"A Gibby Economy"

A few months back Curtis and I were discussing how spending affects the economy and we had fun thinking about what the world would be like if everyone spent their money like we did. Since Curtis got laid off and went back to his old job with a large pay decrease, we spend even less, but here is a run down of the things we came up with. I found it quite entertaining.

There would only be $1 movie theaters. The normal priced ones would just not exist.

All clothes would go straight to the 80% off clearance racks. No one would ever look anywhere else.

Wal-Mart would be doing just fine, whether that is good or not, they are cheap and convenient. But the processed food section would be like 20-30% instead of 80% and they would stock mostly store brand items.

There would not be very many restaurants and the ones that would stay open are the ones that have buy 1 get 1 free entree coupons. Everyone would look forward to the once a month treat with coupon in hand.

The fast food restaurants would only have a $1 menu and again there would not be very many. Going once every couple months at a buck a meal wouldn't keep them going for long.

I would say that there would only be used car dealerships, but then how would they get there? So I guess there would only be cheaper new car dealerships and not used ones, because everyone would run their car to the ground.

Costco would have half as many members because everyone would just go with their mom.

Airlines would only have coach class.

Spa or tanning places...what are those?

All dentists would have free cleaning and x-ray coupons and be seen once a year if lucky.

Robert's Crafts and Jo-Ann's would do fine, but they would just keep the whole store at 40-50% off so that we wouldn't have to worry about remembering our coupon, or having our 2 year old buy the second item for us with an additional coupon.

The limitless specialty stores like Build-a-Bear, Smart Cookie, Big 5, or Zales would just disappear.

The dollar store would do okay. Most of their business would be done just before Christmas or Easter.

That would be a pretty crazy world. I think it would feel empty and boring. But I don't feel we are empty or boring, well maybe a little boring. We have so much and I usually figure out a way to get something I want if we can't afford it, in no way to I feel deprived. This is how I was raised and it's a good thing I was or we'd be in a real pickle right now.