HOW’S THAT HOPEY-CHANGEY STUFF WORKIN’ OUT FOR YA? (CONT’D): Holidays Bring Big Stress For “Underbanked” Americans. “More than half of those surveyed, about 56 percent, said they do not expect to have enough money set aside to cover holiday expenses, and 59 percent indicated that increased financial pressures at this time of year make them wish they could skip the holidays altogether. . . . It’s no wonder the lower-income group is spending less. More than a third of this group said they are barely getting by, and 39 percent said they are stretched but still managing to pay for necessities. More than three-quarters said they have cut back on overall spending due to the tough financial times of the last few years. The group also is living paycheck to paycheck. About 46 percent said they would be able to cover expenses only for two weeks if they lost their source of income.”

I guess things aren’t living up to those 2008 hopes.