when i had a computer of my own i downloaded almost everything. if it's a newer band that could use the support or i like the album that much and can actually find it in the record shops in my area i'll buy it. usually i can't find the albums in the recordshops around here and the extra bucks to have it shipped there usually make me think of other things i could spend the money on and i download.

but when i can i like to have the cd. and if i find it on vinyl, i'll buy the record AND download the mp3.

i like to go to shows so i figure i support artists better that way

They sure did. And how? They worked (a lot more than teenagers now) and traded music with their friends. Society's new found love of materialism to compensate for parents being at work all the time and advancements in technology have has also had an impact on the way teenagers think about money and life in general. Society now has this stereotypical image of you have to do excellent in school and work in a high paying, 9-5, tedious office job that you don't even like to 'suceed' in life. Money can only buy you happiness for so long.

Kids that lived during the 60s, 70s, 80s and early 90s knew the true value of money and didn't take what they owned for granted because they had to work for it. They didn't have computers or the Internet to 'occupy' their time. They studied, worked and went out and played baseball or football with the neighbourhood kids. Parents also did not hand over superflous amounts of money (which seem mainly to pay for clothes and mobile bills) and give into their children's desires like parents nowadays. Parents now, I think, are trying to be 'mates' with their children and if they don't buy their children the new phone or gadget that comes out every week that their child will hate them.

The advancements in technology have contributed to under appreciation of the mighty dollar because everything is at the touch of our fingers and kids feel they have to have the latest new gadget to be 'cool' (where all their money goes). We can download the latest, let's say, Britney Spears CD before it even comes out. This makes spending money on CDs redundant to them because this money can be spent on the new mobile or Supre dress.

I guess I'm trying to say here that the focus of the teenage economy spending is mainly on technology and material possessions, such as clothes to look cool in the eyes of their friends. Without such redundant distractions years ago, teenagers spent money on possessions such as music.

I download maybe a song or two to see if I like, then off to the shops I go..

I do a bit of both, download illeagily to hear, if i like it allot i then usually purchase it from somewhere like 7digital.com and if i really really like it i buy the cd.