HI , I feel sorry for all of the modelers that are having financial issues. In my case, I've just started a new job in an investment bank. Have been saying that, I go to work everyday thinking that i can be the next one that carries the box out the door. But I still have hope. This country is bigger than this crisis. My saving Plan:
I go out only once a week.
I only "eat out" lunch. Which means i grab a sandwich, pizza, burger or salad, by lunch time.
No more starbucks.
I am planning to cut down some cablevison channels
I dont use my phone to make international calls
I dont drive , so transportation is fixed $86 (value of a metrocard) ever ymonth.
That left me enough cash to save in bank my account and allows me to plan my futures acquisitions.

So far this Month i felt under the Trumpeter stryker frenessi I just bought two M1127($100), worth the money. Every single penny! I also have one M1126 from AFV club and i will be getting 3 more of them from Lucky models. Plus some trumpeter army soldiers in irak. Like $150 total by october 15th aprox.
About my hobby shop, last time i went there and i spend $ 80 in supplies only. The kits are 25% or 50% than those at Lucky models including shipping charges. I use ebay to get some bargains, for instance those two M1127 were cheaper than any were else. lucky doesnt have it in stock or even in their catalog, so i got them from ebay.
I am affraid to say that I wont be getting anything new (except for supplies, like painting, glue or styrene/ brass sheets) til next year.
Hope it helps
Have a good week.
Actually

I don't see any issues on my end. If you don't have all your money in the stock market and didn't buy a BS mortgage for a house you couldn't afford anyways, it shouldn't really effect you. Yes, gas has gone up some, welcome to paying the price that the rest of the world pays for gas. Sorry, I don't have any sympathy for these idiots losing thier houses and complaining about the stock market going south. If you made bad financiual decisions, thats your fault.

Agree to a point. Anyone falling for schemes such as "interest only loans" and variable interest loans made their own beds. I won't go so far as to call them idiots. Some people simply make poor choices, or are misled by their own financial planners.
My TSP is largely stock based, as is yours, if you contribute. But most savvy investors know to diversify. Yeah, I took a bath along with everyone else yesterday. HOWEVER...
I also have short term funds in addition to my long term investments. Anyone who followed my advice after the nosedive yesterday, and used their short term capital to buy low yesterday, well, we're laughing all the way to the bank today. (or maybe all the way to the ammo can buried in the backyard)
The long term stuff? It'll come back. Anyone who looks at it day to day is violating one of the rules of long term investing. And will drive themselves crazy in the process.
Meanwhile, the CH-47D crew I purchased the other day isn't going to get any cheaper n the short term.To answer the original post, it doesn't affect me much.

"people cutting back on so called luxuries such as their hobbies." is what it said.

Hey, I'll get far more enjoyment from the money I spent on a kit than someone who spends a similar amount, or more, on drinking on just one night.

First Post EVER!!!

Anyway, the ones that have the stash and the equipment are the lucky one. Imagine us poor starters. I've had to cut things back and I can't even drive yet! But I still try mostly making the switch from 1/35 to 1/72. You can build 4 or 5 of 'em for the cost of one larger one=More build time!

As for you Gary I'm one of those customers that have dropped of from your store and I apologize very much

But no matter what economics will always pull out of their slumps and who knows? Maybe if we can all pull through these times (Both in America and anyone else facing problems) Maybe the true Golden age of Modelling will come.

Hoping to eventually become a Proffesional (As everyone else here is)l,
Richard Singleton

Welcome. I've got a 1/72 kit to help you get started.
It's some sort of BTR I believe.

I learned so many years ago to live within my means. Didn't opt out for a $200k house with 4 bedrooms and a pool and the like. My car is 10 and kept in great shape. Never saw the need for expensive gas guzzeling SUV. I don't make a lot of money, but I've learned to be frugal and never get crazy with the credit card. Heck, I survived the past 5 years with little or no income. Now I work full time and am in a decent industry (security). I've got a fairly hefty stash. I 've got most of what I want and years worth of stuff left to build. I keep adding kits most years lately I' build a few more than I purchase. I do 90 % of my business on the intrnet because I can get a kit for $10 - 15 cheaper . SUre shipping costs but throw in 8 & 1/2 % tax and cost of gas to and from that kind of evens that out a bit. Fear of financial crises for me is limited. My bank holdings are insured by FDIC, I am in a low yield IRA so I'm not getting crushed to much by all these fluctuations. Good luck to everyone else. Especially those who live and die by the paycheck.