A Thifty Mind
A new poll came out the other day that said 60% of Americans think the economy is heading for a depression. I hear woes and doomsday from people. Even if that is true, it does not mean the end of the world. America survive one great depression, we can survive another. In these economic uncertain times, we need to learn to be thrifty penny pinchers instead the money spree gluttons we have been in the last 25 years plus years. I believe there are three things a person can do to stay ahead of the economy that is crashing. They are prioritizing, barter and smart shopping. They will help you weather any economic storm.
Prioritizing in your life is the first key. While we might laugh at the feedthepig.org television ads, they are correct. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “Do I really need that.” Whether it is designer clothes or new electronic gadgets, many times we don’t need it, even if we want it. That not to say you can’t buy things you might want, but make sure it doesn’t affect your essential needs. Learn not to impulse buy an item, but instead save for an item you want. If you have an addiction of any kind, whether it be gambling, smoking, alcohol etc, now would be a good time to quit it. You have to ask yourself, “Is feeding my addiction really worth losing my house, job, or health?” Take a moment and find out truly what your addiction is costing you a month. You might be surprised.
Bartering for things is I feel a lost art. With the economy as it is, I feel it will make a comeback. People tend to forget that there is ways to trade rather than pay for things. It is easy to do, even among friends. The thing to remember is to be honest about it. Make sure you can deliver what you are trading. There are many resources out there to help with this including freecylcle.org and craigslist.org. You would be surprised what you can get. Are you a mechanic who needs some home repair? Are you a house cleaner who needs a computer? There are so many opportunities out there. Some of the services I have gotten in my life have been laws advice, tax advice, home and auto repair and even a haircut. Some of the items I have gotten have been a TV, VCR, microwave, Xbox and even a new laptop. It is all what you have to offer and if you understand what things are worth.
Smart shopping is a key, whether it shopping for essentials or wants. It not enough to just look for bargains and go where things are cheap (Wal-Mart isn’t always the great place for bargains). It is also understand what you are buying. Look at thinks like quantity, quality and savings. Just because you have a $1.00 coupon for that frozen pizza, is it still a good deal. While generics are often cheaper, they sometimes have less quantity. Shopping online is sometime good for deals, but always weigh the shipping cost into your price. These are just some of the ways you can be a smart shopper.
With these three keys, you can weather some of this economic melt down. It is not enough those just to use these, you must teach other including your kids. It is the best way to debt crazy overspending habit of the American lifestyle. I learn a lot from one of my relatives who lives through the great depression. She taught me that if you work hard and make smart choices, it will help keep you afloat and maybe even let you get ahead.
Prioritizing in your life is the first key. While we might laugh at the feedthepig.org television ads, they are correct. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, “Do I really need that.” Whether it is designer clothes or new electronic gadgets, many times we don’t need it, even if we want it. That not to say you can’t buy things you might want, but make sure it doesn’t affect your essential needs. Learn not to impulse buy an item, but instead save for an item you want. If you have an addiction of any kind, whether it be gambling, smoking, alcohol etc, now would be a good time to quit it. You have to ask yourself, “Is feeding my addiction really worth losing my house, job, or health?” Take a moment and find out truly what your addiction is costing you a month. You might be surprised.
Bartering for things is I feel a lost art. With the economy as it is, I feel it will make a comeback. People tend to forget that there is ways to trade rather than pay for things. It is easy to do, even among friends. The thing to remember is to be honest about it. Make sure you can deliver what you are trading. There are many resources out there to help with this including freecylcle.org and craigslist.org. You would be surprised what you can get. Are you a mechanic who needs some home repair? Are you a house cleaner who needs a computer? There are so many opportunities out there. Some of the services I have gotten in my life have been laws advice, tax advice, home and auto repair and even a haircut. Some of the items I have gotten have been a TV, VCR, microwave, Xbox and even a new laptop. It is all what you have to offer and if you understand what things are worth.
Smart shopping is a key, whether it shopping for essentials or wants. It not enough to just look for bargains and go where things are cheap (Wal-Mart isn’t always the great place for bargains). It is also understand what you are buying. Look at thinks like quantity, quality and savings. Just because you have a $1.00 coupon for that frozen pizza, is it still a good deal. While generics are often cheaper, they sometimes have less quantity. Shopping online is sometime good for deals, but always weigh the shipping cost into your price. These are just some of the ways you can be a smart shopper.
With these three keys, you can weather some of this economic melt down. It is not enough those just to use these, you must teach other including your kids. It is the best way to debt crazy overspending habit of the American lifestyle. I learn a lot from one of my relatives who lives through the great depression. She taught me that if you work hard and make smart choices, it will help keep you afloat and maybe even let you get ahead.