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The Frill is Gone

By Sheridan Corrie

Home Stager with Upstage, LLC

April 07, 2009 02:51 PM

I just loved this article in The Oregonian last Thursday by Larry Bingham. It's a funny, poignant perspective on the values shift resulting from the economy and state of our planet. Some is specific to Portland, but most is applicable anywhere.

Had to share...

Habits may be hard to break but the troubled economy is making us all examine our spending patterns. With layoffs and furloughs in seemingly every industry, who hasn't had to cut something? Some would even say good riddance to our age of excess.

Here's a light look at how life in the Northwest is shaking out in lean times:

Out with the old…	…In with the new
Pint or organic microbrew made from locally grown hops	Six-pack of PBR
Satellite dish	Recycled rabbit ears
Store-bought cleaning supplies	Vinegar and water
Private school	Public school
Fresh mangos imported from Mexico	Fresh apples picked in Hood River
iTunes	Free music podcasts
Killing weeds with herbicides	Killing weeds with boiling water
Powell’s New York Times best-seller shelf	Any shelf at the Multnomah County Library
Cable TV	Hulu.com
New Seasons Market	Grocery Outlet Bargain Market
Shopping for clothes at Pioneer Place	Shopping for clothes at Goodwill Industries
Grande chai latte with extra whip	Thermos of Folger’s
Grass-fed rib-eye steak	Ground chuck sold in bulk
Portland Opera tickets	Free Metropolitan Opera on cable
Using the clothes dryer	Air-drying on a clothesline
Buying air fresheners	Opening windows to let in fresh air
Taking kids to Hawaii for spring break	Ordering take out from Noho’s Hawaiian Café
Concerts at the Rose Garden	Free concerts in Washington Park
Oregon pinot noir by the bottle	California table wine by the box
Farmers Market heirloom tomatoes	Tomatoes grown in backyard pots
Sunday drives in the country	Sunday bike rides on the esplanade
YWCA overnight Camp Westwind on the coast	Community Cycling Center’s day bike camp on Alberta

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Upstage, LLC helps people sell their homes quickly and profitably. Our staging and marketing techniques help attract buyers and increase the perceived value of a home. Upstage the competition!

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Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573

MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME

Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Good list. Folks with less money often make better use of that situation. They have never know different in small rural areas. Stars from scars. Saving money is a good habit that kids in Maine do so they never knew any other way to prepare for set backs. They happen in life and create opportunities if you have money to pick up some real estate deals! Time to buy now, time to sell comes later.

Apr 07, 2009 03:03 PM

Karen Dembsky

Peachtree Home Staging LLC, Home Staging in Atlanta, GA - Peachtree City, GA

Atlanta Home Staging

Thx for sharing. I enjoyed reading the ins outs old to new. This would be a great post to put in the group Stager's Coffee Clutch

Apr 07, 2009 11:42 PM

Diana Young

Staging Seattle, King & Snohomish Counties - Edmonds, WA

Hi Sheridan, Thanks for sharing the list! I'm in the Seattle area, not too far from you. I just met the folks who own a couple of Grocery Outlets in this area and they confirm that business is better than ever! Not everyone is suffering in this "down" economy.

Apr 08, 2009 06:31 AM

Tony and Libby Kelly

Keller Williams Realty Portland Premiere - Lake Oswego, OR

CRS, ABR, ePro, SRES, CLHMS, CDPE

You will see benefits from some of these changes besides just financial. NoHo's is awesome! Bike riding is much better exercise than driving. Nothing beats real fresh air. And it doesn't hurt to throw in a PBR once in a while. =0)

Apr 08, 2009 08:35 AM

Cheryl Powell - The Powell Team

Southern Homes of The Carolinas - The Powell Team - Harrisburg, NC

Concord,Harrisburg & Charlotte NC Area Real Estate

Even if not driven by financial motivation, a lot of these just make good sense.

Apr 12, 2009 01:06 AM

Sheridan Corrie

Upstage, LLC - West Linn, OR

I completely agree that most if this make sense. I'm glad that we're returning to a different set of values.

Tony/Libby, don't tell anyone about the PBR, though :)

Karen, thanks for reminding me about the Stagers Coffee Clutch. I'll repost there, too!

Apr 13, 2009 02:35 PM

Pangaea Interior Design Kitchen & Bath Design, Remodeling

Portland Oregon - Portland, OR

Funny how I'm noticing bakery outlet stores lately! Did you know that Dave's Killer Bread has an outlet store in Milwaukee across from Red Mill? Searching for bargains can be a good thing!

Apr 15, 2009 07:18 PM

Patty Luther

RE/MAX Rock-n-Roll Realty - Lewiston, ID

Lewiston ID Real Estate, Idaho-Washington

thanks for sharing...so many of these make good sense! Healthy, cost saving...

Apr 15, 2009 07:37 PM

Kate Jahnson

Home Stage Home - West Linn, OR

Home Stager

I don't think I can succumb to the California boxed wine but the other suggestions were fun!

Jun 02, 2009 12:20 PM

The Frill is Gone

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