The Almighty $1
Filed Under (Business) by admin on 22-07-2008
It was incredible. The other day I was shopping where most of America shops - Wal*Mart and there in the school supply section were 100 page student lined spiral bound notebooks. They came in a variety of colors and I couldn’t believe my eyes. They were each priced at 5 cents. Do you believe it! I can’t remember when I’ve paid that little for a product. I mean even Snickers bars and gum are over a dollar. There’s no such thing as penny candy anymore! I mean what can you get for an American buck these days. I’ll answer that for you -not much.
Well, some of you may be saying, Cindy - there’s stores that are called 99 Cents Only or Dollar Tree Stores and everything in them are under a buck. Yeah, that’s true…but, that’s about all these days. There’s dollar meals and such at some fast food restaurants, but these low-priced menu items are becoming less and less don’t you think?
I recently found myself at the dentist which is right by a 99 Cents Only Store, so as I was waiting I sort of perused its aisles. And you know what? I found a bunch of items there that I normally would purchase at other larger name stores on their shelves. What a bargain! It’s now my guilty pleasure-if you haven’t visited one recently I highly recommend you do so no matter your income bracket. I guarantee that your savings will be noticeable.
I bought some nice face soap and a couple of plastic drink containers. Mom purchased her hair spray and some birthday cards. They’ve got all kinds of stuff. But they don’t have 5 cent notebooks!
ECONOMIC TIMES
I don’t know what’s going on with our economy right now. I understand the ebb and flow of economic cycles…that they are a part of life…but you know what…they aren’t fun. There’s so much uncertainly attached to them (that is if you’re not in the upper tax bracket) because you’ll never know how it will ultimately affect you personally.
I have always loved the line…
It’s not personal. It’s just business.
In the movie “You’ve Got Mail,” Meg Ryan’s character was pushed out of her business by a large conglomerate and I loved her rebuttal to that line.
It’s personal to me.
The cost of things is personal. Very personal to every American.
When you lose your job. It’s personal. When your mortgage lender goes under. It’s personal. When you are losing money in your retirement portfolios or when the sales price on your house falls lower. It’s personal. When you have to choose between filing up your car with gas versus going out to eat. It’s personal. When you cancel your vacation due to the cost of travel. It’s personal. When you can’t afford the dentist, vision care or health care. It’s personal.
In a nutshell, here’s what our government officials and decision makers need to understand.
LIFE IS PERSONAL. VERY PERSONAL.
And it’s getting a bit out of hand.
For instance, who’s got our back regarding unemployment? Anyone out there?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statitsics, the unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in June 2008, the same as in the previous month. In June 2007, the jobless rate was 4.6 percent.
Look at how many people are unemployed and I’m not hearing of any new jobs being added to any particular work sector. Are you? I’m not hearing that the airlines are hiring. Or that construction is hiring. Or that the hospitality industry is adding jobs like crazy or and the car industry is booming. They’re not hiring. I’m hearing companies are consolidating. I’m hearing that seasoned executives are being replaced with younger and less expensive workers. I’m hearing houses aren’t selling. I’m hearing healthcare is rising. I reading that air routes are closing. Our lives and world is getting smaller.
Where are the new jobs going to come from? And if there aren’t any new jobs being added then what is the Country going to do to help stretch the dollar for these citizens out of work?
We are all being affected. It may be business, but it’s PERSONAL. And America I understand.