Benefits of a recession

[Wookie]

Clearly work is slowing down for some people. Trades/services. Prices, sales. etc.

Has anyone thought about this - or how they could take advantage (not of people, but of the situation).

I know the 2009 Budget is allowing tax deductions on home renovations up to $10,000 done between Feb 2009 and Feb 2010.

With a new furnace, water tank and some other stuff this could add up pretty quick. I've gotten a bunch of flyers in the mail about furnace companies being slow and wanting to pass saving on.

Cars are cheaper.

Gas is cheaper.

Homes are cheaper.

Has anyone noticed specific things getting cheaper?

Is there more to come?

When will it peak?

[brownie]

Cars and gas are cheaper for sure.....But if you don't have a job to go to, there's not much need for either.

[OilersBaby]

Yup or if you're like my husband and I who bought 2 cars last summer and now I dont have ajob, you're screwed.

[The Fonz]

The cheap gas has been beneficial for me, and also the price of vehicles since I'll be looking to buy in the spring. I'm actually making $3/hr more than I was in November.

[RougeUnderoos]

New Dodge truck. Power windows, CD player and new car optional.

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/an/loc...ub=CalgaryHome

[Clarkey]

A lot of people doing jobs they hate will get laid off and find better, more fulfilling avenues. In the short term it sucks to get laid off but sometimes it is a blessing in disguise.

[GirlySports]

It's been nice being home.

I hate not working but I haven't been unemployed ever so it was weird and nice being home this week.

[macker]

The collapse in oil prices is said to be saving US consumers 1 Trillion and has been the equivalent of a 20% tax cut for consumers.

[macker]

Gives Michael Moore something to work on.....
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/me...dex.php?id=245

[J pold]

Some of the over zealous environmental advocates that I've had to deal with while going to school, who have compared the Alberta Oil sands to Chernobyl. Have shut their traps because their parents who are employed in the same industry that are so hell bent on defacing have gotten laid off, and can no longer fund their granola eating activities.

[pepper24]

With deflation everything is cheaper but if you don't have money saved in the bank, cannot get loans/mortgages from the banks or out of work then it's tough to take advantage.

If you have free money sitting around this is a great time to look into a house, car, investments etc.

[Winsor_Pilates]

I'm actually set to make more $ in the first 2 months of 2009, then I did in all of 2008. And that's working in a hurting real estate industry. Somehow, the rescission hasn't hurt me.
And of course, cheeper gas doesn't hurt, especially if your car likes premium.

[Dion]

While it's great that things are cheaper i don't know too many people that have that extra cash to take take advantage of all those savings.

[Bagor]

Good recession news for Cowtowners, bad news for us folks in the capital.

OTTAWA — Ottawa street gang members who had moved out West to chase a dream of dealing drugs and getting rich are heading home, police say, forced back by tough times in their cutthroat trade.
There had been a steady flow of these street-level entrepreneurs, from Ottawa and elsewhere, who left their hometowns to deal drugs in Alberta when the economy there was red-hot.
But as the overall economy has worsened, so, too, have gang members’ fortunes: Now there is less money to be made and increased competition for the business that remains.

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/To...734/story.html

[HOZ]

Japanese Yen is huge compared to the Canadian peso. I can come home for a visit now.

[BlackArcher101]

The only benefit I have so far is gas prices being lower.
Still can't afford a house... the things I buy are still the same price and now my salary may actually decrease.

I might be worse off.

[rubecube]

I lost approximately $4000 worth of shares and pension that I was saving for school...

[MelBridgeman]

hookers and blow at bargain basement prices

[Dan02]

I don't have to waste as much time calculating the tax remitences for me and my employees, leaving more time to ponder whether i can splurge and make spagetti tonight or enjoy mac D for the 4th consecutive evening.

[V]

traffic seems way better...