Linking & Loving all Summer: Shaping Youth

Big news. Consumer sales are down. No kidding. Even if you have a job, you're most likely holding on to as much of your paycheck as possible. Because who knows what tomorrow will bring in this economy? Hitting the mall is not at the top of any one's to-do list these days.

On a positive note, with parents reigning in their spending, kids have no choice but to tone down their consumer-crazy cravings as well. As the ever-enlightened Amy Jussel over at Shaping Youth points out, "Sale" is taking on a whole new hip vibe, which is fine with me. Despite kids still being bombarded with constant advertising, and then bombarding their parents with constant whining for new crap (or cash to buy new crap), it looks like Ma and Pa are finally telling Junior and little Suzy to be happy with what they have, wait for it to go on sale, or get a damn job. Value is back in vogue. Check out Amy's post to find how parents, teens, businesses and community orgs are working to combat the commercial pull.

Let's see how long this trend lasts. Marketers worked their asses off to get hold of their little golden geese... they won't be letting them go so easily.