuse to give up cable, it's my sole form of entertainment.

 

I dare to say that's unfortunate.

I pay it off every month (or else there'd be no advantage to using the card since store cards are 22-24% interest).

 

Thats what I do. I have one credit card, charge everything to it and pay off the balance every month.

 

Me too!  That's how I monitor my monthly spending.

I refuse to give up cable, it's my sole form of entertainment. 

 

I dare to say that's unfortunate.

Hey...hey...hey!  Let the woman have her Time Warner Cable!  LOL  ;D

I pay it off every month (or else there'd be no advantage to using the card since store cards are 22-24% interest).

 

Thats what I do.  I have one credit card, charge everything to it and pay off the balance every month.

 

Me too!  That's how I monitor my monthly spending.

 

Thats the only way I can do it.  Then I transfer all the information into my spread sheet and start analyzing.

I refuse to give up cable, it's my sole form of entertainment.

 

I dare to say that's unfortunate.

Hey...hey...hey! Let the woman have her Time Warner Cable! LOL ;D

 

I think maybe Blue Line meant it's pathetic that that's my sole form of entertainment, but it is.  Seriously.  I went to one movie in all of 2008 in a theater.  I also went to one play but I had a comp ticket for that.  I didn't go to any concerts.

I'm staying away from any Time Warner-related products or services for '09 and beyond. ;-)

^I'm just saying that you should branch out! :-)  I didn't mean any harm.

Thats the only way I can do it.  Then I transfer all the information into my spread sheet and start analyzing.

Shoot, I should start doing that.

 

It *is* Monday, the start of the week...

I'm staying away from any Time Warner-related products or services for '09 and beyond. ;)

^I'm just saying that you should branch out! :-) I didn't mean any harm.

 

I would but budget doesn't allow for it, and it's really just not my style anymore anyway.  If I got rid of cable, I could go out and do other things more, but I prefer to be home more than away.  I work 2 jobs and when I get off work, I don't want to go out somewhere and stay out late, I want to go home and sit in front of the TV for an hour and relax before bed.  When I was in my 20s, I didn't have cable and I went out all the time and did all kinds of stuff, but I just don't have that kind of lifestyle now.  I'd like to go to more concerts and movies, but it's just too expensive.  The one movie I went to this year was a matinee, to which I took my senior citizen mother, and we split popcorn and each got a drink and still the whole trip cost me nearly $50!  I just can't afford an outing like that.

Oh, I understand.  I do admire your self-discipline though.  I really *should* be doing that...

Oh, I understand.  I do admire your self-discipline though.  I really *should* be doing that...

 

Yeah, me too.  As I've gotten older I've become more "lax" in my ways.  I'm such a cheap a$$ when it comes to certain things.  I clip coupons, like nobody's business, or I haggle for a discount, refinish/refurbish something instead of buying something new and research almost anything I appliance I buy.

 

Yet, when it comes to travel and clothing, it's like the cheap MTS is being held a gunpoint by materialistic MTS and common sense runs for cover.

I'm saying I'll spend about the same as last year. I was quite cheap last year, and I don't see changing that too much next year.

 

I'll probably spend a bit more on Christmas, but only because I've got an extra kid to give to.

I won't buy gift cards though.

 

Comedian Ron Bennington says he hates gift cards. Getting a gift card is like getting cash you can only spend in one place. So some SOB took cash and made it less versatile.

 

I think of that every time I give or receive a gift card. (I give gift cards in a situation like MTS described, where there is some thought behind it but I don't have the knowledge to pick out the right stuff the giftbuyer wants.)

Yeah, gift cards suck but the store you're allowed to spend the money at, loves the idea of gift cards!

I won't buy gift cards though.

 

Comedian Ron Bennington says he hates gift cards. Getting a gift card is like getting cash you can only spend in one place. So some SOB took cash and made it less versatile.

 

Why you can give a Key Bank, Chase or National City gift card.  I do that with my niece as she wants the power to shop in stores she likes.  You take the kids to the mall, drop them off, let them shop for 2 hours and pick them up later.  Everybody's happy!

I won't buy gift cards though.

 

Comedian Ron Bennington says he hates gift cards. Getting a gift card is like getting cash you can only spend in one place. So some SOB took cash and made it less versatile.

 

Why you can give a Key Bank, Chase or National City gift card.  I do that with my niece as she wants the power to shop in stores she likes.  You take the kids to the mall, drop them off, let them shop for 2 hours and pick them up later.  Everybody's happy!

 

and remember people, store gift cards expire (not sure about the bank ones)!! There are probably countless millions of $$$'s in unused cards floating around that will never, can never be redeemed (I have a $25 one for Brooks Bros from 15 years ago--I wonder if it's still good :wtf:). It's like sending charitable contributions to some of the biggest retailers in the country!

 

They work for at least a few years I think. When I worked at Old Navy people would come in with gift cards that were years old and they still worked. Hell, 15 years, if you don't redeem that, it's your own d@mn fault. I don't feel sorry for that person.

However, if the company goes bankrupt, they are not required to honor their gift cards.

However, if the company goes bankrupt, they are not required to honor their gift cards.

 

Thats why I give the bank cards.

 

and remember people, store gift cards expire (not sure about the bank ones)!!

 

That's why I give the bank cards.  Since they can be used anywhere you see the "visa" or "mastercard" logo.  Besdies, what teenage girl is going to leave a balance on a debit card?

I won't buy gift cards though.

 

Comedian Ron Bennington says he hates gift cards. Getting a gift card is like getting cash you can only spend in one place. So some SOB took cash and made it less versatile.

 

Why you can give a Key Bank, Chase or National City gift card.  I do that with my niece as she wants the power to shop in stores she likes.  You take the kids to the mall, drop them off, let them shop for 2 hours and pick them up later.  Everybody's happy!

 

and remember people, store gift cards expire (not sure about the bank ones)!! There are probably countless millions of $$$'s in unused cards floating around that will never, can never be redeemed (I have a $25 one for Brooks Bros from 15 years ago--I wonder if it's still good :wtf:). It's like sending charitable contributions to some of the biggest retailers in the country!

 

 

The store where I work, their gift cards DO NOT expire, ever.  And there is a fee for redeeming the visa/mastercard gift cards that the user has to pay, which is not a nice surprise when you first go to use it.

Actually, the bank gift cards aren't that great.  They usually have a fee, and they usually expire.  I know a lot of stores gift cards don't expire.  Best Buy's don't.  I don't think Target's do.  It always says on the back.

 

 

 

If they don't expire, be sure to see about any other conditions your gift card might have.  Some have certain levels of depreciation if you don't use it by a certain time.

Actually, the bank gift cards aren't that great.  They usually have a fee, and they usually expire.  I know a lot of stores gift cards don't expire.  Best Buy's don't.  I don't think Target's do.  It always says on the back.

 

 

 

 

Not all do.  The cards have an expiration date like a credit card so its hard not to know when it will expire.  The fee only kicks in after a balance remains after X (7/8) amount of months. 

 

So if you are giving a card of with a value of $500.  It should not take 7/8 months to spend.

As far as gifts for others, I've usually given my loved ones photos that I snapped earlier in the year. Those are more personal, and those seem to be more appreciated than some tchotchke. I might splurge a little for my partner and immediate family but nothing over the top.

 

As for me, I was planning to spend a little to upgrade my camera and equipment, but considering 1. my camera's done alright so far and 2. most of the major projects I had planned to photograph have been postponed indefinitely or canceled, and 3. who knows just how bad the economy will get,  I figure I might as well wait until after the holidays.

 

Actually, the bank gift cards aren't that great.  They usually have a fee, and they usually expire.  I know a lot of stores gift cards don't expire.  Best Buy's don't.  I don't think Target's do.  It always says on the back.

 

 

 

 

Not all do.  The cards have an expiration date like a credit card so its hard not to know when it will expire.  The fee only kicks in after a balance remains after X (7/8) amount of months. 

 

So if you are giving a card of with a value of $500.  It should not take 7/8 months to spend.

 

you give $500 gift cards?!?!? How do we all get on your Christmas list?

Actually, the bank gift cards aren't that great.  They usually have a fee, and they usually expire.  I know a lot of stores gift cards don't expire.  Best Buy's don't.  I don't think Target's do.  It always says on the back.

 

 

 

 

Not all do.  The cards have an expiration date like a credit card so its hard not to know when it will expire.  The fee only kicks in after a balance remains after X (7/8) amount of months. 

 

So if you are giving a card of with a value of $500.  It should not take 7/8 months to spend.

 

you give $500 gift cards?!?!? How do we all get on your Christmas list?

 

Be related or work for me!  lol

:roll:

^I've never seen more rolly eyes from anyone else here than from you.

^I've never seen more rolly eyes from anyone else here than from you.

 

don't $500 gift cards deserve eyerolls? (unless you're...say...Ivanka Trump. *meoww* :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll:)

I use credit cards for virtually everything but never have to worry about bills since it automatically takes the money out of my checking account

That's not a credit card tbideon, that's a debit card, unless it's a type of card I'm unfamiliar with.  Those are unsecured cards - you should not use them on the Internet, you do not have the same protection with a debit card that you do with a credit card.  For example, you can't dispute a charge if you have a problem with a vendor, and you have more problems recouping your losses if your card (or numbers) are stolen.

Actually, it is a credit card, specifically a VISA credit card directly connected to Merryl Lynch where my checking account lies. 

Debit cards often have the Visa or mastercard logo on them, and are accepted where MC and Visa are accepted, but it's still a debit card and subject to the restrictions I mentioned above.

Here's an article outlining some of the differences:

 

http://www.kiplinger.com/columns/fitness/archive/2001/ff20010808.htm

Oh well, whatever it is - and I'm pretty sure it's a credit card since the back says "...the customer agrees to the terms of the issuing bank's credit card agreement" - it's worked out pretty well so far:) 

I prefer not to take chances with my money, but suit yourself.

I continue to spend as I've always have, actually probably more.  And I have a  lot of reasons to be very concerned how much I'm spending, but screw it, it's the holiday season and I like buying for other people and myself. 

 

But you can definitely tell retailers were nervous.  I kind of laughed because I returned something to best buy that I bought 100 days ago.  The lady was like "Well, it's been past 30 days, actually way past 30 days, so is store credit fine?"  I said absolutely, and I could hear her say "Oh thank, god." 

 

I know retail sales have slumped a bit, but think people might be overreacting to prediction of devastating retail sales.  Malls are still packed, and I'm sure people will continue to buy, maybe not quite as much, but they'll still buy.

I don't like to shop. I do research before making occasional major purchases like cameras, cars, and computers that I get a lot of use out of. I've kept cars an average of six or seven years, and the longest was twelve. I used my last 35mm film camera, a Nikon FM, for 25 years.

 

Malls suck. Their overpriced frivolous stuff draws recreational shoppers like cow-poop draws flies. I buy clothes at Tractor Supply (TSC) and other farm-supply stores; they have quality work and casual clothes that wear like iron for good prices, and lots of hardware and tools. The stores are redolent with the aroma of new tires, a smell I like as much as leather.

 

Anybody who tries to take away my gay card will have to pry it from my cold, dead, un-manicured fingers!