Thread: Middle Class Holding Cash?

In oder to get down to grass root evidence we would have to have more information on the baloons. Did the price go up, just like insurance? Was the balloon of the same quality? Did it have a different saying then last year? Did the company give a large raise right before Valentines Day last year? Was the balloons in a viewable position in the store? Are we sure the people that work there are middle class? Maybe the weather is effecting cupids arrow? Maybe everyone is mad at the insurance company for raising the inflation in the first place and has to pay for their insurance? Maybe Jane and Joe have their hands on something other than balloons? LOL!!

Originally Posted by cowboy

In oder to get down to grass root evidence we would have to have more information on the baloons. Did the price go up, just like insurance? Was the balloon of the same quality? Did it have a different saying then last year? Did the company give a large raise right before Valentines Day last year? Was the balloons in a viewable position in the store? Are we sure the people that work there are middle class? Maybe the weather is effecting cupids arrow? Maybe everyone is mad at the insurance company for raising the inflation in the first place and has to pay for their insurance? Maybe Jane and Joe have their hands on something other than balloons? LOL!!

Half of those who bought balloons last year sucked in when blowing up the balloon and asphixated!!!

Originally Posted by cowboy

In oder to get down to grass root evidence we would have to have more information on the baloons. Did the price go up, just like insurance? Was the balloon of the same quality? Did it have a different saying then last year? Did the company give a large raise right before Valentines Day last year? Was the balloons in a viewable position in the store? Are we sure the people that work there are middle class? Maybe the weather is effecting cupids arrow? Maybe everyone is mad at the insurance company for raising the inflation in the first place and has to pay for their insurance? Maybe Jane and Joe have their hands on something other than balloons? LOL!!

Nice post...
Price go up? no.
Vendor / Item # Change? no.
Employee Annual Bonus? 14.2% of base annual salary (up 2.1%)
Balloon Location Change? no
The balloons just didn't sell this year.

Is it that you only have one year of anecdotal evidence? If so, it's very possible that people didn't want to buy the same thing that they did last year. Personally, I can't imagine buying any commerical item for Valentine's Day, let alone the same each year. Maybe it was just a fad for that year.

Originally Posted by charmedboi82

Is it that you only have one year of anecdotal evidence? If so, it's very possible that people didn't want to buy the same thing that they did last year. Personally, I can't imagine buying any commerical item for Valentine's Day, let alone the same each year. Maybe it was just a fad for that year.

Perhaps you're right.

Think beyond the obvious folks............this past year we've heard that dark chocolate and moderate consumption of alcohol is good for you. Perhaps that balloon money was spent on dark chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne.........there I go again, giving away my secrets..........

I'm thinking bubble baths are good for the skin also............

Anyone know of a good candle making company on the market?

Happy returns,

M_M

Originally Posted by mlk_man

Think beyond the obvious folks............this past year we've heard that dark chocolate and moderate consumption of alcohol is good for you. Perhaps that balloon money was spent on dark chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne.........there I do again, giving away my secrets..........

I'm thinking bubble baths are good for the skin also............

Anyone know of a good candle making company on the market?

Happy returns,

M_M

But balloons make people happy. There's growing evidence that a positive attitude, state of being is more effective for good health than probably any supplement, etc.

Originally Posted by charmedboi82

But balloons make people happy. There's growing evidence that a positive attitude, state of being is more effective for good health than probably any supplement, etc.

Especially if you inhale them!

I think Charmboi82 put his finger right on the cause. The fact is the store is internal therefor possibly the customer is out of the same pool and there is not a large variance of new customers. The balloons that were sold last year had few repeat buyers the next year and the word of mouth reached the others who missed the opportunity last year. This caused lower sales which intern had nothing to do with inflation. The customer base was too small to handle the same volume of Balloons. So therefor the store may need to store some balloons for a couple of years.

I, being a humble member of the middle class, have noticed I've been more inclined lately not to buy oddities & extras I pass in stores. I have marked personal increases in grocery costs, fuel, utilities, medical insurance, auto insurance, and clothing. My Civil Service pay raise has been wiped out, and the cost of living is digging deeper into my wallet. I am now in a position to be holding cash for necessities and reduced family travel needs. My wife and I (both in our early 40's) have no credit debt other than a house payment, and one car payment. We collectively filed an $80,000 tax return this year. Yes, we save a great deal to fund our vacation needs; which too have been cut down. I'm very electronically programmed into my financial situation, and the bottom line is we have less money this year to spend on stuff like balloons, candy, bubble baths, dining out, and generally nice stuff we pass in the stores.

By all this I mean us (my wife & I) "hard working members of the middle class" are HOLDING CASH for the most important things we enjoy, and have cut back in other areas.

Is anyone else in the middle class experiencing this?

Has anyone else seen evidence of this; personally experienced this?

Originally Posted by Fivetears

By all this I mean us (my wife & I) "hard working members of the middle class" are HOLDING CASH for the most important things we enjoy, and have cut back in other areas.

Is anyone else in the middle class experiencing this?

Has anyone else seen evidence of this; personally experienced this?

I think that increased savings and specificly increases in cash depend on our age and place in the employment cycle. Young folks starting out anre commonly not saving at all. Its nice that I can save. Now folks way up the finance chain like Warren Buffett are holding large amounts of cash as other assets don't look so attractive and if there is a steep decline in all or some part of the market then assets will become more attractive.
So although my savings and some of my similarly aged friends (55 year old) are saving more from the statistics I read this is not a common occurance.