Funky economics

It's impossible to be alive in the Western Hemisphere and even only partially conscious and not have heard about the Global Economic Downturn. Which basically means that banker-type schmucks and other greedy corporate uberschmucks have milked the system for so long that there no longer is real money to cover paper debt. (Don't quote me on that, for heaven's sake. As if I understand economics)

It's also impossible in these days of Global Economic Downturn to read a magazine or newspaper of almost any genre and not be gently coached on how to stretch your pennies in this Financial Crisis. Today's newspaper, for example, has a helpful article on a money saving approach to clothes shopping. It advises women (I suppose men as well)to buy Investment Fashions. This means buying bespoke or couture designs, or having a handy little seamstress tucked away who can customize that fab little velvet jacket you bought, or in fact design and sew for you an outfit to go with that fab little velvet jacket you bought which doesn't actually go with anything you already own. Though you take the route of paying designer-sized prices for your clothes, you are in fact saving money in the long run. The article suggests this is because the quality of the clothes is such that they will last you many seasons. However, my theory is that you will spend so much money on altering that fun little jacket that you will be impoverished, and so unable to pay your bills, will be visited by the collections people, wanted for tax evasion, and reduced to stealing lip gloss from Walmart, arrested, sent to jail...at which time you will no longer be buying clothes, and voila! Saving money!

A certain Canadian design and decorating magazine (called Canadian House and Home. Never have figured out why it features both houses and homes...and just how do they make that distinction?) this month includes a short article explaining that in these Hard Economic Times, people like to cocoon,choosing to nest and undertake home renovations rather than the cost of moving. The author of this article outlines the projects she has on her agenda this Spring: to renovate the garage, update her water closet, do some painting...etc. That sounds like more funky economics to me. By all accounts we are in an Economic Crisis. Does it make sense to be concerned about the faucets in your powder room? The average reader of the magazine, I'm sure, is crossing their fingers to not be in line to receive a pink slip, and just might be considering new pillows for the living room sofa -- and that might be stretching it when it comes to having to decide between PC or Yellow Label KD for supper. Renovating the garage is probably not a top priority for someone in that situation. Granted, this is a design mag, and it is in the business of showing new designs, featuring new projects etc. But it's disingenuous to make references to 'cost savings' in a time of economic hardship in a discussion of projects that require considerable cash outlay. It would be far better to not make mention of the 'situation' at all, focusing on being a design publication, and leaving the financial advice to others who are a little more grounded in reality.

In both scenarios, considering the people I know, buying couture or custom tailored clothing, or undertaking a home renovation project in the best of times requires a lengthy period of dreaming and planning, followed by some more time of scrimping and saving. Now, when finances are tight, and the fiscal forecast is cloudy, the likelihood of any of us choosing those 'cost saving measures' is pretty slim. Anorexic even.