Frugal Moms

I am going to make some predictions.

1.  More jobs will continue to be lost until mid-May.   By May things will either get better or much worse.

2. Gold will be high.  I am not expecting 1600 or 2k like some commenters, but the highs of 2008 are likely to occur again.

3.  Food stamps will become a staple for getting food for more than 40% of American families, and consequentally will be a budget problem eventually.

4.  Luxuries will remain “not desirable”.  So if you are in the luxury business, add another line.

5.  Foreclosures will suddenly increase at the end of 2009 unless government intervention occurs.

6.  Sewing will become “IN” again.  That is “remaking” clothes.

7.  Beans and Rice in bulk will be seen as staples for America’s diet.  Steak is so yesterday, except for rare treats like an Anniversary.  Also expect potatoes, macaroni, tomato sauce, and PB and J’s to sell well.

8.  Back to school shopping, will start to involve second hand stores for clothes.  For the poor it will be patching up hand me downs.

9.  Children will learn to be thankful for the awesome stuff you give on holidays…at least a little more.

10.  Every teen having their own cell phone with text messages, will be drastically cut back.  Expect prepaids for Emergencies only to be the thing parents do.

11.  Shoe cobblers will find their business increase

12.  Parents will start to pressure schools to remain open during holidays and possible weekends so kids can have free school lunch.  (urban areas)

13. Libraries will cut back hours or raise late fee fines just as more patrons come in due to budget cut backs.

14.  Food staples will rise in price.

15.  Treasuries will be sold off by other countries, causing our dollar’s value to dip.  How much is anyone’s guess.

16.  Gas prices will rise again.  As this happens, more inflationary pressures will occur.

17.  Towns and states will start laying off even more workers.  The problems in California will hit Georgia, New York, Rhode Island, and various other states.  At least 10 states will have to lay off drastically.

18.  Court houses may shut down for longer furloughs on holidays, or not open for weeks at a time.

19.  Crime is headed up, but not way up.

20.  Gardening will become a new passion as people looking into new “Victory Gardens”.

These are just best guesses.  I am not a financial advisor.  I am a mom of 5 soon to be 6.  I pay attention to the stock market and economic trends.  I have a little economics under my belt from college, but no where near enough to be a professional.  Good luck everyone.