Actually the cost of rent is going down here in Manhattan. What would have cost me $2000 a month two years ago is now down to $1500 a month or so. Hell, I found a 2 bedroom apartment with a dishwasher listed for $1300 the other day. As this economic crisis continues the rent will continue to go down so (even though I know it makes me an asshole to think like this) I hope the economy stays where it is for a couple more months until my lease is up and my SO and I can move to a cheaper place in a little bit nicer neighborhood.
When we go to the show, we stop at the Menard’s next door and pick up a giant bag of Raisinets and a large water and smuggle 'em past the Ticket Kid in my giant purse.
It’s always like that.
One of the reasons we stopped going to Costco is that the place is always a madhouse. The other reason was that we just don’t have the space to store the giant quantities of stuff. Yes, pianos may be a good deal in four-packs, but were would we store the extra three pianos until we’ve played out the first one?
OK, so that’s a joke, but finding a spot to stash 18 rolls of paper towels and 15 4-packs of toilet paper is not so easy in a small home. Those bundles of TP are just about big enough to use as a couch.
Rentals are going down. Some foreclosures are turning into rentals and lots of people are living in tents in empty lots around the city (it is snowing outside). About half of the people I know are unemployed.
Hell, we’ve always done stuff like that! 
While my hubby’s job is probably pretty damned secure (he works for the federal gov’t for the dept that processes Medicare and Medicaid claims, and if anything, Medicare and Medicaid rolls will be expanding), my BIL, who worked for Baltimore Gas and Electric all his adult life, was fired just about a month ago, with less than a year to go to retirement. Since they’re giving him a year’s severance pay, I can’t view it as anything but a bare-bones cost-cutting measure!
You can’t rent if you have no money, no income, and/or bad credit. I work (occasionally) for a landlord and he won’t rent to someone without a job - how could they possibly pay the rent? It’s not to be mean - the landlord must pay for upkeep and taxes whether the unit it occupied or not, but occupied upkeep costs more, and there are repairs to be done.
So… if there is no job and the family is foreclosed on they don’t get a rental, they are homeless.
Also, at least in my area, so many rental units were converted to condos that there has been a shortage of affordable rentals for years now, In some cases a person might to rent, and have a job, but be unable to find a unit.
Man, maybe you should all move to Houston! I haven’t noticed a single thing change, restaurants and bars are still packed, everyone I know has a job, it’s pretty cheap to buy a nice condo in the inner loop because they made too many during the boom and had to drop prices, and gas is cheap! The only thing I have noticed is that I never have to pay full price for clothes, because they go on sale so quick and have plenty, that you may as well just wait.
I guess some people have it bad because there are quite a few foreclosures, but it doesn’t seem any worse than any other time. I am sure some other Houstonian will come along and prove me wrong, but I don’t see any kind of recession here.
You do realize that you just jinxed yourself, right? 
There seems to be a glut of apartments in my neighborhood. Over the past week or two I’ve noticed signs sprouting up around many of the complexes. “Spacious 2 and 3 bedroom units available!” “Pet friendly!” “Ask about our move-in specials!” Some of the signs have balloons attached. Not a good sign for the landlords, but potentially good for the current tenants. I’m thinking that my landlord is unlikely to raise my rent too much when the other apartment complexes are offering deep discounts.
The cruise ship passengers are not signing up for tours when they visit - they’re just milling around town - my guess is they had already paid for the trip, but not doing the extras in case they find they’re out of work when they return home. Rentals - the same as others have commented - slashing prices on luxury vacation villas just to get some cash in.
JESUS yes. I used to be able to go out every Friday after everyone got home from work at 5:30 and get in JUST before the crowds. Last two weeks we’ve tried it and even Red Robin was over an hour wait.
My baby sister has been working for the same company for 27 years and got her notice on Monday of this week. She’s out at the end of this month.
What city is that might I ask?
But is this really happening? With the foreclosure rate skyrocketing is the homeless rate really skyrocketing too?
I can’t imagine for every foreclosed house I see there is a homeless family out there. And if you moved in with a friend or relative are you still considered homeless?
I wouldn’t say “skyrocketing” but it is increasing.
Well… yes, in a sense if you no longer have an independent residence and are now living with friends/relatives you are homeless in a way, but not in the sense of living in your car or in a cardboard box. Multi-adult households are also becoming more common, but there are many reasons people acquire roommates so any stats would be a bit fuzzy.
I haven’t noticed anything besides the drying up of the residential development market, but that started two years ago.
I think we just so po’ down here that we don’t notice a recession as much. 
We’ve noticed more frequent calls from the cable/gas/electric/cell phone company about bills that may be only a day or a few days late. And they’re not from actual people anymore – they’re all computerized.
My local overstock everything-for-a-dollar store is now stocking un-bought brand-name things. Nice brand-name things, too. The ice cream they got used to be Brand X. Today, I saw a fresh load of Haagen-Dazs and Ben and Jerry’s.
Some Chinese businessmen have to cut back on mistresses. But as you can see here, you’d best be careful about choosing which ones to give up.
The pricey butcher (that I’ve personally been visiting less lately) reported to me that their business has gone up because people are eating in more.
Here in Germany, they actually changed their Meals around. Now they’re called McMenus. And a McMenu is by default a Super Size. If you want a regular meal, you have to order a McMenu Small.
So, most people end up getting (and paying for) a Super Sized meal, without intending.
NB