Sign of the (economic) times...

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Yeah, I love Karen Kane, but it goes on sale at Macy's a lot too. You almost have to carry really unique things that the big stores don't get. I love boutiques, but I tend to go when they have the "good" sales. They probably hate me for that. LOL!

That's what they do, Sherri. I'm guilty as well. She sends out her e-mails when a sale is going and all her clients stop by! lol Retail is a tough racket!

She waits until the majority of her items are sold and then moves the rest out - on sale - to make room for newer merchandise.

I do love boutiques, but they are more pricey than the department stores in the mall.

The stuff at Kohl's is junk, but you can find a few name brands. I love Macy's!!! It was my store of choice when I worked in downtown Houston. Always dropped in on my lunch hour. Of course, it was Foleys then.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by marthaolivia

Dizzy:
I wish you lived near here. The family members that live close by plus a few of their single friends will be coming by my house. You would certainly be welcome. Of course you would have to try the family tradition of having Georgia Style Brunswick Stew. It's a tradition that started with my Mom over 50 years ago and I continue it. We are also having baked ham and other side dishes and lots of cakes and pies. Wish you were here..

Oh, you know that I would love to do that!! One of these days, it is going to happen!

That is if you don't move off to a foreign country before then! Of course, that would be cool too, I would love to go there also!!

[Tina]

Originally Posted by Sherri

Well you certainly can't tell it by the parking lots at the malls and places like Target! It's insane here. We keep saying, "I thought there was a recession!!!!"

Retailers are cutting prices... big percentages off, price matching, etc. You should have seen some of the deals I found this year. $50 items for $7-$10. $30-$40 toys for my niece & nephew for $8 -$13. Retailers are hoping to end up in the black for the year. They have an 80% markup or better on a lot of things, so they are cutting prices & trying to clear out inventory.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Wow, that's really amazing! Nowadays people don't even know how to cook, so that has to be a major bummer!

My daughter's business is not getting the money she made last year. Her first week she was behind $10K. She said all the other stores in the strip were busy. I said, "There is no way those people are doing better than you are."

She finally went to one of the shops and asked her friend how she was doing this year. She said, "It will be a miracle if I make anything close to last year. We are all suffering."

I know, I didn't think that things were quite that bad. Of course here in CA, things are getting ready to get really bad, really quick. If the state can't come up with some money really fast, our teachers and other state employees are not going to be able get paid after the first of the year. We have a church full of teachers, principals and school administrators. It is getting pretty scary.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Tina

Retailers are cutting prices... big percentages off, price matching, etc. You should have seen some of the deals I found this year. $50 items for $7-$10. $30-$40 toys for my niece & nephew for $8 -$13. Retailers are hoping to end up in the black for the year. They have an 80% markup or better on a lot of things, so they are cutting prices & trying to clear out inventory.

Yep, that's the plan - so even though it looks busy - people are not making a real profit!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

I know, I didn't think that things were quite that bad. Of course here in CA, things are getting ready to get really bad, really quick. If the state can't come up with some money really fast, our teachers and other state employees are not going to be able get paid after the first of the year. We have a church full of teachers, principals and school administrators. It is getting pretty scary.

Wow! Well, we will certainly be praying. My husband and son could get laid off as well. That's what greed in politics does to a country. Most of them should pay the American people back with their own money - starting with Barney Franks. LOL!

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Wow! Well, we will certainly be praying. My husband and son could get laid off as well. That's what greed in politics does to a country. Most of them should pay the American people back with their own money - starting with Barney Franks. LOL!

Yep. I will be praying for your husband and son as well. Our youth pastor is the financial administrator for a small country school district, and he came by the church the other day and said he had just come from a meeting to teach school administration how to write promissory notes (not the term he used, I forget what he said) to pay the teachers with. They basically say that when we have money, you will get paid. They have not done this since the depression era.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

Yep. I will be praying for your husband and son as well. Our youth pastor is the financial administrator for a small country school district, and he came by the church the other day and said he had just come from a meeting to teach school administration how to write promissory notes (not the term he used, I forget what he said) to pay the teachers with. They basically say that when we have money, you will get paid. They have not done this since the depression era.

Wow!!! I can't think about it much! I get so mad at the choices our politicians are/have been making with our money - it just riles me up!!!

[RandyWayne]

We are ones to go out as well, or would at least like to. There are not too many good cooks in our families. I would take just about any major restaurant chain over my Ma's cooking any day.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

We are ones to go out as well, or would at least like to. There are not too many good cooks in our families.

Scrambled eggs and toast, Randy!