I've been watching a lot of the Tour De France lately...

LAST DAY OF REST...THEN...

Today is my last day of vacation before I start up another line of weddings, six days in a row! I haven't really been on vacation, I just haven't had any weddings for about five days. I've been answering phone calls, emails, and doing the usual paperwork, but I have to tell you...the down time of not being in the "field" is a welcomed treat. Today, I finished inputting a huge butt-load of receipts into Quickbooks. For those of who run their own businesses, you know what I'm talking about. Inputting these receipts are key to paying as little taxes as possible at the end of the year. It's almost important as making money.

So for my last day of rest, I'll be mountain biking in the morning. My friends just called me today (July 15th) and told me they wanted me to head out on an easy ride with them...IN THE MORNING. Man, what is it with these morning activities these days. We should be biking at sunset, I think it would make the trails a lot more interesting when you can't see what's in front of you right?

Well, with my last day of rest, I did come upon a revelation. That women, actually run the world. Yes men, I have to admit this, although we may be the provider of the household, it is women who run the world.

Women do run the world

How in the world did I ever come to this conclusion? Well, I was thinking about my friends, myself, and my own parents. Yes, it's probably true that we men on average make more than our significant others. But who controls what we buy? Our women. It is women who control the pocket books of men, as well as their own pocket books. And I really have no objection to this. It's because they actually know best when it comes to what is needed to run the household, so it works out.

So women basically control spending, for men and themselves. Mostly everything out there is catered toward women. If you really think about it, every big ticket item out there, from fancy bedsheets and linens, to clothing, to make-up, to even my wedding industry, are catered to women. For the most part, men really don't have a lot of choice when it comes to big ticket items. We like our sports, we like our cars (but even then we end up driving a station wagon because our woman says it's better for the family...haha), and lastly our video games. But that's it. Other than those things, men will also voluntarily spend money on women, with dinners movies, gifts... you name it. Conclusion? Women, all-in-all, control the economy.

And what have I been noticing? Women, have not been spending as much as they did before. They are pulling back on everything from weddings to vacations. They are really watching their pocketbook. And what does this mean? I hate to say, but this economy is in for it.

Obama once said that in order to get our economy moving once again, we have to get America to start borrowing. I disagree. If we want this economy to start moving again, we have to survive until women decide to start spending again. Yes, I know as a man, you can't tell a woman to do anything they don't want to. So patience it is. So men, watch your woman. Pay attention to her naturally born instincts when it comes to money. Because when she wants to start spending again, it's because she's is confident you'll still have a job, and that you and her as a unit have enough in savings, and that will be the best economic indicator to start investing in the market once again.

Steve Young
Hawaii Wedding Reporter
http://www.dreamweddingshawaii.com