Pull into your shell for 2 years - until the 2010 elections. If that election doesn't give us a Congress that believes in limited government and makes Obama irrelevant, then Turtle Out for two more years. If patriots regain control of our government and cut back to a sane level of spending, then I'll have a whole lot of money available to support the economy. Otherwise, I'm on strike as a consumer and as an investor.
I have closed all accounts with TARP businesses - permanently. I don't even take checks drawn on those banks. I have stopped making major purchases that will stimulate the economy, repairing my car without even considering buying new. If I eventually buy new, it won't be from GM or any other automaker that takes bailout funds. I have stopped supporting Hollywood, both their movies and their TV shows, going from one or two movies per year to none for the next four years. I have no cable. I do more with my kids than ever - active and outdoors instead of dollar-intensive.
This year's tax return will be a marvel of creative writing and paperwork justification, and it'll all be true. I have been donating to my local charity and keeping detailed records of what was donated. Perhaps they'll throw a few of those things out, but all clothing was in good enough condition for me to wear the week before, so I'm taking the value listed by a deduction finder software package. Believe me, it adds up. Books? I donated over $2,000 worth of books. All in all, I have over $10k in deductions, all legal, all truthful, and all cutting into the money that the Obama/Pelosi socialists have available to destroy our country. And the cash saved on taxes? It goes to the NRA and my church.
Starve the beast - Turtle Out!
Be careful....there are some times when they look at those donations and your income, and consider you for audit, I believe....
BUT, your “Starve the Beast” is what we will be doing....getting out of Bank of “America” right now....bought everything needed pretty much by 1/20/09....TurtleOut is the plan, except for building Conservative clubs....give to NO organization (or business) that supports Democrats OR Democrat ideas (Habitat for Humanity, United Way, etc.) Only to NRA, conservative Churches, and certain Military organizations.
I hear you, MD. We're doing a lot of that in my house, too.
Ditto’s.
Everyone has to do what works best for them. I recommend legal stuff though. Write every expense down and then evaluate...how can you reduce this? Stop eating out. Shop second hand and garage sells. If you can afford it take a day off and don’t draw vacation or sick time. Tuesdays are a good day to stay home and not spend anything. With enough people cutting back those sales taxes will add up fast.
Judging from the number of liberals who by party affiliation are allies with the UAW yet drive foreign built cars, I suspect many were doing this during the Bush years.