Alpha Consumer

Recession 2.0: Reader Laments Losses

By Kimberly Palmer

Posted: November 6, 2008

After my call for essays on how "Recession 2.0" is affecting readers, Laura of the Green Panda Treehouse blog sent in her story:

I checked my retirement the other day, just to see what shape it is in. I knew it was going to be down, but I didn't know the exact number. I check my portfolio in detail about once a quarter. So far this year, my portfolio is down 21.07 percent. I'm not happy about it, but I'm not panicking. My husband and I are trying to keep perspective with the stock market.

We've been paying down my car loan, which is around $1,100. We figure that paying down debts will help reduce our monthly expenses. Pretty much, we've been the same, as we try to be conscious about spending. We're joining Costco because its gas station is 15 cents cheaper than other stations. We usually do a big shopping trip once a month, which fits the store's bulk size products.

Send in your thoughts—either a brief description or essay up to 600 words—to alphaconsumer@usnews.com. Please include your name and location.

energy

It is nice to see the gasoline price drop. We hope it goes down to at least dollar per gallon range. I have a propane furnace and to use it in the cold months in Michigan would be absurd with cost going to near a thousand dollars a month.

So I heat with wood which can be had free for the asking. There is no shortage of dead or junk trees like elm,ash and box elder. My out door boiler paid for itself in two years and the equipment I use for hauling and processing does not lose its value very much as most of it is old anyway. I have been heating with wood for five years and still dont go more than two miles for fire wood. The big problems are that I am getting old and then theres the smoke that can be anoying. Maybe someone will invent a smoke burnner for small boilers.

Tom of MI @ Nov 07, 2008 06:00:05 AM

I just went to Costco and the gas was 2.13gal for regular. The gas station closest to my house is at 2.41/gal. I'm surprised b the price differences in this area, as it wasn't so big at our last place.

We checked some items during our first shop tonight to get an idea of the costs. It's true that not everything is cheaper or feasible for us at Costco. We'll save on our staples, but we'll get other items at Wal-Mart. You're right about having a price book,; it' s a great reference tool. Since we take trips to visit family and take vacation by car, 333 gallons will be easy to surpass.

Green Panda of NC @ Nov 06, 2008 21:31:02 PM

Costco doesn't sound like its

all that. Costco has a $50 membership fee. That means this couple will have to buy 333 gallons of gas before saving any money on the lower priced gas. Do they really drive that much? Gas here in Orlando is down to $2.10 a gallon. I don't think Costco is going to have gas that is $0.15 per gallon cheaper when gas is comparatively cheaper.

And I don't know the size of Green Panda's family, but unless they keep a price book and know the unit price of things they buy, Costco's prices may not be such a great buy.

Use lots of caution before plunging into the warehouse store experience.

Lisa of FL @ Nov 06, 2008 19:45:36 PM

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Alpha Consumer

Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about how to save money, avoid scams, manage debt, and be a savvy shopper. Send your personal finance questions to her for expert money advice.


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