5 Lessons We've Learned from the Recession
Based on consumer confidence polls as well as hard data, Americans have shifted many of their former bad habits. Let's hope that these are long-term trends, rather than reactionary blips!
1. Even if you hate your job, be grateful you have one: In today's Conference Board Confidence Index, consumers were notably pessimistic about their income expectations. That makes sense considering that stagnant wages plague an economy that has lost 6.5 million jobs since the beginning of the recession.
2. Live within your means: This was a toughie–consumer debt as a proportion of disposable income peaked at 133% in the fourth quarter of 2007, when the current recession began. As of the first quarter of this year, it has eased to only 128%. That said, the personal savings rate has vastly improved.
3. Don't buy a house until you can afford to do so: Despite recent improvements to five questions to ask financial advisers.
It will take a lot of hard work to get out of this mess, but thus far, I'm far more confident in the American consumer's ability to learn lessons than Wall Street institutions' ability to do so.
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