I'm writing this on a Saturday after spending hours
with work. Part of me feels very
crabby about it, and part of me feels I "ought to" be glad I've got a
job at all. I went without one for a
long time after my last layoff and the economy tanked. I've been laid off a number of times in my
career. When companies tighten belts,
art is always the first thing to go.
I've been forced into learning a lot of survival skills...
1. Live somewhere
cheap. Live with others if you can
stand them and they can stand you. Buy
a cheap house when you've still got some money. Forget about buying what will impress someone else. If your fortune improves, you can rent out
the cheap house and get a better one for yourself.
2. Get an affordable
car or live on a bus line. If you've
got a car, maintain it. I don't believe
in leases. All you get is a bill and
nothing to show for it when the lease is up.
3. Don't charge stuff,
or pay the bill in full when it comes.
If you've got a balance on credit cards, pay more than the minimum and
call the credit card company for a lower interest rate. Leave the cards at home when you're
out. If you really need something, make
yourself go home and get the card to slow down your impulse to buy. Especially, quit buying luxuries, and be
honest with yourself about what a luxury is.
4. Eat at home. Restaurants are expensive. Cook real ingredients instead of packaged,
easy food. The food is better and
better for you too.
5. Live with what
you've got. Odds are you already have a
lot of stuff.
6. Buy things
second-hand. I paid $5 for my winter
coat at a garage sale and have worn it for years. I got a $200 pair of hiking boots for $5 too.
7. Turn down/turn up
the thermostat. Just a few degrees
difference in summer or winter can make a lot of $ difference. Do without the heat or AC when you can.
8. Barter stuff and
services. If you don't have $ for
something, find someone who has something you want who will trade for what
you've got.
9. Quit gifting or
make your gifts. (See #6) The spirit of giving shouldn't put you into
irreparable debt. If people knew you
put yourself in financial disaster for their baby/wedding shower, would they be
happy? (If they are, get new friends.)
10. Admit your
poverty to people who matter.
Pretending otherwise only gets you invited to things you
can't afford. Admitting your situation
also opens up job opportunities and might provide new ideas and emotional
support.
11. Accept
help. We're happy to help others, but
often terrible at receiving. In a way,
that's refusing to let someone else be happy in their giving, which is kind of
selfish.
This is about the wisest post on this subject I've seen. (Although I admit I have problems with #11.) And I love the little icons. Linda, you're a wise, wise person... :)
ReplyDeleteGood advice. I have been lucky enough to never have had to tighten the ol' belt too much. We've done the "eat at home instead of restaurants" route a few times, but I never had to accept help. Nor would I.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck to you. I hope your employer appreciates that good artist is hard to find.
Thanks guys! Seems like something good ought to come out of all my belt tightening experience!
ReplyDeleteFabulous advice! I wholeheartedly agree with all of it. The graphics are perfect too :).
ReplyDeleteWhen I quit working to be a stay-at-home-mom, we had to change things up with the finances. It was actually fun and creative in a lot of ways, and most of it has stuck.
This is the best survival advice Linda...it's a shame so many people live outside their means and still feel unhappy.I too love those graphics. Hope work is less fraught for you this week but as you say it is good to have a job. I sometimes moan about how stressful my work is but again I count my blessings xx
ReplyDeleteBrilliant, Linda...and of course, I would expect nothing less from such a wise woman in possession of much hard-earned wisdom. :-)
ReplyDeleteSeems like the longer we live, the more of this kind of advice we have to give. Now if we can only figure out how to make the young'uns listen to any of that wisdom. Thanks for the comments!
ReplyDeleteWhat heart felt tips. That is perfect for a survival theme.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sharon!
ReplyDeleteThere's a great feeling of freedom that comes when I follow this kind of advice--not that I have much choice.
ReplyDeleteAlways good to be reminded! Thankyou.
There is a freedom in all of this, even if it doesn't feel like it when you are passing up things you want. Sometimes I wish for the freedom + some money :)
ReplyDeleteAll sound and good advises, Linda. Also being a creative I have had times when my income was very low. My favourite advise is the last one. That is really the pillar for happiness, whether you are poor or rich. Getting more things will only make you crave even more things - and so on. Enjoy life as it is, and be happy with what you got indeed! Very nice. Just want to add to 2) that biking saves a lot of money and keeps you healthy as well.
ReplyDeletegreat post. I agree completely. (not that my agreement is the condition of it being a great post... not at all. but it helps)
ReplyDeleteBiking is a great idea. I guess that didn't occur to me because things are too spread out where I'm at, but there are other places where it makes a lot of sense and is good exercise. And Debbie, your comment is all part of the post and adds greatness :) Thanks for the comments!
ReplyDelete