Are we really going through hard times?
By dolce_vita78
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
Philippines
December 23, 2008 7:38pm CST
For the past few months, all I hear are complaints about how difficult life is at the moment. Crisis here, there and everywhere. Not that I do not agree. I see it and I feel it too. However, I think there are people, things and events that make me think twice about the issue on going through hard times. Last weekend, while in Manila, my boyfriend and I went around looking for some stuffs to buy. We practically have been to all possible places like malls, department stores and even flea markets (tiangge). That is what we did for three days. We've been to Makati, Manila, Mandaluyong, Pasay City, and Quezon City. Malls, department stores and flea markets were jam packed. In fact, in the late afternoon until the late evening, traffic jam is a problem in most main thoroughfares in these places I have mentioned due to people going to and from these establishments. People with lots of big shopping bags everywhere. I have noticed that most of them were buying non-essentials. Well, mostly, luxury items like expensive gadgets like cellphones, mp3 players, laptops and game consoles. Others, signature products like clothes, shoes, accessories and perfumes. All of a sudden, I thought about the complaints I have been hearing for the past few months including people who have been interviewed on TV about how they feel this Christmas season will be.
Well, I am just thinking... are we really going through hard times?
2 people like this
15 responses
@tamarafireheart (15384)
•
24 Dec 08
Hi dolce_vita,
I know what you mean, they cry poverty because of credit crunch and they still can go out and buy things that are expensive, they are not thinking of food then are they or paying their bills, but for the moment its spend spend, spend. They are not that hard up.
Tamara
1 person likes this
@morningstar369 (495)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Manila is in the U.S.? Where are you talking about? Here in the United States things are really bad. I have lost my home due to an injury and being out of work for 7 months. Alot of people have lost their homes due to the interest raises. Credit Cards have raised their interest rates so that the government has to stop it. Unemployment is at an all time high and jobs are at an all time low. The stock market has crashed and alot of people have lost their nest egg and retirement money. Soup kitchens and food banks are low on food. Salvation army is way low of toys for children whos families can't afford any gifts for the children. Huge companies are going under as well as many small businesses. Many crafters I know have cancessed their credit card companies (that is the processing companies for taking credit caards in our businesses. Food is going up, gas finally is gone down. The last time things were this bad was in the DEPRESSION of 1929. Check your history books.
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
25 Dec 08
A lot of people earn a lot of money so these people can afford to buy expensive items. The prices of these items is lower these days but still significantly high to people on lesser incomes. The prices of fuel, food, transport and other essentials has made things tough for many. The problem has arisen when everyone including governments has borrowed more than they can afford to pay so the end result is that everyone owes money and some are unable to repay adequately (spent more than they earn) so the interest rates become higher...I'm no economist and I'm sure someone could explain it better than I.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
28 Dec 08
Hi dolce_vita78! haha..I have been witnessing the same thing. Mostly everyone is complaining of hard times, including me but I have seen the malls jampacked with shoppers and traffic is really so bad. However, I do think that our countrymen have put aside the issue of the hard times during this festive season to at least make their love ones happy even if they might be spending so much or maybe using their credit cards to the max, although of course, it is not a practical thing to do. But I do believe that most of the Filipinos love Christmas and just love giving love and gifts on Christmas! Although I am not one of those who have bought expensive gifts, don't have the budget for more even if I would really want to. haha..
Just my thoughts! And here's wishing you a Blessed New year dear friend! lovelots..faith210
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Well hard times for each individual is probably different. I for one is really going through hard times. i have always had a job, and was able to pay my bills on time, buy food, have entertainment etc. I can barely pay my rent now, since I am not working, I am so behind in my bills, and only buy food, whenever I have a little money left over, which is not often. I have bought anything for Christmas, I am struggling everyday just to stay above water. Hard times for me is what is happening to me right now, I have five dollars to my name, and my rent is due in a week. Worrying about how you are going to live is hard times, worrying if you will be out in the street the next month is hard times, I am a living witness to these hard times.
@sudalunts (5523)
• United States
24 Dec 08
correction, I have not bought anything for Christmas.
1 person likes this
@dolce_vita78 (8062)
• Philippines
24 Dec 08
I am sorry to hear about your condition sudalunts... I wish you well...
@sanuanu (11235)
• India
24 Dec 08
Yes, we are.
Specially people who lost their jobs. You might have seen the unemployment rate is at its high in US and people are loosing jobs all over the world. Now, since there are still people with good money in their hands. Even the people who lost their jobs have good money in their banks and since its a party time and new years eve is knocking the door, thus people are shopping to enjoy as they think that this bad time will be over soon.
Just as I do and my family do. We all have believe that next year it will all be fine, so we are enjoying.
1 person likes this
@stephcjh (38473)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Yes. I think alot of people are going through hard time financially. People are losing their jobs and some are drawing less money through unemployment also.
@roniroxas (10560)
• Philippines
24 Dec 08
i dont like to complain anymore. i just live the day one day at a time. complaining will not solve anything. the people who are in the government must be the one to do something to change this very hard situation we are in. yes malls are jam packed but only to find sales. this morning (today is the 24th of december) i went to market to buy somethings i need for noche buena and to mu surprise the market was just the usual view. every yera when i go to market on the 24th it is always crowded.... but not today. for me it is a sign that we are going through hard times.
@chenxiaoyue_713 (2165)
• China
24 Dec 08
I'm telling you we are really going through hard times. The global economic recession has influenced all industries. I'm a Chinese, and I can feel this strongly. It is reported that there will be a million university students who cannot find jobs this year. This is really terrible. What's more, the price of each product just increases without an end. It is difficult for those lower-class to make a living.
Let all of us wish the harsh times will disappear before long.
@okwusman1 (2247)
• Abuja, Nigeria
24 Dec 08
Yes, all the nations of the earth are going through tough times now, if not war, it is draught, or starvation or tsunami, huricaine, earth quakes, etc. This are perilous times and every living creatures must be very careful and prayerful
Even arm robbery cases are increasing by the day, rape etc.
May God help us.
@zackyo7 (301)
• United States
24 Dec 08
Yes some of us are. There are tons of people who lost their jobs to this recession. The poor became poorer and some middle class citizens became poor. Only those that are rich and middle class are getting away with it. And it's just because they have a job. I belong to a middle class family and even though we are buying stuff it's a little harder to save to buy it. And it's just begun. Soon paychecks will drop from about 200 US a day to 30 US a day.
@nekonyanta (892)
• Philippines
24 Dec 08
Hi there. Well, I guess it depends on how one defines "hard times". "Hard times" for the filthy rich may involve settling for a lesser-known brand than a higher-class one. "Hard times" for the middle class may involve limiting the number of times they eat out at fast food chains. It really depends on one's perspective.
However, with regards to people shopping an awful lot during the Christmas season, well, I'd like to believe that it has become a Filipino tradition to shop for gifts for family, loved ones and friends (and for ourselves as well) that even going through "hard times" doesn't hinder us from carrying on with the gift-giving tradition, even if the gifts we choose to give are less pricey.
And, although there are indeed alot of people doing shopping, my sister, who visits Greenhills on a bi-weekly basis said she noticed that the Christmas "rush" seemed to be pushed towards around a week or so before Christmas this year as compared to it starting at around the last week of November/first week of December (i.e. Christmas bonus season). So yeah...
In conclusion, I'd say that the financial crisis does affect us, only in different ways. Happy Christmas~! 
@nimnim74 (250)
• Philippines
24 Dec 08
If we go to remote area like near our place in inayawan dumpsite you can really see the people having experienced through hard times they only have softdrinks and sliced bread for noche buena in which I think that kind of snacks we offer it ordinarily to our visitors at home and their only happiness for this Christmas is to go to different homes and ask for christmas gift, probably if we go to department stores you can't see crisis situation because everybody goes on a bag of something but that kind of population is only a percentage of our population which are the average and high income family.
@fladave008 (19)
• United States
24 Dec 08
i feel that we are going through hard times right now. those of us that can't afford to go shopping in manila find it hard to go shopping in the local grocery store , my vehicle was reposessed and i have three friends that lost their homes to forclosures.
@annjilena (5618)
• United States
24 Dec 08
some people are going through hard times there was 554,000 people lost their jobs at one time and they just closed GM today all those people lost their jobs.some people can,t pay their bills. i think it,s worse in certain parts of the country thrn others some have not felt the ecomomy problem yet so they don,t really think it,s really that bad .but once it hit home well thats another story.i hope you and your family have a merry christmas
