Is housing affecting your consumer spending?

I'm just curious as to how readers on this forum have been affected by the housing situation, and more percisely, whether the housing situation has affected your consumer spending habits. As consumer spending is the majority of the US economy, I'm interested in how it's affecting the average American.

i think housing affects everyone, most people put 30% of their income towards paying the mortgage.

I don't have a housing situation. I bought a decent house that I can afford whether my salary is high or low, and I wasn't so foolish as to get a variable rate loan when rates were about as low as they could be. I have a fixed rate -- a low one, too, because we refinanced very near the rock bottom.

Since we made a wise decision concerning our home, we were able to withstand a job loss, and subsequent loss of income, without tapping the equity via HELOC, etc.

Thus, other people's housing problems haven't affected us. We can buy what we can afford, when we want to -- for example, right now we are planning on buying some bedroom furniture, and a dog (along with all the usual doggie accouterments, which can be pricey!). And one interesting thing about buying when other people are panicking -- you can get some real deals! We are still keeping an eye out for a used pickup truck, and a second set of bedroom furniture.

Like Puck, my spending hasn't changed. That doesn't say much because I've never been a big spender, as a matter of fact I've been referred to as cheap a time or two, but I don't mind because I know what I'll be doing in a few years after retirment and SS will be nothing except extra spending cash.

But unless you happen to be selling at the current moment, thheir will be no negative effect.

i think housing affects everyone, most people put 30% of their income towards paying the mortgage.

I think the OP was referring to increases in overall housing (increases in insurance, property taxes due to valuation, utilities, etc.) affecting one's household spending.

We have lowered our housing costs (changed electric companies twice to chase rates, cut out one of our phone lines, mortgage rate has decreased twice due to change in insurance company and amount owed), but have increased our spending (getting ready for vacation #2 2/2 (2 vacations, 2 long weekends out-of-town) in a few weeks, gifts, etc.).