General Discussion

Purveyor

(29,876 posts) Thu Oct 24, 2013, 02:18 PM Oct 2013

Used Cowboy Boots for Christmas as Jobs Recovery Slows

Katie Smith plans to spend $200 less on holiday gifts this year because of concerns that weak U.S. job growth will hurt her husband’s home-remodeling business.

“We’ve scaled back,” said the 51-year-old project manager for Wake Forest University’s medical school as she perused cowboy boots for her 12-year-old daughter at a Salvation Army thrift store in Greensboro, North Carolina. Her family plans to spend about $1,000 on gifts, down from $1,200 last year.

With U.S. economic growth trailing the Federal Reserve’s projections, shoppers have plenty of reasons to hoard their dollars this holiday season. This week the government said employers added 45,000 fewer jobs in September than August. The news came with consumers already absorbing the implications of stagnant wages, a cooling housing market and the government shutdown and debt ceiling debate.

Retailers from Macy’s Inc. (M) and Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) to Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) missed second-quarter sales estimates and cut their forecasts. To lure shoppers who have been shifting their dollars away from apparel and other general merchandise to cars and home-related products, chains are planning to introduce discounts early in the season.

more...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-24/used-cowboy-boots-for-christmas-as-jobs-recovery-slows.html

6 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Used Cowboy Boots for Christmas as Jobs Recovery Slows (Original Post) Purveyor Oct 2013 OP

Been on the used shoes circuit for some time... Eleanors38 Oct 2013 #1

When it comes to something as ridiculously overpriced as cowboy boots, ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #2

Besides that, they are already 'broken in' which can be a pain with new boots. It has been over Purveyor Oct 2013 #3

My husband was practically born with them on, and he would wear them until ScreamingMeemie Oct 2013 #4

Wish I had $1000.00 Worried senior Oct 2013 #5

Much has changed around our place too versus what it used to be like. Like you said however, Purveyor Oct 2013 #6

Eleanors38

(18,318 posts)

1. Been on the used shoes circuit for some time...

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 02:26 PM

Oct 2013

Used jeans, used shirts, used fans (no A.C.), used kitchen ware. In 2 weeks, I "shop" for something new: A whitetail deer.

Hunt hard, hunt successfully. Get two.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)

2. When it comes to something as ridiculously overpriced as cowboy boots,

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 02:28 PM

Oct 2013

I call that smart shopping not scaling back.

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)

3. Besides that, they are already 'broken in' which can be a pain with new boots. It has been over

Reply to ScreamingMeemie (Reply #2)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 02:44 PM

Oct 2013

20 years since I bought a pair of cowboy boats.

Never did like them but had to have at least one pair when living in Houston.

ScreamingMeemie

(68,918 posts)

4. My husband was practically born with them on, and he would wear them until

Reply to Purveyor (Reply #3)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 02:45 PM

Oct 2013

they were dead.

It's true, you can't go to the rodeo here in Houston without a pair of cowboy boots.

I have a pair that he bought me 18 years ago up in Michigan. The cost averages out to be about $15/year to wear them.

Worried senior

(1,328 posts)

5. Wish I had $1000.00

Reply to Purveyor (Original post)

Thu Oct 24, 2013, 03:01 PM

Oct 2013

to spend on Christmas.

Our family is drawing names this year, kids included and limiting the cost of the gift, no one can afford to go whole hog anymore.

We have to travel to see them and most of the money will go for gas.

Not as much fun as it used to be but being together is the most important.

Purveyor

(29,876 posts)

6. Much has changed around our place too versus what it used to be like. Like you said however,