I have had this actual conversation with multiple friends and relatives. This is America’s story. This is unsustainable.

Me: “Hi, just calling to say hi and ask how’s it going?”

Friend: “Oh, great, I’m out shopping right now?”

Me: “Shopping? I thought you lost your job?”

Friend: “Well, we have some extra money”

Me: “Extra money? Where’s your money tree?”

Friend: “Well, you know I stopped paying our mortgage two years ago. Those darn banks deserve nothing after they manipulated us to sign their liar loans. So we’re living rent-free.”

Friend: “Plus we stopped paying our credit card bills. We had racked up about $50K, but those darn banks deserve nothing ’cause they charge too high interest rates”

Friend: “Oh, yeah, plus we got an extension on my unemployment”

Me: “OK, I see. You’ve got extra money to spend. Great.”

Friend: “It seems so!”

Me: “I guess that’s why the economy shows signs of recovering?”

Friend: “I don’t worry ’bout all that economy stuff; I just know we got some extra money to spend now. Gotta go, arriving at Macy’s now…”