Huckleberries Online

Uncle Sam Wants You To Spend

Posted by DFO

March 17, 2009 1:52 p.m. • 27 comments

In the March 23 issue of Newsweek (on newsstands Monday): “I Want You to Start Spending!” Daniel Gross writes about how we, as consumers, need to start taking risks again in the economy and start spending to help the recovery. (PRNewsFoto/Newsweek)

Question: What would it take for you to be comfortable to start spending again, as you did before the recession hit hard?

27 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

Frum Helen Back on March 17 at 2:00 p.m.
I must admit that spending does sound like fun. And I want to do everything I can to help the economy.
Cindy_H on March 17 at 2:08 p.m.
FHB: Please. Put your teeth back in. Please.

I’ll start spending as soon as the earmark package for freelance writers comes through.
I’m expecting my check soon.
JeanieSpokane on March 17 at 2:23 p.m.
Show me the money!
Show me the money!

then I’ll spend!
Charlie on March 17 at 2:23 p.m.
Have no fear, checks in the mail as we speak. :-)
JeanC on March 17 at 2:27 p.m.
When I have any money that isn’t already spent before I’ve even earned it trying to pay the ever mounting bills, I’ll spend. Until then I am opting out of the mindless consumer game the government wants me to join. I will only buy something if I need it, not just because I want it and even then we’ll think long and hard on if we need it.
toadman on March 17 at 2:32 p.m.
I still spend the same amount as I did before. Every penny is accounted for…except for that one time….I think.
Cindy_H on March 17 at 2:40 p.m.
Toadman, how much have you budgeted for that Utilikilt? Does that go under clothing or entertainment spending?
toadman on March 17 at 2:43 p.m.
Budget? What’s that? I generally use these little paper or plastic thingies to get my stuff. I tell the cashier “I don’t have any money, but if you contact these people, they can help you get whatever it is you need…I’ll be going now.”

BTW - it’s listed under “toys.”

;-)
nic on March 17 at 2:57 p.m.
I am spending… I pay rent, I make my car payment, my insurance payment, I buy food, pay utilities… c’mon, what more do they want?
Frum Helen Back on March 17 at 3:25 p.m.
Cindy, as soon as I find my teeth I’ll put them back in. Yesterday I accidentally flushed them down the toilet after throwing up. Fortunately we only have a septic tank instead of being sewered.
trishgannon on March 17 at 3:31 p.m.
I’m a poor person. If I have money, I’ll spend it.
Frum Helen… that last post reminded me about a great story about bringing my mother home from her breast biopsy….
(thanks. ;0)
lbbnjsharpe on March 17 at 4:13 p.m.
I’m paid up with the FED for the year. Still owe 4k to the county but I’m feeling like spreading the wealth around by helping the Review with a big state tax break. I don’t like to see corporations sucking the tit of the tax payer but its a whole new ball game …
Stickman on March 17 at 7:57 p.m.
As for one that has nothing to begin with, spending is not an option.
LukeB on March 18 at 7:28 a.m.
Nope. We’re hoarding money for the apocalypse or to pay off our mortgage, whichever comes first.

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D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.