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Until those households get access to credit again, our consumer-driven economy will continue to slog along in low gear

When do you think it is appropriate for stores to start decorating for and promoting the winter holidays? Before Labor Day1%Between Labor Day and Halloween5%Between Halloween and Thanksgiving36%After Thanksgiving54%Never1%Don't Celebrate Holidays1%Don't Know1%Refused to Answer1%Source: Consumer Reports National Research Center

How many days of your hard-earned income will you spend that could otherwise be used to pay off long-standing consumer debt or added to your emergency savings?

Too many Americans are what Stanley calls "aspirational spenders" -- people who spend money to make themselves look richer or more successful than they are.But their "hyperconsumption" effectively torpedoes any chances they would have at accumulating real wealth, which typically requires spending significantly less than you earn and investing the difference

The "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality means the fancier the neighborhood, the less wealth we may accumulate, Stanley said. The opposite is also true: When our surroundings are more modest, we tend to spend less, regardless of our incomes

Yes, people have cut back their spending because of job losses, less access to credit and the desire to build up savings, Stanley said. But that cutback is likely to be reversed as the economy improves, he said