Glass Half Full???

[elphaba]

A more optimistic approach to an impending recession. While not a pleasant thought, some of it seems to ring true.
Tamara

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ed...r_a_recession/

[Holly]

they heave never had to go though
one before and they won't like a depression.
Odd and even days to get your gas.
having to make sure it lasts until the next odd or even day as your only allowed so much, not fill it up.
Stores without formula and milk,diapers,
all their boxed meals, chips, soda, Beer,
fresh veggies, fruit.
They'll learn fast just how much fun a recession or a depression is..
JMHO

[Denvergirlie]

Hear, hear, I agree. The recession means people take a look at the stupid spending they are doing.
The real estate market is finally starting to drop a bit into realalistic terms. Denver has only seen about a 5% reduction in the price of homes, I hope it drops another 5%-10%.
I don't remember milk or bread being out at the gorcery store during any of the past 4 recession years (1980, 1981, 1991, 2001). I certainly don't remember gas rationing during the last 4 recessions.
I have no problems with an economic turn down, I say bring it on.
I'm finally able to buy good stocks at a discount, instead of paying a premium for those same stocks.

[PrairieRose]

Thanks for the article. I'm more on the same page with that author than all of the gloom and doom predictors. We're already in a recession. Most of us aren't starving or having to eat ripe road kill. If we just keep our heads we'll all be ok.

[elphaba]

they heave never had to go though
one before and they won't like a depression.
Odd and even days to get your gas.
having to make sure it lasts until the next odd or even day as your only allowed so much, not fill it up.
Stores without formula and milk,diapers,
all their boxed meals, chips, soda, Beer,
fresh veggies, fruit.
They'll learn fast just how much fun a recession or a depression is..
JMHO

I don't think anyone would say that a recession is fun. I do think, however, that some of the steps many of us here at FV have taken to ease the pain of an impending recession have actually brought us to a simpler way of living...which is what many people hunger for. (I believe there was a thread on this not to long ago)
As horrible as the Great Depression was, I do know many people (my father among them) who remember not only the bad but also the family togetherness and homemade fun that his parents provided throughout that awful economic time. There wasn't alot of money but there was an intact immediate and extended family unit...something that is lacking for many these days. I'm not naive enough to think that the depression was anything like "The Walton's". For some it was the end of the world...many never made it through....but many more adapted and thrived with what they had. And learned a whole lot about what it really takes to survive.
While I certainly don't wish for the worst I am actively preparing for it. This alone has empowered me . Perhaps this current economic doom will force some other people to seek out a simpler more humble way of life that while short on cash, is long on ingenuity, resilience and personal responsibility. JMHO

[Lady_V]

I was 'little' but I remember the gas lines and I sure as heck remember Mom justifying bologna as a 'meat'. Was it fun? No! At the ripe age of 6, I realized it's a pain in the butt (literally since I was in the car waiting for her to get gas).

I have been trying to use the view of the glass not being 'half empty/full'... everyones glasses are too big, if they had a smaller glass, it wouldn't make a difference...

I am trying to stay positive through all this, instead of focusing on what we won't have, I am trying to mentally prepare myself for the changes we are going to go through.

It won't be fun, it won't be pretty and there really isn't anything that can be done to prevent it, so may as well try to enjoy the ride.

[C@rol]

"There is a genuine yearning for simplicity among Americans who are plum exhausted by the breakneck pace of the modern economy. A recession would give everyone an excuse to downshift;

The clarifying power of hard times forces everyone to take a breath, take stock, and figure out what is really important."

If anything good comes out of this recession I agree
with the above.

[Holly]

I grant you all the people here at Frugal Village will make out fine .
The country folks who live near a farm or have land for a garden will make out fine. ( If they have a way to protect it that is )
I truthfully don't think there's the moral code in todays world as in the last depression (jmho)
How about the people who think milk comes from the store ( It has to get to the store from the farm first)
How about the people who want to go to the restaurant , but its closed because it can't pay the bills to suppliers who truck it in.
Just trying to get people to think a little harder here.

[Luv2BeFrugal]

I think there will be a lot of challenges over the next few years... And we here at FV are more prepared than many... I hope that people can meet it with a positive attitude...and with honesty and some extent of morals. We've lost many of the morals that this country started with...and the work ethic, as well.

Interesting article...thanks for sharing!

[mombottoo]

My hubby & I also survived all the recessions that have taken place during our marriage while we were still raising 4 kids. However, my home is an asset and I am not happy about or looking forward to home values dropping like they are and most likely will continue to do. I also am not thrilled with the stock market jumping around like it does, we invest in stocks for the long haul which is a good thing...but, people are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars due to this shift in the market.

We will survive...it's my kids & their families I worry about. My children are not going to be able to provide for their children the way we could provide for them and to me that's sad.

[Darlene]

Back to basics, sounds like a plan to me.
It would be nice to see more people use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without and spend more time as a family as they do it.
Teaching your children how to be self sufficient is a wonderful gift.

Also wanted to add that it's always been sad to me that people have gotten s wrapped up in whatever that they don't even have time to eat dinner together. With gas prices maybe the Mom taxi will be parked in the garage and the family can come together. That would be a very good thing.

[Telephus44]

I agree that looking at the situation as a chance for change is a good perspective to have. Obviously many people here at FV have already started or continued to be frugal, smart with their spending, and planning ahead but it would be nice if this outlook spread to more of the general public. It would be awesome if we were all trying to keep up with the Joneses because the Joneses were downsizing and saving!

I guess it's something about times of hardship that tend to bring out some of the best in human nature. Sure, there are some pretty awful things that come out too, but I think for the most part people tend to band together and do the right things. Think of all the people that donated blood or signed up to be a blood donor after Sept 11th. Trying times give people the opportunity to truly shine and help themselves and their neighbors, and I'm all for looking at that as a positive in this otherwise pretty "depressing" economic outlook.

[Marie78]

I liked the article and I had to laugh at the "go to grad school comment." My fiance is in grad school and that's one of the reasons our budget is so tight. He makes around $15,000 a year through school grants while he attends. He's been there for 3 years now and he'll probably need at least 3 more years there to attain his Doctorate Degree. I bring in the rest of our income and I have been unemployed for 1/2 of the 3 years we have lived here. Money has been tight for us and we don't see that situation changing anytime soon, whatever happens to the economy we will continue to live simply and make do with whatever we have.

The two of us have been living so long in a state of simplicity: not buying anything new, accept gifts for family, a few items of clothes each spring and fall, of course groceries, and other essentials like dr and dentist co-pays and prescriptions, etc... We won't be in the market for a home, especially given the fact that we hope to move from this area once my fiance is done with grad school. We want to have the freedom to pick up and move where he can find work (since after grad school he will hopefully be making more than the two of us combined at the moment).

I think the forced simplicity we have had to accept for the last 3 years has made us the frugal people we are today and I don't see that changing even if our financial situation does. We are happy with what we have and we don't feel we are missing out on anything by not having more "stuff."