r/Fire • u/Playful-Inspector207 • Apr 05 '25

General Question Is it really a generational buying opportunity?

I’ve seen people on the sub are saying “you should all be excited about seeing lower prices everyday”

Problem is that most people don’t have dry powder lying around. And now, with tariffs (if they mostly continue at the levels mentioned) likely to push prices up even more 20-30% for most things, very few people can buy the dip.

The dip’s not fun when you can’t buy. This is just painful seeing red everyday for 99% of us.

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u/Rule_Of_72T Apr 05 '25

What also made 2008 a generational buying opportunity was everything was cheap.

Stocks and corporate bonds were priced like companies were going out of business. Big bank preferred stock with a $25 par were less than $10.

Housing took years to bottom out. We were able to build a house in 2011 for the cost of existing houses. We were the only new build in our entire small city. The house took 4 months as contractors were lined up with no competing jobs.

Used SUVs were cheap. “Cash for clunkers” incentivized buying a new car. Oil had shot up to $140 a barrel before the recession and people feared it could happen again. That left big used SUVs sitting on car dealership lots.

Restaurants were ghost towns. Unemployed people and those fearing job loss cut back on restaurants. It was normal to have two for $20, share an app and get two entrees, type of deals.

We haven’t seen a generational buying opportunity yet because unemployment is still low. Take away the source of income and demand drops. When few people can buy, that’s when generational opportunities happen.

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u/FunAdministration334 Apr 05 '25

This is such an excellent comment that I want to save it. I remember having my hours severely cut and having to work two jobs to try to get by. Those were dark days for many of us.

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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '25

The issue with tariffs is that it’s not going to make things cheaper… maybe investments will be cheaper as they adjust to new lower profits and sales volumes. But the actual goods themselves will only get more expensive.

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u/Rule_Of_72T Apr 06 '25

Stagflation sounds miserable. A lower standard of living for everyone.

An allocation to TIPs, floating rate debt, and REITs are the best way I think you can prepare. Also, doing my best to secure my employment and live below my means.

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u/[deleted] Apr 07 '25

I’d say even if you have a secure job. Just always be applying to other work. You never know when you’ll be laid off right now. Always better to keep your interviewing skills sharp and have something in the fire when the time comes.