Tuesday, January 05, 2010

Americans Doing More, Buying Less

SHOOT: Good to see and I'm sure a lot of families are happier and enriched by this change in behaviour.
clipped from www.nytimes.com

In Recession, Americans Doing More, Buying Less

MIAMI — Rosario and Igor Montoya used to buy, buy, buy for themselves and their two children without a second thought. Expensive sneakers, a new laptop, Legos — they all got what they wanted. But with the recession slashing the Montoyas’ workload and income by more than half, their priorities have shifted from products to activities.

Some are working longer hours, but a larger proportion, the poll shows, are spending additional time with family and friends, gardening, cooking, reading, watching television and engaging in other hobbies.

The Department of Labor’s time-use surveys show a similar trend: compared with 2005, Americans spent less time in 2008 buying goods and services and more time cooking or taking part in “organizational, civic and religious activities.”

“Now I am having fun working on projects around my house, even if it is just pulling weeds or taking my dog, Amos, for a long walk.”
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