I've been through 4 recessions.
This one is turning into a depression.
For the first time in my life, friends can't find work at all.
Never saw that before here in the Southwest. Never.
And it doesn't look like things will change for them in the foreseeable future either.
When it hits bottom, that doesn't mean it'll start getting better.
Our local GM dealer is offering reduced labor cost service, and after market, non-GM parts for the first time I can remember.
We recently took advantage of it and saved a ton of $$ and got some real quality work done on the wifes beloved Regal.
Instead of buying a cool Ford F450, we simply will keep our GMC another 100,000 miles like the owners manual says it's designed to run. I believe it. It's been a great truck.
We never take the family out to dinner anymore. Kids didn't like eating out anyway. The exception are a few friends restaurants with off-the-hook good food like Roc's firehouse in Palm Springs.
We got bids for new carpeting & tile for the house,, forget companies doing it,, we know guys who moonlight flooring for half the cost.
We'll run with them.
I'm at the river right now, and the bar here at the resort has 16oz draft Bugweiser/Miller Light/Diet Coors for $1.50.
The bar filled up to capacity at happy hour when the price dropped to $1.00.
That never happened in the past.
The kitchen use to have 3 cooks, now 1 part time because everyone eats back at camp.
Full campground, but people are spending less, and taking more advantage of all the activities here.
Neighbor fed his kids spam and eggs.
He buys those big "County relief" packs at the grocery store.
Change is in the air.
We took delivery of a new 5th wheel yesterday.
We got it for $22K less than is was selling for just 2 years ago. About half price.
Wouldnt have bought it otherwise.
One other couple was taking delivery on a New Prevost MoHo at the same time we were.
Their Sales tax alone was more than our entire rig cost OTD.
Some out there still have money to burn.