Still Buying That Villa / Opus 8 / Tesla Roadster?

Now that it's that time of year again when you used to salivate about getting paid... is your biggest year-end purchase going to be a tighter belt?

Whether on Wall Street or the City, government honchos will soon ride herd on executive pay. But of greater immediate import to everyday bankers and traders, most bonuses for this year are set to be gutted even before any intervention by public officials. With few exceptions, large Western financial institutions are operating in the red throughout 2008. Even the hedge fund community is awash in losses.

So: Have your personal expectations come down to a point where you foresee any belt-tightening in your own immediate future?

If yes, which gleaming trophy are you planning to postpone: A new home or condo? The status car? The status watch? Taking a shorter vacation - or perhaps even settling for a "staycation"?