BLOOMINGTON - Armeia Campbell is starting the new year with something instead of the "nothing I had nothing before." It's a coffee table-but not an ordinary one. It is a commodious stylish one large enough for dining with drawers on both sides for storage.

She was clearly enthralled with her $25 purchase at the Salvation Army's thrift store in downtown Bloomington.

But it was too large for their car. She was there with her boyfriend Joseph White, both of Normal.

"We didn't have a cord. We thought of the next 30 things."

The 31st thing was neckties. She bought ones she thought no one would wear. They tied down the furniture on the car roof with neckties-which she'll use next Christmas as tree decorations.

But Campbell, like others who talked Saturday at the store, thought beyond her personal comforts as the new year approached. In 2008, she'd like "taxes to go down" and "for each kid to have a Christmas toy, for everyone to be more generous and let bygones be bygones and a lot more people to say please and thank you."

Some people with material abundance won't share with those who are in need.

"They always say, "You can't take it with you.''' Some people have so much "they can't find a thing to buy," she said. But as for not sharing-"It's a way of life for them."

Joseph White is looking forward to the new year.

"2008 is like I'm looking at the 8 as never-ending life," said White. He considers eight a fortunate number for him, as it is linked with prosperity in his past, such as in the eighth month of a particular year.

His thoughts turned to those putting their lives on the line.

"I'd like to see the troops come home. I'd like to see the war end. I think it's getting kind of old," he said. The wisest thing overall, he said, is "to believe in the Lord and what he's telling you."

"Times are very hard," said Monica Carson, store manager for nine years, whose beaming welcoming smiles are a trademark at the store. "There a lot of good folks out there." She echoed for herself a prevailing sentiment among her customers-hoping for a better year spiritually and a firmer financial footing. Carson, who also attends cosmetology school, is a single mom with two teenaged daughters.

Al McMullen said he and his wife are content with their lives. "It couldn't be any better-we're retired and we're doing what we want."

"This is why we retired early because we don't spend much," said Joan McMullen, gesturing at thriftily priced shirts her husband bought. The couple lives in rural Danvers.

Joan McMullen has one important wish locally for 2008-more ways to buy healthy food easier. "I'd like more food diversity in Bloomington-Normal," she said, noting the lack of genuine ethnic bakeries and ethnic restaurants, especially vegetarian. The so-called ethnic food locally gets Americanized and compromised, she said.

She wants to be able to buy Polish rye bread here instead of a visiting relative, May Palin, Ludlow, Mass., being the "Polish rye bread courier" when she visits-as was the case last weekend.

"I will be happy when the campaigning is over-that's my one big wish," quipped Al McMullen. "They all say something they think people want to hear."