Employment

I read this article today about employment, and while I'm happy to hear that unemployment is going down, I hope that things like that news, like that article, have their proper impact as well. I've found that the state of the economy is all about what people think is going to happen. If someone thinks that the market is going to go bad, or that costs of products are going to go up, in the near future, then they will be more inclined to sell their stocks instead of buying more, or to save their money for later, when economic times are better. People get this information from the news.
The same works for employers and companies, for the decisions to hire for a position, rather than delegating the responsibilities of a position throughout people who already work for the company, come from a series of people who work in the upper ranks of a company. For a small company, those decisions are usually made by a select few people, and for a bigger company the decision usually varies from department to department, but needs approval from others above the singular department, etc. I just hope that everyone is reading this news!

I honestly believe that if the news gets around the the economy is improving, and that obviously someone must be hiring new employees for the unemployment rate to go down, then those with the responsibility of hiring will reconsider finding someone new to fill a need in the company. Positions for a new employee are made by growth in the business, a new direction in the company, a situation that requires specified skills, or even just a small addition to productivity that all each create a need to be filled. However, when money is tight companies will often opt to distribute the needs throughout the company for already employed workers to fill. When things are doing well, companies will hire new members in order to fill those needs. Therefore, when evidence is available that other companies are beginning to hire newbies instead of distribute needs, then more companies start to think "well, if someone out there is doing well, maybe we can hire another person or so over here", and the populous in general begins to relax and loosen the purse strings a little.
Then, once more spending goes on, the economy thrives, since it is able to receive and then distribute the income from consumers. Basically, we are all spending money in one way in order to receive money from a paycheck that comes from somewhere else. Of course, it is through an intense structure of supply and demand and cost effectiveness and lots of other business principles, but the basics are still the same: if you spend more money out there in the world at Target or Macy's or JCPenny or TJMaxx or wherever you shop, then the economy thrives and more opportunities for work appear on the market.

So Big Business: pay attention! We're doing better, start hiring! I need a real job!!!!

Money Money Money

Today I found this article in USA Today, and I was really surprised and impressed by it--and found it to be quite true myself!
Ever since I found sale racks and realized you could get the same thing for less money, I have been wondering why people pay full price. Some people I know simply like the experience better, and are willing to pay for it. They maybe won't go to a JCPenny or a Marshalls for their shopping, but I can't imagine myself simply shelling out twice or three times as much money for something at Macy's when I can get it for less!
The coupon thing has taken over since the recession hit a couple of years ago, and I'm not surprised that people are taking a deeper look into their spending. The article also mentioned the aging baby-boomers who experienced the depression, and are still thrifty because of it. I think we might be headed in the same direction! I know that my attention to a dollar here or a dollar there has increased, and that $5 can go a long way if you spend it right.
If you save $1 on ten different occasions, that's $10 that you've saved and can buy you something else, or stay in your savings for something in the future. It isn't always easy, but I think as a nation we are finding out how to use our money better.

I often find myself wondering what this means for the economy. Although it can seem backwards to the everyday consumer, spending is good for the overall economy. The more you spend, the more sales companies have, and the more they can spend getting products back to you, or more importantly giving back to the community. If Target, for example, has some sort of community outreach program that provides economic assistance to a school or community, where do you think that money comes from? From the money you just spent on their groceries or swimsuits or whatever. It comes from you!
I wonder whether businesses, and therefore the economy in general, can simply readjust and reevaluate, find a new way to make things happen, or if a lot of good, but not necessarily inexpensive to consume, businesses will simply fail. In Minneapolis, Burch Pharmacy is closing after more than half a century of good, local service and delightful neighborhood charm. Out it goes!

Will we ever figure it out?