How far for Vacation this summer?

With the Recession looming, How far are people going to be willing to drive for Vacation? Will they be staying instate?

Do you believe that a recession is looming? How do YOU define a recession? At what point will it alter your behavior?

I define a recession as when the economy sucks. And it does suck now. The only people who think the economy is booming is the government.

As for the vacation. I’ll go to Rainy, it’s where i’ve gone the last few years and where I will continue to go as long as possible.

Who or what are you listening to?

I think Paul Harvey said it best. When there was a REAL recession at the end of the Clinton term, it was not an issue because the media never reported or even commented on it. Today, as in right now, there is not a recession. But the media has everyone convinced there is one. It’s all about perception…..

-J.

I would like to know who here at this website has actually been effected by this recession?

I’m willing to bet money that the sound of silence will be deafening.

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Who or what are you listening to?

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I think that if you asked the people who’s lives have been affected you’d get your answere! How many people have lost their jobs? Once proud American companies are closing up shop and laying off everyday. GM, Ford etc, ect. I worked for the airlines for 13 years, as we all know the economy dictates their survival. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen layed off the last couple years. I bailed last year and got a county job, the writing was on the wall!

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Do you believe that a recession is looming? How do YOU define a recession? At what point will it alter your behavior?

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I do not think there is yet…..But..Gov. and media say’s we are heading that way!

I hate to admit this here right now, but in respect to my man Chappy, I was just downsized and will be out of work at the end of the month. Anyone looking for a great sales rep?

John

National unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is a strong number! I read this as 95.1% of the labor force is employed. This is not your typical recession statistic.

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Who or what are you listening to?

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I think that if you asked the people who’s lives have been affected you’d get your answere! How many people have lost their jobs? Once proud American companies are closing up shop and laying off everyday. GM, Ford etc, ect. I worked for the airlines for 13 years, as we all know the economy dictates their survival. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen layed off the last couple years. I bailed last year and got a county job, the writing was on the wall!

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Ok, I can see another lesson in economics 101 is needed here…..

Just because people are losing their job, in no way relate to economic recession. Let me explain. Let’s say every single company operating in the USA fired half of their workers. BUT all of those companies continued to produce the same amount of goods and services. That situation would have zero impact on the economy or implied recession.

How does that relate? Successful companies become more efficient or go out of business. Companies exist to make money for themselves and their stock holders. Unsuccessful companies lose when they cannot compete with efficient companies.

Our economy is becoming more efficient. Losing jobs is the result. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

-J.

I guess it is how you define recession.There are a lot of people losing there jobs and out of work and losing there homes.Prices of gas and goods are going up yet in the most part wages arent.The national bebt is growing rapidly and the dollar has dropped in value which is scary and people are getting nervous.I guess I wouldnt say we are in a recession yet but I would say we are heading more towards it than away from it at this point.

What is the answer? Three words, education, education and education!

The cost of goods/food is going up because corn is at 5.50/bu, soybeans are at 15/bu, wheat is almost $20/bu.

When the hell has anyone ever seen wheat at the price it is today!
It is all the satan-dammed screw-ball tree-huggers fault out there with this eythanol BS.

People are loosing their homes because they were not inteligent with money.
People are loosing their jobs because the union thinks a person pushing a broom on a cement floor is worth $28/hour.

Productivity! Productivity! Productivity!

SOMETIMES education results in increased productivity (efficiency). Sometimes not.

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Productivity! Productivity! Productivity!

SOMETIMES education results in increased productivity (efficiency). Sometimes not.

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True, but it does tend to insulate one from unemployment by increasing ones marketability. Not all jobs are measured in terms of productivity, such as invention and some management positions.

So, Chappy….. You should let me dust this post so you can re-add one that asks: Now that gas is around $3.00 a gallon, How far are people going to be willing to drive for Vacation? Will they be staying instate?

Eh?

-J.

So you wanted to know about vacations, right?

We will probably go “up nort” a couple of times this summer. We go to the hunting shack which is about 3 1/2 hours from our house. Other than that we usually don’t go on vacation. However, this year we will be taking a trip will be to Alaska. We will be meeting the in-laws and spending a 2-weeks on their boat.

Of course, there is the Sturgeon Excursion. Is that a vacation?

I agree that many people are in a sad financial state due to poor money management. Recession or not, people need to manage money. I see people who I know live paycheck to paycheck with nothing in savings, and they are driving brand new cars. Most of the people in bad shape contributed to that themselves, it isnt all the economies fault.

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Who or what are you listening to?

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I think that if you asked the people who’s lives have been affected you’d get your answere! How many people have lost their jobs? Once proud American companies are closing up shop and laying off everyday. GM, Ford etc, ect. I worked for the airlines for 13 years, as we all know the economy dictates their survival. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen layed off the last couple years. I bailed last year and got a county job, the writing was on the wall!

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Ok, I can see another lesson in economics 101 is needed here…..

Just because people are losing their job, in no way relate to economic recession. Let me explain. Let’s say every single company operating in the USA fired half of their workers. BUT all of those companies continued to produce the same amount of goods and services. That situation would have zero impact on the economy or implied recession.

How does that relate? Successful companies become more efficient or go out of business. Companies exist to make money for themselves and their stock holders. Unsuccessful companies lose when they cannot compete with efficient companies.

Our economy is becoming more efficient. Losing jobs is the result. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

-J.

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So Jon your telling me that all of these companies are becoming more efficient all at the same time???? I’m pretty sure if you rechecked your Economics 101 it is more directly related to the cost of fuel and how it affects everyone all the way down to the comsumer.

Only if I had to choose between feeding my family and gas for my vacation is when I may restrict my travels. But until then I will never let the cost of fuel interfer with my summer vacations. My 2 cents.

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Who or what are you listening to?

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I think that if you asked the people who’s lives have been affected you’d get your answere! How many people have lost their jobs? Once proud American companies are closing up shop and laying off everyday. GM, Ford etc, ect. I worked for the airlines for 13 years, as we all know the economy dictates their survival. I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen layed off the last couple years. I bailed last year and got a county job, the writing was on the wall!

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Ok, I can see another lesson in economics 101 is needed here…..

Just because people are losing their job, in no way relate to economic recession. Let me explain. Let’s say every single company operating in the USA fired half of their workers. BUT all of those companies continued to produce the same amount of goods and services. That situation would have zero impact on the economy or implied recession.

How does that relate? Successful companies become more efficient or go out of business. Companies exist to make money for themselves and their stock holders. Unsuccessful companies lose when they cannot compete with efficient companies.

Our economy is becoming more efficient. Losing jobs is the result. It’s not necessarily a bad thing.

-J.

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So Jon your telling me that all of these companies are becoming more efficient all at the same time???? I’m pretty sure if you rechecked your Economics 101 it is more directly related to the cost of fuel and how it affects everyone all the way down to the comsumer.

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No, I said what I said! If someone wants to post that there is a recession and that is the cause for people losing their job, they are wrong.

If you want to have a discussion about inflation, that another topic!

Unemployment is low. People lose a job, they find another. Life goes on.

Does anyone remember the mid 80’s. How about a low home interest rate at 12-15% Gas at $1.00 a gallon. Yea, the world was going to end. My dad bought a brand new Corvette in 1965 for $3,200. Everything needs to be kept in perspective. Watching CNN you would think the world was going to end.

Here is a reality check. In case anyone forgot, this country is at war. War is expensive. Freedom is priceless…..

-J.

People have historically defined a recession as 2 (or 3) quarters in a row of negative gross domestic product. GDP has been expanding every quarter since Sept 2001. The press is currently saying that this economy is in a recession because the rate of growth is slowing, BUT GDP is still growing.

Jobs growth is still positive, incomes are still rising, inflation is in check. Things could get worse, and the trend indicates that it might, but things are not nearly as bad as what is being reported.

I feel bad for people that are losing their jobs, but I also feel good about all the new opportunities out there too. There are currently more “winners” than “losers”.

The costs of food and energy are going up, but the cost of DVD players, TVs, used cars, cell phones, etc are lower. If this werent true, inflation would be 10%.

So DaveB;
What you are saying is that we all have to stop partying like rock stars, blowing money like drunken sailers, and spending money like there is no end?
Are you saying we should live within our means and not try to be married to our homes, cars, and credit cards?

(just because someone else earns the money do to those things, doesn’t institute the right that others have that option or deserve that option)

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So DaveB;
What you are saying is that we all have to stop partying like rock stars, blowing money like drunken sailers, and spending money like there is no end?
Are you saying we should live within our means and not try to be married to our homes, cars, and credit cards?

(just because someone else earns the money do to those things, doesn’t institute the right that others have that option or deserve that option)

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I read Dave’s reply and no where did I see anything in which you insinuate. Dave’s reply is pretty much factual. If you wih to debate, do so in an intelligent manner

$3.00/gallon gas will not stop most people from their annual family vacations. Even if it means an extra $100 bucks, big deal. The memories, good times, relaxation and time off from work far outweigh a few extra bucks in gas. My family owns and operates a resort in NW Minn and we have people drive from Florida, Michigan, Texas, Illinois, Wisc., Iowa, ND, SD, Nebraska, Alaska, and maybe a few others. They keep coming back year after year and have never heard them once complain about gas prices in regards to them going on vacation. I get asked all the time if we get a lot of cancellations because of the gas prices and my response is always, are you cancelling your vacation because of that? Haven’t gotten a yes yet.

If people have to start staying home or getting a second job because they have no money to travel, enjoy hobbies or take family vacations, they’ll just spend their extra income on medications for depression or visits to the shrink to tell them why they don’t enjoy life.

I think I’d spend the extra gas money.

I guess I work 51 weeks for a 1 week family vacation to Canada. We put a little away every month and we operate a Softball Concesion stand for a couple months. (..lots of work but the profits are ours) With Teens , we are already strapped , so we will just throw an extra few bucks every 2 weeks in the can. Recession and high gas prices wont take away our family vacation. Our dollar sucks , but it will come back . Just my $.02

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The cost of goods/food is going up because corn is at 5.50/bu, soybeans are at 15/bu, wheat is almost $20/bu.

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The only thing I will say in this post is check your facts. DTN shows cash bids for corn at $4.95, beans at $13.22, winter wheat at $10.95, and spring wheat at $18.92.

Not one of your numbers matches the market. I am very interested as to where you got your numbers from. If it is a secret, feel free to share it in a pm.

We will go to Alaska again.

The price of gas was inexpensive for too long, it never kept with inflation. I don’t like it anymore than the next guy.

People losing their homes. Most of them lived beyond their means. You should be able to afford your home from you or your spouse’s income.

Unemployment. As someone posted earlier, $28.00 broom pusher is ridiculous. Most everyone needs a service and the service industry holds it own. HVAC, auto, medical, and other things that are actually needed.

Education. Someone promoted it. There are a lot of educated folks without jobs. They are the ones lacking common sense.

Poor economy. I don’t know if thats true, the news makes it sound like the world is coming to and end. Could a poor economy be the fault of the media?

I was hanging out overseas last month and all the papers over there are expecting the U.S. to go into a recession, thus the world will go into a recession. I suppose the media there might be a little over zealous like they are here, but who knows. They also had lots of articles about the weak dollar and the days of the dominant dollar are over.

DaveB and J.J. have it right about what a recession really is. Here is my question, do we actually go into a recession because of market factors, or is it because everybody starts talking about a recession so everybody freak outs and become more conservative, thus driving us into a recession?

As for the question, I am going to Canada once instead of twice this year, but we replaced the Canadian trip with a Lake Michigan salmon trip. We did decide we will do fewer camping trips to places like Red Lake and spend more time on the St. Croix.