Odd Lifestyle Signals That Your In A Recession

Unless you have been living in a cave for the last year, your sure to know that America is in a recession. If the whole thing still bemuses you, then here are some odd lifestyle changes brought on by the recession observed by Time Magazine.

The Hot Waitress Index

This is a sure way to tell how the jobs market is doing. Here is the math: when times are good, there are plenty of opportunities for attractive women in modelling and marketing and such. When times are bad and there are much less jobs on the market, they are more likely take on work in a bar or restaurant. If you haven’t noticed this already, you are sure to now.

Take a Hike

There has been a spike of people taking to the countryside and hiking. Similar to the revival of beach holidays and camping in the UK, more people have more spare time on their hands.

Immigration Slumps

After rising for year after year, the immigration levels have stalled in both America and the UK. Many now finding more opportunities for work in their home countries as unemployment soars in the richer nations.

Pants Down…

Sales of men’s underwear have remained flat and strong for years. Enter recession, and guys are much happier to keep their underwear going for much longer, meaning 2009 has seen the first fall in sales for years. Women’s underwear sales remain relatively unaffected with only a fall in online sales of lingerie.

Cemetery and Allotment Plots

In the US the recession has seen a huge increase in people re-selling cemetery plots, not something they probably expected to do before they used it, but money is tight. In the UK however, demand for allotments has gone threw the roof, with more and more people looking to save what they can by growing their own flowers and vegetables.

Bye Bye Baby

Money is tight, and if you’re lucky enough to have a job then you are not going to want to threaten that by having a child. In America 44 percent of women would put off having kids due to the recession according to one survey. In the UK on the other hand, it seems like many younger women are turning to having kids and living and living off the state after giving up on finding work. I have no stats for that, its more off a general observational rant.

Marines Get Picky

In the recession, army enlistment increases massively. Having met all their recruitment goals the marines can now be picky, so in an attempt to attract tougher recruits they have changed their TV adverts to show the tougher side of being a marine.

Coupons

Already being used 23 percent more than last year, people are looking to make savings where ever they can.