Economy and Car Prices

Right now, it's ugly everywhere, especially in retail, and housing. Supply is high, and demand is low.

In time, there will be fewer retailers, decreasing the supply of products, making the ones that are left more in demand. The average person has so much crap, they don't need to buy anything for years. My neighbor has 8 vehicles for a 4 person household.

Eventually it will balance out, but it will take time (Years), for stuff to wear out, before it needs replacing.

Meantime, Hang on. If you can retire early, do it.

 

Me too.

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by tundradreams
Retiring early is not in the cards as I have many more years before that will ever be in the picture.

Me three.

I think that there is a huge misunderstanding in this country. Retirement is not a matter of age, it is a matter of financial ability. The folks who are coming into the "age of retirement" (baby boomers) have a projected lifespan greater than their parents. Unless one has a well-funded retirement plan, early retirement is just a dream. From a realistic financial perspective, retirement at 65 is just a hope for most middle-age Americans.

Keith

 

If I can walk and talk I will not retire....is it by design, the economy or SSI running dry as the boomers hit retirement age? I have been paying taxes since I was 14 y/o working little jobs, military and combat service, bad jobs I felt demeaning and underpaid after service to my country, followed by school then entry level jobs, volunteer work i didn't get paid for, more bad paying jobs, then decent jobs working at good companies, couple of promising personal economic boom jobs that didn't quite pan out, then better jobs, then advancement, etc., etc. I am at the age where retirement's on the horizon and I do not see relaxing when i reach the horizon. I am not sure what my father's time was like retirement-wise, because he died early.
I am not complaining, BTW. I've learned a ton. I made enough to buy a new SPM Prius and feel like in some small way and insignificant way I am making a statement with this car and I still like my girl of 30 + years. .
Fortunately, working is part of my DNA so if I am walking and talking I will working...and I hope, enjoying whatever work I continue to do in the future.

 

Or is it corporations build products based on their ability to convince use we want/need them?

I find the article titled The Gospel of Consumerism to be a fascinating read on how we changed from a nation of citizens to a nation of consumers.

 

When I traded one Prius for another my wife and I thought long and hard about keeping it and dumping our Kia Sedona instead which gets the worst MPGs of any vehicle we have ever owned. In the end we decided to wait a year or two and trade the Kia then in hopes of a PHEV. Now with gas prices down and other economic pressures, maybe we will wait even longer. I fear tundradreams that all the auto industry is in for some slow times as more people try to keep that older vehicle a year or two more than they would have before. Maybe not best for the economy as a whole, but likely what people individually might do.

P.S. ctbering - Thank you for your service and happy Veteran's day to you.