[Slick61]

POSSIBLE slow down? All you have to do is look at consumer prices... everythings gotten more expensive the past few months & most of the major retailers' sales are down. Lots of places going out of business. Dead real estate market. I'd say we're IN a recession, though the severity & duration have yet to be determined.

Yea, my 401k & IRA's took a bit of a beating... but I've set them up for long term stability. The current "state of affairs" hasn't really altered my spending habits. After losing my job & being unemployed for over 10 months (about 4 years ago), it taught me to live within my means & keep a fair portion of funds liquid. I don't carry credit card debt, so my only long term debt is the mortgage & one car payment (which I could pay off were I so inclined). I haven't driven the cobra as much lately- a part of that is due to my unwillingness to pay the exhorbitant gas prices, but mainly due to a recent surgery that make it very uncomfortable to get behind the wheel for a few more weeks.

My planned upgrades are pretty modest, so won't be a financial hardship... just one of those things I've yet to get around to.