I have noticed a change in people over the last year or so with the suffering economy. I have even started making different choices than I would have otherwise. I find myself being more satisfied with what I have instead of wanting the new or upgraded version (IE our home, fix it up a bit instead of upgrading, and Benj driving his '85 Spirit around instead of taking loans out for a nicer car).
It has been so difficult to see loved ones loose jobs, houses, take pay cuts, or stay with a job they don't enjoy or a lower paying one because they fear they can't get another one. This has made me so much more grateful of Benj's job and the things we have. Our generation has grown up spoiled and we're used to getting what we want, when we want it-even if it is on credit. We have this idea that we deserve some things and that's where we get into trouble financially. Like, we buy big houses in our 20's when our parents generation would scrimp and save to get a modest home in their 40's, and we think we should retire when we're 30.
I can start to see how living through a depression would really affect the rest of your life, like it did our grandparents. I used to look at their habits like reusing ziploc bags as silly, now I have respect for how very hard it must have been for them.
I hope we don't have to go through what they did, but also hope we learn from this time. I am still pretty wasteful and make lots of bad purchasing choices, but I'm trying to be more aware of wants vs. needs. Benj and I have had way more talks on saving money and budgeting and food storage is becoming a reality instead of somehting we 'should do'. I don't by any means think I am an expert on this stuff, it's just been on my mind a lot lately.
What do you think about all this?
Sorry for the long, serious post.....I know, not like me. :)
Friday, March 13, 2009
Affected
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3 comments:
It will definately change your habits. Russ isn't working much due to this, and it really makes you think. Do I REALLY need this?
I agree we are spoiled!
I hear you. It sounds like a lot of conversations we have been having at our house. I have been looking for the silver lining in all this and think it's that we are going to be more aware and less wasteful.
It's killing me too Kimberton. I'm having a hard time finding a job since the publishing industry is going down titanic style. You're so right about the wants vs. need stuff. Still, I really need a vacation.
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