# Little things that have changes with the economic crisis **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 9, 2009, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091 "2009-02-09T17:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/21 "2009-02-11T07:39:31Z")
I work at a preschool in a well-to-do area. To the best of my knowledge none of our kids’ parents have lost their jobs, but the economic crisis does seem to have changed the way some of them think. We are seeing more hand-me-down clothes - generally only identifiable because when we look for the name tags on stray clothes to put them in the right child’s basket, the parents have clearly put it over an older tag; the clothes themselves barely look worn - and the kids’ lunches contain less pre-packaged stuff. I’m not at all unhappy with these developments! ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 8:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/22 "2009-02-11T08:53:58Z")
I’ve noticed a lot more people buying cigatettes by the carton, rather than individual packs. They also are more vocal about the high prices on candy and beverages where I work. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Bruin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Queen\_Bruin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Bruin)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/23 "2009-02-11T09:21:27Z")
Our local Famous Dave’s is closing. ☹ But also the Japanese place next to it, which needed a mercy killing anyways. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/24 "2009-02-11T10:05:57Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > My dad just explained to me last week how McDonalds has removed the “double cheeseburger” from their $1 menu and replaced it with a “McDouble” which is two patties but only ONE piece of cheese. If you want the double cheeseburger with two pieces of cheese you have to pay a little extra. > > I think this is a brilliant move on McDonalds’ part. I bet they save millions of dollars and, at the same time, America will save billions of calories. I just watched a blurb on that. It wasn’t a function of saving a million dollars, the cost of meat and cheese meant that they would lose money with the 2nd slice of cheese. It was a huge deal for McDonalds to do this (who woulda thought?). If circuit city could have figured out where their piece of profit “cheese” was then the #2 electronics retailer would still be in business. ---
**Author:** ![atomicbadgerrace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e7dd6/32.png) [@atomicbadgerrace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/atomicbadgerrace)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/25 "2009-02-11T10:18:29Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I just watched a blurb on that. It wasn’t a function of saving a million dollars, the cost of meat and cheese meant that they would lose money with the 2nd slice of cheese. It was a huge deal for McDonalds to do this (who woulda thought?). If circuit city could have figured out where their piece of profit “cheese” was then the #2 electronics retailer would still be in business. And a brilliant one. I believe McDonald’s may actually stand to gain impressively from this move, depending on how much that extra slice of cheese actually costs. Here, the McDouble is on the $1 menu. The Double Cheeseburger is $1.19. The menu is clearly labeled with the McDouble on the dollar menu, and the double cheeseburger under “burgers” (or sandwiches, or whatever). But how many people, so used to going to McDonald’s and grabbing the same thing on their lunch break, are going to notice? “2 double cheeseburgers, a large fries, and a large coke” (or whatever) is rooted into a lot of folks’ vocabulary that many won’t notice until the time comes to pay, and it’s 40 cents more than they’re used to. Even then, some may not notice at all. Or may just think that double cheeseburgers have gotten a tad more expensive, and may not know what the hell a “McDouble” is. 1. Train customers that “double cheeseburger = cheap” 2. Switch prices, advertise little, but post on menu board that only newbies to McD read 3. Profit! ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/26 "2009-02-11T10:23:17Z")
I just heard on the radio that lap dances are now $10 at the boobie bar. They used to be $20 back in the day when I use to go. Man, even the dirty whores are taking one on the chin. What’s this world comming to? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/27 "2009-02-11T11:15:24Z")
> [@Gordon\_Urquhart](#): > > I receive lots of seed and gardening catalogs, and some of the ones I’ve received in the past few weeks state that growing your own fruit and vegetables is a great way to save money on foodstuffs. I wonder if more people will try growing a garden or expand an existing one this spring. ^ I’m planning to expand my garden. Also, planning to plant fewer turnips. I still have a pound a turnip greens from last summer in my freezer, and I’m getting tired of eating them. I want more spinach this year. Among other things. ---
**Author:** ![Karyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/fbc32d/32.png) [@Karyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karyn)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/28 "2009-02-11T13:57:23Z")
I grow lots of vegetables but it’s hard to grow enough not to have to supplement with produce from the store. Things that I want to go together (lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.) aren’t ripe at the same time, and some only grow early in the season and others come in later. This is an agricultural area so fresh produce is very cheap. I finally broke down and got a friend to take me to Costco yesterday. Once I got over the shock of being in the most massive store that I’ve ever seen I got a lot of things at great discounts. Maybe it’s always this way but the place was jam-packed and it took forever to get through the checkout line. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/29 "2009-02-11T17:53:47Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Home improvement giants Lowes and Home Depot which were packed every weekend 5 years ago are pretty empty on weekends. Tell me about it. It’s like a ghost town now and it’s starting to have an impact on my paycheck. Being scheduled for 40 hours no longer means that’s what I’m working. When customers stop coming in the first thing to get cut is payroll. The ones that do come in are buying low cost items–light bulbs, nuts and bolts, plumbing repair stuff. The days of home renovations are behind us. The only saving grace may be spring. Hopefully we’ll see a bump once the weather gets nice and people start working on their outdoor spaces. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/30 "2009-02-11T18:25:44Z")
> [@Convict](#): > > Tell me about it. It’s like a ghost town now and it’s starting to have an impact on my paycheck. Being scheduled for 40 hours no longer means that’s what I’m working. When customers stop coming in the first thing to get cut is payroll. The ones that do come in are buying low cost items–light bulbs, nuts and bolts, plumbing repair stuff. The days of home renovations are behind us. > > The only saving grace may be spring. Hopefully we’ll see a bump once the weather gets nice and people start working on their outdoor spaces. Hang on - wouldn’t tough times mean that people are _more_ likely to improve their houses themselves via places like Home Depot than, say, getting professionals in to do it? I’d have thought that people doing DIY would go up (or is it that people are just looking at all the things that need doing in their homes and saying “we can’t afford to fix it, we’ll just live with the water pouring through the ceiling”). ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/31 "2009-02-11T18:32:57Z")
> [@autz](#): > > I’ve also noticed that several new kids have transferred into my kids’ public school classes. The teacher says they are almost all from private schools that their parents can no longer afford. A friend of mine teaches at a local private school and he just got laid off for the same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/32 "2009-02-11T18:53:27Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Hang on - wouldn’t tough times mean that people are _more_ likely to improve their houses themselves via places like Home Depot than, say, getting professionals in to do it? I’d have thought that people doing DIY would go up (or is it that people are just looking at all the things that need doing in their homes and saying “we can’t afford to fix it, we’ll just live with the water pouring through the ceiling”). I think that what people are cutting back on are things like remodelling the kitchen because they are tired of the old things and want to put in a New Look. Of course, repairing things instead of upgrading will be more likely, and people who used to hire things done will try to have a go at it themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/33 "2009-02-11T18:56:58Z")
Also, fixing up old things is (usually) cheaper than adding completely new fixtures. “New kitchens” or “new bathrooms” are usually the biggest-ticket items that home-improvement (aka DIY) stores sell. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/34 "2009-02-11T19:03:12Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Hang on - wouldn’t tough times mean that people are _more_ likely to improve their houses themselves via places like Home Depot than, say, getting professionals in to do it? I’d have thought that people doing DIY would go up (or is it that people are just looking at all the things that need doing in their homes and saying “we can’t afford to fix it, we’ll just live with the water pouring through the ceiling”). If they were getting contractors to do improvements and remodeling for them before, sure, but if they were already DIY-ing and times got tough, they’d be more apt to just put it off until their cashflow is less constricted. I conjecture there are more of the latter than the former. Home Depot & Lowes seem more geared to profit more from the add-on/spruce-up/remodel mode than the fix-it mode these days. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/35 "2009-02-11T19:40:48Z")
> [@Illuminatiprimus](#): > > Hang on - wouldn’t tough times mean that people are _more_ likely to improve their houses themselves via places like Home Depot than, say, getting professionals in to do it? I’d have thought that people doing DIY would go up (or is it that people are just looking at all the things that need doing in their homes and saying “we can’t afford to fix it, we’ll just live with the water pouring through the ceiling”). For something like a leaky roof most people will call a roofing place for the repair. They need it done quickly and are not willing to wait for Lowes to act as the middle man between them and the contractor. DIYers will do it themselves but those have been few and far between this winter. Repairs are the priority right now. The departments in my store that deal with renovation type stuff (kitchen cabinets, appliances and flooring) are way down this year. Plumbing is up because a few months ago we had a snow melt accompanied by rain that boosted sump pump sales. The little things that people have been putting off (repairing holes in walls, a leaky sink, painting the hallway) are getting done right now. ---
**Author:** ![Convict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Convict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Convict)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/36 "2009-02-11T19:43:50Z")
> [@caveman](#): > > Home Depot & Lowes seem more geared to profit more from the add-on/spruce-up/remodel mode than the fix-it mode these days. That’s it exactly. Come into our store looking for a floor sander to re-finish your hardwood floors and you might be out of luck. But while you’re here, let me tell you about the great deals we have on flooring and installation. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/37 "2009-02-11T20:39:14Z")
> [@Mudshark](#): > > I’ve noticed a lot more people buying cigatettes by the carton, rather than individual packs. They also are more vocal about the high prices on candy and beverages where I work. Forget cartons. I’ve started making my own. Smokes here (New York City) go for $8.50 or more a pack. I can get a bag (roughly equivalent to twenty cigarettes, or one pack) of Top or Bugler for $2.25. One of those little injector machines was $5.99, I think, and a box of 200 tubes (like a filter cigarette without the tobacco, into which you inject the tobacco with the injector machine I just mentioned) is $1.99. I notice that I smoke less of them because of the effort involved. I’ve got my smoking bill down from around $75 a week (holy shit, was I really spending that much?) to $10 or $11 a week. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/38 "2009-02-11T20:53:11Z")
The shopping center up the road that was built in 2005 and has 3 anchor/big box stores and about a dozen other places is now mostly empty. I keep a place in the US in a 200+ unit apartment complex (which used to be a condo complex). The occupancy rate is less than 50% and the place is 3 years old. There is now a tent city downtown. My brother has been out of work for more than a year, as has a friend with a CS degree. I have a family member that has worked for the same company for 32 years and was let go last week. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/39 "2009-02-11T21:12:11Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > I keep a place in the US in a 200+ unit apartment complex (which used to be a condo complex). The occupancy rate is less than 50% and the place is 3 years old. I would have guessed the opposite. I would think with all the home foreclosures going on rentals would be up. ---
**Author:** ![truthbot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@truthbot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/truthbot)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2009, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091/40 "2009-02-11T21:20:12Z")
I’m getting insurance offers nearly every day. From national firms and local agents fishing for business. Auto, home, health and long-term care. The envelopes reek of desperation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/little-things-that-have-changes-with-the-economic-crisis/485091.md?page=3)