Survival in a Brutally Surprising Economy
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Rick_London]Rick London
One might call what we are enduring a recession, others call it a depression, it really matters not what word is used to describe it. It is very familiar; not due to experience, but from listening to my grandparents when I was a child. I used to laugh and make fun because they told the story over and over. The story of their own store closing, their neighbors going out of business; of going in groups to large groceries begging for food or extra credit for food to have enough for their family, of taking on two, three sometimes four jobs just to get by (If they could find that many jobs). Houses foreclosed and businesses closing on every corner.
Given this reality, things don’t seem very optimistic do they? If one is a thinker and/or creative person, and many using the Internet today are, these are the days of carpe diem. From Carnegie to Bill Gates, these are times when if one ever had entrepreneurial dreams, why not try them now? Because of blood, sweat tears, and cyberspace, capital venture is not necessarily needed anymore.
If one still has a day job, certainly do not quit it, but spend a few hours a night on that dream. Build a web site. Learn to do the things you’ve always wanted to do online. Take some classes on the Internet. Yes, many of these schools are every bit as accredited as Harvard and Yale (in fact many of the classes online are taught there). Be willing to make mistakes. But be open to learn too.
Volunteer in your community. I learned a lot by teaching the elderly how to go back to school using the Internet. I learned even more showing them how to set up websites and businesses. I got feedback from people, some of whom knew more than me, and some of whom knew different things than me, and we were all able to help each other.
Be willing to scale down. If your mortgage note or rent sends you into a frenzy each month, sell your home and be willing to take a smaller one or apartment. It is only temporary and who are you trying to impress? We are all in this together. Everyone is hurting and struggling; even the very wealthy. They may make a larger income but their expenses of keeping up that lifestyle often parallel, and we see millionaires go bankrupt every day now.
Compare shopping. Not just prices but quality of food. I like to buy all organic but I cannot always afford to. So I buy some of my food raw and organic, and much of the rest of it raw fruits and vegetables. A box of oatmeal and honey goes a long way and helps my cholesterol and offers roughage. Buying toilet paper and paper towels in large bulk may cost more per purchase, but it can last a few months. Generic is often the best buy, but not always (even though it often costs the least). Look at the ingredients as well. If you are a cola fanatic, switch to tea. I buy a box of tagless black tea for $1.22 and save almost $100 a month not buying carbonated drinks. I buy herb teas to drink throughout the day and stopped coffee. I notice a lot less doctors appointments or ailments as well. Food does make or break our health and we get to choose which it is.
Is that late model German car serving you well like it used to, or just leaving you with a huge note and gasoline bill and less bumpy ride? My used Saturn gets me to the same places and a tank of gas lasts me nearly a month. Someone else has my old Mercedes and that is just fine with me.
Shopping is still a very important part of Western (and Eastern culture) especially during holidays, birthdays, graduations, weddings, etc.
I no longer shop in malls for gifts and I strongly suggest you rethink that too. This is for several reasons. Most mall stores carry items that can be found anywhere, even if they are from major designers. The built in costs of buying items at a mall as compared to an Internet shop is massive. I need not educated anyone who has run a retail store on this matter.
Many Internet stores offer hand crafted or limited release gifts that the recipient cherishes and remembers for a lifetime. It may be a humorous gift that you know matches his or her personality. It need not be expensive. Some of the best gifts I have found on the Internet are under twenty dollars. Many online shops offer free shipping worldwide with purchases of seventy five or a hundred dollars or a certain percentage off the cost of the total sale. These type online stores are in many ways like online mini-malls; they have a thousand or several thousand various goods; not expensive such as hand crafted/designed T-shirts, canvas tote bags, caps, greeting cards, mouse pads, hoodies, aprons, shoes, and really a little something for everyone.
One can do their entire shopping at one of these stores and buy for everyone for less than a hundred or $150 click a mouse and send it out. They even let you include a personalized card where you sign your name in any font you like online. You’ve gotten a valuable collectible gift that goes up in value rather than down, you didn’t stand in line at a mall forever, you saved on gasoline getting there, you bought a gift that means something to the person who received it, and you created jobs by ordering perhaps a custom gift that is often printed upon order (you’ve helped the economy while doing the right thing).
Vacation at home. I don’t mean in the house though its okay to do that, but in your own community. Discover parts of the region you’ve never seen. Take the whole family if you have one. Take the dog or dogs if they are your family. Many inns are pet-friendly these days and all you have to do is call or email ahead of time to find out. You’ve saved a bundle and the prices of jet travel is prohibitive these days. Find a nice local eatery or Chinese buffet. Usually the entire ticket for one person is under $10 including tip.
Whatever it is we are experiencing, a depression, a recession, or just an economy on the skids, it is effecting us enough to where it is time to take action and make some necessary changes, even if they are just temporary. In some ways it is a good thing. No more energy, at least for now “keeping up with the Jones’. Heck, the Jones’ may be trying to stay out of bankruptcy court while you are scaling down. When it all passes, the one who made the most right choices will rise to the top. Never ever give up, keep working hard, and be frugal. Starbucks and other such chains, for now, should be a relic that we all enjoyed, and may enjoy again, when/ if this depression (or whatever it is) ends. Until then, stay healthy, stay safe, work hard, and you will thrive.
Rick London is a writer/designer/entrepreneur and founder of Google’s #1 ranked offbeat cartoon [http://www.ricklondoncollection.com]funny gifts where he sells tees, mugs, greeting cards, etc. bearing his Londons Times Cartoon images, and his over 4400 [http://www.londonstimes.us/a]offbeat cartoons Londons Times which have remained #1 on the Internet since 2005.
Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Survival-in-a-Brutally-Surprising-Economy&id=3285477] Survival in a Brutally Surprising Economy
Technorati Tags: Economy, Recession Tips, Surviving Depression
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