So I went out to run a couple of errands tonight and as is my habit at this time of year, I stopped in at Crate & Barrel. It was about 6:30 in the evening, and Christmas Day is exactly two weeks from today, so imagine my surprise to see that except for holiday staff, Crate & Barrel at the Galleria was practically deserted. I have never seen it so empty in the evening, so close to Christmas. Out of curiosity, I stopped in at Pier I, a little over a block away. Same story there. On the way, I passed the brightly lit Container Store, and that, too, was strangely empty of shoppers. I also passed Restoration Hardware, but I didn't have to look inside to know RH is in major trouble. They've been holding their annual linen sale monthly, and I've stopped counting the number of emails I've received from them, imploring me to shop there. To be fair, these stores are across the street from the actual mall, and I didn't go into the mall, so I have no idea how crowded or not that was, but the absence of shoppers in these four stores, in this neighborhood, with less than 14 shopping days until Christmas, is depressing and ominous.
Not that I was about to spend lavishly myself. There's apparently some sort of weird inverse relationship between home values, homeowner's insurance, and real estate taxes that I wasn't aware of until now. Although my house is worth less than ever, my real estate taxes and homeowner's insurance have increased dramatically this year, a fact reflected grimly on my latest mortgage statement, which shows the increased payment that I'll need to make into the escrow account. And don't get me started on energy costs. I love my house, but for the first time in a very long time, I am seriously considering whether or not it's worth it to me to stay here. On the other hand, I would hardly make money selling it in this market, and I don't know where I'd move.
I'm not writing about this to elicit sympathy; I'm writing about it because this is happening all over America. I'm luckier than many people in that I have a job, and that job provides me with a good salary and decent, affordable health insurance for Mike and me...at least it does for now. But what about all the people who don't have that? To turn this economy, and this country, around is going to take time and work. I spent childhood Decembers impatiently waiting for Christmas, but this December all I can think is that January 20th can't come soon enough.
5 comments:
There has been a gigantic glut of retail in this country over the last decade. Now, with demand going away, many of the retailers will, too. That's life, I guess. Maybe we'll have to think about basing our economy on something other than rammpant consumerism.
As for your hankering for January 20, I so hear ya!
We have become a nation who shops based on want rather than need. The current economic situation is forcing everyone to recognize and prioritize true need. The dominoes are falling and we still have some grim days ahead. I just hope that when it all settles out our society as a whole has learned that more is not more.
I've never been a big shopper and I can dither over buying clothes for six months. And buy three or four books in the meantime. Well, the library is full and I won't need clothes for awhile. We cook from scratch and new table linens will just end up with cat fuzz.
If the economy had depend on the likes of mom and me to keep going it would have tanked a long time ago.
Ah well.
I'm with Jackie on this one. I shop, but it's out of necessity and after much should I/shouldn't I brain crunching. Often I just say 'no' and move on.
I have never and probably will never aid the economy. I was raised by a woman who would say to us, "Do you really need it? Or do you really want it?" If we needed it, fine. If we just wanted it ... not so fine.
Living within our means is tough to do with all the marketing and peer pressure, but I do my best. :)
I'm smack dab in the middle of my regions's hottest and shopping area every day. I can see a big difference between this year and year's past. I don't have to hunt for a parking place. Though my business isn't a Christmas dependent retailer, I'm still seeing people scale back their plans and purchases in what they're buying every day. I've also never seen the angel trees so full of people with real needs.
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