What I want to know is which of you "spent with abandon"!

[madfloridian]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/986926.asp?0cv=CB10

SNIP...." The economy grew at a scorching 7.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter in the strongest pace in nearly two decades. Consumers spent with abandon and businesses ramped up investment, compelling new evidence of an economic resurgence....."

Who spent it and what did you buy? Are you the ones I saw on TV two weeks ago shopping for Christmas, the stores were packed and the decorations were up for Christmas? The shoppers were carrying Christmas packages, and I could almost hear the holiday music......JUST LIKE LAST YEAR....but they would not do that on TV, would they? Use last year's video to hype the economy? Nah.

'Fess up, who spent all the money?

[bif]

1. I was laid off for a year

And now that I have a job, I spend money very carefuly. Teaches you how little one ca=n live on.

[Clete]

2. Ah, the RW chefs have taken over. The masters of the

cooked books are working their wonders alongside wizards of the stuffed electronic ballot boxes.

[tom_paine]

31. Yes, we are now rapidly apporaching a Soviet-style atmosphere

At least from the perspective of the truthfulness of the pronouncements of the Party Leaders.

I knew it would start eventually.

Yes, and Comrade Bunnypants* also says that toilet paper production increased 600% last quarter, too!

[Rainbowreflect]

3. I don't even know abandon.

;-)

[sandnsea]

4. Again, child tax rebate

That's where the consumer spending came from. That was the biggest part of this along with higher figures because of gas prices and the higher cost of goods related to transporting those items. Business investment helped some too, but wasn't the major contributor according to the actual report.

[adriennel]

5. credit, the American way

Lately, whenever I hear that consumers are spending "with abandon", I think of huge piles of credit card debt. Just because people are shopping does not mean they have money to spend! I've been guilty of this myself (hey, isn't it the American way?)

[IrateCitizen]

6. I spend a great deal less now than last year...

Except for my honeymoon, but that was all spent in Euros and Swiss Francs.... :D

[OKNancy]

7. Spending the re-finance money

I think a bunch of people re-financed their homes, extended their mortgages and got some cash. I think this bubble will burst when the bills come due.

[Ripley]

11. Also everyone and their brother (including me) bought a new car.

In the last year. They're practically giving them away. I just saw an ad in the paper for $5500 rebate on a Chevy. New. 04.

To me, that's not a great sign of recovery when the automakers are giving away cars and laying off middle class factory workers.

[charlie]

8. Pffft

I've abandoned spending. The dollar/yen rate is killing me.

[Military Brat]

9. I got a pay cut

Spending with abandon? Hardly. The only signs that go up for me are "Stop" and "Caution"

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. I confess.

I bought four tires for the car and a window for the busted one in the kitchen....sob...it's all my fault. I am sorry.

[Rainbowreflect]

12. Oh my goodness.

We also bought 4 new tires and I also bought some "new" clothes at goodwill. I guess I have done my part as well.

[OKNancy]

19. I've discovered "factory reconditioned" on Amazon.com

and I have to admit I bought a food processor because I've always wanted one, and a new toaster. They are pretty good...and cheap.

[catmandu57]

14. I did I do it every month

I spend damn near every penny of the $552.00 I get every month. Mostly on foolish things like mortage,utilities, food, you know all that frivolous crap.

[madfloridian]

15. Well, doggone it, just do better next month.

}(

Just woofing ya. The whole article is so typical of the hype of this administration! Fools and idiots all.

[sandnsea]

18. damn, I bought tires too

and so did my daughter. Who'd a thunk a mass run on tires would have this effect on the economy!!!

[gratuitous]

13. Wow, I didn't think buying a hot tub would have such a profound effect

But I'm not giving it back! From my warm . . . nether . . .regions!! <Think Scenery Chewing Heston, doing his NRA schtick>

[SlavesandBulldozers]

16. I was laid off

and I was an UNPAID intern!

[MadHound]

17. OK, I admit, it was me

Look, I had to buy this house, with acreage, out in the country. A nice little fixer-upper. I also(being out in the country, on gravel roads) had to get a small four wheel drive pick-up. All in all, I've spent about $160,000.

But now that I've blown my savings, I'll be more frugal(though I will be spending money on saplings for my orchard next spring, oh, and a riding lawn mower, maybe a tiller. . . )

We really are living a little thin now, but the house is worth it. We've been working towards this goal for ten years.

[bleedingheart]

20. not me.. I am spending less this year ...less than ever

tightening the belt for fear of layoffs and increased healthcare costs...

[SoCalDem]

21. I plead guilty, sir...but but but

I bought stuff in Tahiti..

I did buy some clothes before I left , though, and my husband did buy that suede jacket, so I guess we are responsible for the "blip".:(

I'm savin' up to buy that Abrams tank and the matching Hummer, since the military industrial part of the economy is red hot now :)

[madfloridian]

25. Tahiti, huh? My, My....

Saw those pictures you put up and they were just gorgeous. My son was there several years ago, and did a lot of diving. He loved the visit, but hated the plane trip.

[hatrack]

22. I abandoned self-respect and spent money on some Cheezits last week

On the other hand, they were the new garlic-parmesan flavor, and pretty damned good.

Oh, and I forgot, I bought Paraguay last month! Sorry - I should have filled you all in. This is all my fault!

[catzies]

23. I hve to confess, but I didn't spend with abandon

I spent with MasterCard.

[West Coast Democrat]

24. We had to get our car serviced

you know how they nickle and dime you on that!!

[Tansy_Gold]

26. I abandoned spending.

eom

[veganwitch]

27. i bought a speculum kit

from my health collective on wednesday and saturday i bought a book for 5 dollars at a second hand books store.


does that count?

[proud patriot]

28. I confess for my husband

He likes his new truck though

[realFedUp]

29. Must have been those $50,000 Lexus buyers before car tax

went up...unfathomable now why people who can afford
an expensive car bitched about paying a higher car fee
especially since the fee goes to counties to pay
for police and fire (as we see are so important now
in CA during these fires)and btw, was a law put in
by Wilson and Davis had very little to do with
either the rebates a couple of years ago when there
was a surplus or in bad times when it went back up
to Wilson era rates.

[Zorra]

30. I live

in Mexico and don't buy any American products, and don't hardly buy anything but basic necessities. I'm off the charts at the low end.

[Dudley_DUright]

32. Not me

My wife lost her job in the FL school system due to Jeb's budget cuts so we are on a strict budget for now.

[nayt]

33. I did.

i spent way too much money on DVDs these past few months. you realize a one-season box set can cost up to $120? i have a bookcase full now.

[wickerwoman]

34. Bought some health insurance

since for the first time in 27 years I'm without it.
Does that count?

[izzie]

35. Looks l ike this to me

Re-morg. homes and not to get the payment down only but to drag out payments and gives cash in hand. Money back from tax and have you seen your e-mail and the credit they are willing to give you? And the GOP basic money maker of late. Building ARMS.Good stocks if you have money.Fighter planes but no passager planes. Well where will you go. Getting so everyone hates us and no place safe.And the big bank guys are willing to take your home any day. You will be renting it from those guys soon enought.I am pretty old so will not live long enough to see the years it will take to get to the bottom of this mass.My age is still paying off the Saving and Loan Mess.I am not spending as my income started to drop once Bush got in and I got the word from my Bank that things were going down.That was scary when the bank said Bush was going to make a mess of things. What happen to the party of business?Arms do not make a country. Arms are to blow up.

[KayLaw]

36. We spent a lot

When the kids head back to school, we have no choice but to spend. Also, lightening struck our house and destroyed a modem, a television, 2 vcr's, an answering machine, and a clothes dryer. Today we are having a tree it killed removed. Of course, the insurance company will have to write a check for some of this.

[RebelOne]

37. It sure wasn't me.

If the economy is so good, why am I becoming poorer and poorer?

[onebigbadwulf]

38. It was

Everyone with a kid who spent their child tax credit check to buy groceries.

[Art_from_Ark]

39. Well, my folks have spent some money with abandon this year

Their health insurance went up $50/month, so they're splurging another $300/year for that luxury.

Their property taxes went up by nearly $100, so they're recklessly tossing away some more hard-earned cash to keep their house.

Their home insurance went up about $50/year, so they're wildly throwing some more bucks at that.

They're doing their part to keep the economy going!
:eyes:

[Muddleoftheroad]

40. Does food count?

I mean, I still eat...sometimes.

[Wellong]

41. My wife and I

have been spending like crazy this year. Virtually all of it on non-essential and what some would consider luxury items.

[Ilsa]

42. I'm sorry. It's my kid's fault.

He needed some new expensive meds.

We're spending less for Christmas this year than we did last year, and last year it was less than the year before.