The Economy and Your Active Lifestyle (Page 2)

No changes planned. This 'lifestyle' is an investment in my health. If having a fun out-of-town race on the horizon motivates me to train consistently and eat healthy, its worth any price

In the long run, race fees are cheaper than insulin. 

" hate to be the one who does this but I am just too curious. How is the current economy and/or the prospect of worsening economic conditions affecting your multisport lifestyle? Are you looking at races next year and cutting them out of your schedule. Are you postponing making a big-ticket equipment purchase? Are you cutting back on your spending as a whole? Are you not changing a thing? Would love to hear from BT'ers both in the U.S. and abroad. "

 As far as I can say, I see no problem with your economy at all. If it worsens by 50%, you would still have no problems fulfilling basic needs, and I doubt it would ever get that bad. That says something in itself. Where I'm from in Europe, a reasonable middle income is about U$ 800 (recalculated), food is 2x to 4x more expensive then in your country, energy also, and gas is priced at about U$ 2/litre, that means roughly U$ 8/gal.

What I have been researching points me to this - a middle wage in the USA is around 2500 U$ per month, gas is at around 4 to 5 U$/gal, and food is up to 4x cheaper.

 So effectively, food is around 6x to 8x more expensive here (taking into account the ratio of income in both countries), when we equalize other factors. Lets just say that around 60% of my income goes on food, 25% on very sparse usage of energy for heating, water, etc. Rest is divided over what is really nessecary, and as much as I can spare for training purposes. Big purchases will probably not be made anytime soon.

 Effectively, I can see that for the same amount of food you would need to have about 200 to 250 U$ to spend, which is roughly 8% of your mean monthly income. Compare that with 60% I must give for food (or alternative is simply not to eat), and I believe u will get the picture.

 U have no problems to speak off, really. Once you get to the point of not being able to pay for food and other bills with your paycheck, then you have economic problems. This is not having an economic problem, sorry.

If the gov't keeps buying up companies, we'll all be government employees before too long!

This was my thinking. A lot of people are in danger of losing their life savings for retirement or for their families, etc. That seems like a crisis to me. Sure, compared to the Third World, we are better off, but not sure how up on your US history you are, but remember the Depression? People lost EVERYTHING. Houses, jobs, money, everything.  Hopefully that won't happen this time.

If people are losing their savings, they're going to have to build it back up unless they want to work until they're 80 - and that means sacrificing any "fun" stuff, ie triathlon. As the poster I quoted here said, the economy will probably get worse. So being careful also means cutting back on fun stuff to save money/pay off debt, etc, for a lot of people.

I am self employed and having a really good year but am a little more cautious than I would be. THe realization that everything could change very quickly makes me think a little more before going hog wild on races or purchases.

This actually started for me during the dot.com bust...my finances have never recovered...so I pick my races very carefully...and sometimes I have to just say I can't do it.  for example.  I wanted to run a 10k this weekend...but money is going to be really really tight this weekend...so no 10k and no Ren Faire which we were planning on going to.  I may have to ride my bike to work a few times in the next few weeks to save on gas. 

ScottoNM - 2008-09-22 2:13 PM
I'm gonna skip Kona again this year

Luv this response!!  I empathize with the sacrifice you are making.

I'm sorry to dissapoint you, but my planned retirement, as the retirement of many many ppl around me is no more then U$ 300 per month at best, much more are closer to U$ 200. So forgive me if I cant see your retirement ever being so low, no matter what crisis might or might not happen. And its true, you are way off better, in that magnitude u cannot even understand unless u have been on my side of the equasion. So I have two options - plan and do something to start my own bussiness somhow and save up a good deal of money, or simply live until I can work no more.  

So you see, it's pretty simple. Those who have most things in abundance cannot comprehend what cost reduction means. Its always been that way, and it'll always be. I don't blame u or anybody else for thinking that way, in fact, I would not wish to anyone this what we here have to go trough to try and make a honest living. 

meow-cat, are you basing your argument around the fact that you (and some around you) only put in 200-300 a month for retirement...so you think everyone else must do the same?

To put the max into a Roth IRA each year would take about $416 a month.  This is a good starting point for people.  Most people also put in other varying amounts into a 410k or a Simple IRA through their work, as well as other personal CDs or Money Markets they might have for savings.  Monthly savings can easily total up to closer to $1000 a month.

I'm not saying this to disagree with your other points, I am just saying what some other people (who are properly planning) might be saving monthly in comparison to the numbers you listed.

It's a fact allright, and it's reality for me. And it's not me who thinks that much should be put away for retirement, but my goverment does, so there's nothing I can do about it. And the other spin around is equally true - since you're basing your argument around the fact that you put in about 1000 per month for it, u think everyone else must do the same or even that everyone else does it? It's a big world, and a lot of different countries.

 Considering planning, I can plan all I like, but I cannot have a retirement plan higher in value then my monthly paycheck. When there is not enough money, u cannot save. Simple. What is uncomprehensive for me is that you (and ppl around you) are in way better position then we are around here, and yet you tell me how hard is it for you. Well from my point of wiev you have food, your home, a job, a car, a family and a freedom to do what you like with your life. What can you ask for more to be content with your life, and how can you say those are not positive things, since over 40% of ppl on this planet does not have that chance?

I'm looking at fewer events and more local ones.  I have been thinking about doing a TNT century next year which covers travel/accomodations but carries a fund raising commitment....not sure my friends & family would be able to sponsor much.  I'm thinking they might be more willing if it were a different cause so I may look into another sponsored century ride or bag it entirely.....

ETA...I really don't need much for training other than a pair of winter bike pants/gloves and the usual replace run shoes thing.  If anyone wanted to cover race fees for me as a gift I'd be thrilled