Apparently, It's not just me!

This article caught my eye, so I read it. And, I liked what it had to say....

Americans have put themselves on a budget. They're spurning Caribbean vacations, $10 cocktails and designer coffees in favor of shoveling more money into savings accounts. In the first quarter of 2009, the personal savings rate hit 4.2%, its highest level since 1998. At the same time, consumer credit card debt fell by 6.5%. And in a recent survey by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC), 57% of Americans said they're spending less than they were a year ago.


That moderation, it turns out, could outlast the recession, and most economists and consumer experts say that's a good thing. In the NFCC survey, about half the respondents who had reduced their spending said they would continue to spend less even if their financial situation improved. "The consumer has fundamentally changed," says Margot Bogue, associate director of brand planning for the advertising firm Cramer-Krasselt. The new "evolved consumer," she says, shops with more discipline and focuses on buying products with lasting value rather than just accumulating stuff.

Hear hear. I can't stand it when my house gets cluttered with stuff. Or when Bryanna's closet is busting at the seems. (but its busting at the seems with hand-me-downs, really nice ones, but still....more work and energy to stay on top of it all). I have been wanting to go through all the closets in bedrooms and cabinets in the kitchen to organize, simplify and de-junk my house. I have yet to muster up the energy, for in my mind, I don't want to do a half-way job. Tackling all the unorganized corners of my house feels so daunting. But it needs to be done. When I get around to it, I'll have to post of my personal success in accomplishing a few household goals.