Leveraging Lessons Learned

So its 2011 and many companies have reported making a 4th quarter profit despite the slow start of 2010.  Hip Hip Hooray for these companies, but have American households started to realize a profit yet?  Have we learned from the hard lessons of 2008 through 2010?  Many Americans believe so.  Just last year American families were eating out less, decreasing their budgets for entertainment and other wants.  Coupon clipping was the new trend, and cutting back in every area of our finances was a must.  But now as Americans are feeling better about the current economic environment and its upward trend to recover; they are rethinking their current spending habits.  I think some would agree that in the last couple of years American households went cold turkey on their mindless spending habits.  Today Americans feel more confident that they will ask the right questions and make better choices when it comes to making financial decisions.  They are truly leveraging thier lessons learned.   Today they will not wait to buy a car when their current car is about to fall apart.  They will buy a car with confidence leveraging what they know now.  They will buy a reasonable priced car after much negotiation, for the right price.  It will not be a brand new car, and it will not be a luxuary car if it is not in their budget.  Americans still want to take family vacations but will not go into debt for it.  They will be strategic in their vacaion planning, researching the best deals and discovering ways to be entertained for free.  As people begin to consider their first or second home purchase the "Mini Mansions" of the past will stay in the past.  As Americans are now opting for practical, cozy, and smart home purchases.  But if none of this sounds like you then, well, you must have farewelled during the worst American recession in history.  If you didn't may I recommend that you consider thinking about the purchases you wish you had not made.  Consider if you have at least 6 months worth of living expenses saved and if not why not?  Then take notice of your neighbors and family members did they change their spending behaviors?  Now you can leverage lessons learned.  I declare we are no longer scared to make purchases and spend money but we will make purchases carefully and timely.  Maya Angelou stated "When you know better, you do better".  This year in 2011 before we make financial decisions let's leverage our lessons learned.