The Sky Is Falling…..right?

 

You can’t turn on a television, radio, or have a leisurely chat with the checker at the grocery store without hearing how bad the economy is.  Food prices are up, moral is down, gas prices are through the roof, the stock market has plummeted, foreclosures are rising, home sales are slow and that’s only a few of today’s economic ups and downs we’re experiencing.  This roller coaster ride is turning all our stomachs and while some are losing it, others are enjoying the ride.

Media is telling us how bad it is and we’re deciding they’re right and it all turns to gloom and doom.  When our mindset is negative, then everything else goes to hell in a hand basket, so to speak.  People rush to trade off their gas guzzling SUV’s and take a big loss on the trade-in and pay more for a Hybrid that in a lot of cases, doesn’t get that much better gas mileage.  Dealerships are taking advantage by jacking up the prices of Hybrids and giving you nothing for your trade-in, and we’re falling for it right and left.

Food companies are a little sneakier and they are (in some cases) reducing the amounts in their packages but charging the same or even a little more.  My morning oatmeal is a perfect example and every time I pour that tiny dab into a bowl I think is that all there is?  I swear there was more in this package from the last box.   My waist line should be benefiting of these economic times, but apparently I’m making up for the lost oatmeal in other ways. 

We can look at today’s economic times as the glass half empty but there’s also several half full reasons to stop buying in to the media hysteria that the sky is falling….run for your lives.  Bankrate.com gives us 10 reasons to love a recession and it sure sheds a whole different light on the “R” word and these times of ours today . 

I’m trying to be reasonable in today’s economic down times and doing things like making changes in my travel schedule and staying longer in one place to cut my trips down and save on gas.  I’m turning up the thermostat and sitting under a ceiling fan while I’m working at my computer and enjoying the pool a little more often when I need to cool off.  I’m cooking at home rather than eating out so often and finding we’re eating healthier and enjoying our meals and conversations so much more.  I, just today, declined the opportunity to go to Las Vegas to attend the National Finals Rodeo in December, because it just seemed like too much money to spend for four days of entertainment and I love Vegas and I love rodeo so that was a huge step.

I’m not, however, cutting back to the extreme of collecting my own urine aka Liquid Gold, to nourish and water my plants. ugh…that’s just nasty.   I’m not riding a bicycle to work, because it would be hard to show property to potential clients while navigating and balancing my two wheeled mode of transportation.  Where would they sit for Pete’s sake?   Also, I will not be turning off the electricity and reading (which I do a lot of) by candlelight anytime in the near future.  And most importantly, I refuse to limit my bathing to every other night or once a week no matter how tough times get.

I’m pretty certain I, like most of us, will partially resume spending and frivolous consumption when times get good again but I think we all take away a greater appreciation of what we have, as well as what we have not during bad economic times.   My hope is that your recession roller coaster ride is a journey you’ll be able to look back upon and say Wow, what a ride!   Then just smile and count your blessings one by one because you made it through. 

Please share with me what you are doing different during these economic bad times.  I’d love to hear from you and by the way, I took this photo the first time I filled up and reached $100.00 which was about 2 weeks ago.  Ugh, I hate the “R” word. 

HAPPY TRAILS, Y’ALL