Worrisome signs

[jaderabbit]

Today I renewed our Natural History subscription for another two years. It's one of Sweety's favorite magazines, and it's associated wth a museum, so I'm all for it. Didn't hurt that you get such a good rate when you re-up early.

But I paused for a minute when I remembered the latest issue ran 48 pages. I've never counted their edit-to-ads ratio,

Comments

[cynodd]

I've been told that the first thing people let go when their household budget gets constricted is magazine subscriptions.

And here I thought it was church pledges. :)

Seriously, though, when my Dad lost his job, he said he was giving up all his magazine subscriptions (of which there are several) until he was employed again. (But, slowly, covertly, he resubscribed.)

[jaderabbit]

I can't pretend that my source for that comment was impartial, seeing as it was somebody in the magazine industry. But yeah, maybe there's something to it.

The interesting thing is that I think people see magazines as an extravagance. I wonder what the rationale with church pledges is.

[cynodd]

The interesting thing is that I think people see magazines as an extravagance.

I see subscriptions as a bit of an extravagance, but I probably pay more by picking up individual issues off the stands, which I don't see as extravagant. So it's not logical.

I wonder what the rationale with church pledges is.

It's discretionary income. When the belts tighten, people cut back on all charitable giving and extravagances, anything outside of necessities. Since we don't have "dues" where they have to pay a set amount like their gym membership, they can just say, "Okay, I'm just going to give a little less this year."

[jaderabbit]

Hmm. I guess it makes sense from a household standpoint. It's just not great for the community.

And your dad is working again, right? I believe you said he's teaching? It's so hard for older people when they lose their jobs.