# Have you been a good consumer, to keep the economy going?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 26, 1999, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454 "1999-09-26T21:50:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 1999, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/1 "1999-09-26T21:50:00Z")

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A. There’s stuff you just end up buying, even though it provides little enjoyment:

- Siding for homes
- driveways
- landscaping
- roofing
- major healthcare bill

Or perhaps the gas company decided your line leaks and you will ned to pay them $700

## B. Stuff you enjoy, like SUVs, pianos etc.

We bought carpeting for 5 rooms today. Somewhere between the A and B categories.So, create your own category, if you wish.

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**Author:** ![BoBettie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4af34b/32.png) [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 1999, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/2 "1999-09-26T23:04:00Z")

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My husband and I remodeled two rooms. Spent a bundle on carpet (nice stuff) new furnature, paint and paining accessories,and all that sort of crap. Cost a fortune…Just doin’ my part

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I’m very lucky. The only time I was ever up shit creek, I just happened to have a paddle with me.  
–George Carlin

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**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 1999, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/3 "1999-09-27T02:57:00Z")

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Now I realize I have a lot of work to do, moving furniture, packing junk, to clear out 3 bedrooms.I thought I was just spending money.

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**Author:** ![Satan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Satan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satan)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 1999, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/4 "1999-09-27T04:22:00Z")

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I bought a stereo for my office. Was gonna get a car stereo this weekend, but the credit card bill for the former came in, so…

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Yer pal,  
Satan

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**Author:** ![Poto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ab992/32.png) [@Poto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poto)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 1999, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/5 "1999-09-27T11:02:00Z")

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Speaking of stereos, I had the oddest Pioneer car Stereo, with one of those removable face plates. The buttons went erratic after a year, random errors all the time. Now I stick to Sony, even the cheapest Sony will do.

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**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 1999, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/6 "1999-09-27T14:45:00Z")

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Oh yeah. When our credit card balance starting to look like the GNP of some small, developing countries, I feel that me and my wife have done our fair share in the economy. 🙂

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“…send lawyers, guns, and money…”

```
 Warren Zevon
```

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 1999, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-been-a-good-consumer-to-keep-the-economy-going/8454/7 "1999-09-27T14:56:00Z")

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Yeah, I buy stereos sometimes, even though Im deaf and can’t hear them [Actually I can hear them but the sound is ‘fuzzy’].

I think the economy sucks here because the local Chamber of Commerce asks new members to volunteer products or services & if they do they get referrals & if they don’t they get on the bottom of list. Stupid Quote from our Chamber director:  
‘They should be able to get permit approval for the largest house ever in this city [5000 sqft] because it would bring more customers to our city [NOTE: Family of 2]’