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.
