Recession candor

More PC to admit you can’t afford it?

It struck me yesterday that in my circle of acquaintances where people would rather talk about cancer than financial troubles, that all of a sudden I’m hearing admissions that money is an issue in why particular decisions are made. E.g., not going anywhere on spring break this year, “not the time to spend that kind of money,”; or yup, this car’s old, “would like to replace it, but saving my coin,”; or my daughter wanted a new pair of Uggs, but “last year’s pair is still fine, so I told her ‘no,’ that they’re not in the budget right now.” Anyway, it’s not that people are making financial trade-offs, it’s that they’re ADMITTING it more than before. Feels more honest. Wondering if anyone else has noticed this and if the trend is really about honesty or just what’s socially acceptable?  --BB in Tempe, AZ

NuKazoo readers shared their experiences:

I think there’s more going on here.  The examples you give are all about extras.  Nothing essential.   You’re not hearing people say, “wow, I’m struggling to meet the mortgage this month,” or “I can’t afford our family’s healthcare premiums.”  That’s still taboo in the kind of circles you’re talking about.  People aren’t becoming more honest; they’re just tailoring their comments to a slightly different social acceptability scale.

-- Maria L., Indy

In times of crisis, it’s human nature to cut the crap.  For many, this is crisis time. 

-- TMonk in St. Louis

It’s trendy to cut back right now.  That’ll change, and so will the talk about it

-- DanaJ in LA

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