Spending tends to go up on immediate gratification items during bad times, its a way for people to forget their crummy lives.

The irony is that the money in this instance goes toward the big businesses (and their pocket politicians) who are robbing us in the first place.

I think its ok to spend your money, but I try to make an effort to spend it in places that goes back into my local economy with companies who are intent on using my money to pay local workers and their own taxes. Keeping money changing hands but staying in the hands of local consumers will be crucial in pulling the economy back out. After all, if every body hangs onto their money, the economy won't get better.

As a result I avoid large businesses who avoid paying their taxes and who sends a lot of money into stockholder pockets or countries that my money doesn't come back from. Like Walmart, McDonalds, etc. And instead I spend my money with small and/or local businesses.