“When I grow up I’ll buy only new products and services and stay up-to-date with them. And, I’ll spend the cash to buy these things exactly when I need them – we can’t take money with us when we go, anyway. I’m not keeping things forever and ever and putting off purchases like my parents and grandparents did!”
The Wisdom of Adulthood, and most especially adulthood during a Great Recession, has rendered that traditional statement voiced by generation after generation NULL and VOID.
The Wisdom of Adulthood, and most especially adulthood during a Great Recession, has rendered that traditional statement voiced by generation after generation NULL and VOID.
It’s no wonder that people who survived The Great Depression would have incorporated a number of saving mechanisms into their daily living just to keep their heads above water, let alone to experience prosperity and comfortable living.
Yes, it’s true that the cash will still be here even after someone has passed away.
Yes, it’s true that the cash will still be here even after someone has passed away.
But, some of the things that in previous years may not have been fully understood by members of the Baby Boomer Generation when they observed their parents or grandparents of The Silent Generation doing them; have in many homes during this current economy’s Great Recession, become the way now we do things around here.
Let’s talk candidly about some simple solutions…
Ziploc baggies:
If a baggie is used to store a dry food item without a strong scent (such as many types of breads), rinsing it out to reuse at a later date helps delay the purchase of additional baggies. As an added benefit, it’s kinder to the environment.
Ziploc baggies:
If a baggie is used to store a dry food item without a strong scent (such as many types of breads), rinsing it out to reuse at a later date helps delay the purchase of additional baggies. As an added benefit, it’s kinder to the environment.
Dishcloths & Stainless Steel Scrubs:
Going to a local discount store to buy a small amount of dishcloths that match your kitchen theme and color scheme, along with a pack of stainless steel dish scrubs can easily replace the need to repeatedly purchase synthetic sponges and brand-name steel wool pads that are embedded with soap. The dishcloths are safer for the environment than sponges are and can easily be laundered each week and reused when needed. Another benefit is not having to deal with germ-attracting sponges that begin to smell badly after just a few uses, resulting in the need to spend more money on additional sponges.
Aluminum foil and disposable aluminum pans:
Both disposable items can be recycled for future use. Foil paper that is dry and maybe a little wrinkled can be smoothed out by hand, folded, and stored in the pantry to be used again. Wash out those aluminum pans used to hold food during get-togethers your family hosts. The clean pans can then be stacked in a kitchen cabinet and used again when needed.
Get-Togethers with family and friends:
This is one of my personal all-time favorites because family/friend gatherings are a great way to form traditions for children and young people who are relatives and friends. You can make them very affordable and stress-free by asking each representative household to bring one already-prepared covered dish sizable enough to feed 10 people, and a 24-pack beverage set of their choice. Organize some fun activities and viola! You’ve now got the food, fun, and family/friends to enjoy and make lasting memories with, and no one household has to take a large financial hit.
Coupons:
Never leave home without your coupons. You will be amazed by how much money you save monthly when you become a wise and regular coupon shopper.
Landscaping & Gardening:
Do it yourself. This is a great way for the entire family to spend time together creating something new. Uproot plants, flowers, and small trees and position them in different locations than where they were in the year before. This will give a front lawn and backyard a completely different look. And, mowing your own lawn will not only make your property look great; it provides you with a good aerobic workout and calorie-burner for one or two hours -- not to mention the money you'll save by not hiring a private contractor.
Home Gym & Fitness Center:
All it takes to create one is a room or space in your home, any large or small fitness equipment items you prefer, a good digital scale, a CD player or radio, and some horizontal mirrors hung on the walls around the space. The mirrors help give the space a larger look, and they also let you see how you're buffing up or trimming down over time! You might even install a television in the room if you want to watch programs or follow along to an exercise DVD during your regular workouts. You’ll save tons of money you might otherwise have spent on a gym membership and the gas your car would have used to get you there.
Interior Decorating & Home Design:
This is really just a passionate way of making a living space look and feel as if it should be featured on a magazine cover or home decorating show. Consider using an “eclectic” style where you mix and match different themes and colors to combine pieces and color schemes that confidently describe your personality and personal likes.
Both disposable items can be recycled for future use. Foil paper that is dry and maybe a little wrinkled can be smoothed out by hand, folded, and stored in the pantry to be used again. Wash out those aluminum pans used to hold food during get-togethers your family hosts. The clean pans can then be stacked in a kitchen cabinet and used again when needed.
Get-Togethers with family and friends:
This is one of my personal all-time favorites because family/friend gatherings are a great way to form traditions for children and young people who are relatives and friends. You can make them very affordable and stress-free by asking each representative household to bring one already-prepared covered dish sizable enough to feed 10 people, and a 24-pack beverage set of their choice. Organize some fun activities and viola! You’ve now got the food, fun, and family/friends to enjoy and make lasting memories with, and no one household has to take a large financial hit.
Coupons:
Never leave home without your coupons. You will be amazed by how much money you save monthly when you become a wise and regular coupon shopper.
Landscaping & Gardening:
Do it yourself. This is a great way for the entire family to spend time together creating something new. Uproot plants, flowers, and small trees and position them in different locations than where they were in the year before. This will give a front lawn and backyard a completely different look. And, mowing your own lawn will not only make your property look great; it provides you with a good aerobic workout and calorie-burner for one or two hours -- not to mention the money you'll save by not hiring a private contractor.
Home Gym & Fitness Center:
All it takes to create one is a room or space in your home, any large or small fitness equipment items you prefer, a good digital scale, a CD player or radio, and some horizontal mirrors hung on the walls around the space. The mirrors help give the space a larger look, and they also let you see how you're buffing up or trimming down over time! You might even install a television in the room if you want to watch programs or follow along to an exercise DVD during your regular workouts. You’ll save tons of money you might otherwise have spent on a gym membership and the gas your car would have used to get you there.
Interior Decorating & Home Design:
This is really just a passionate way of making a living space look and feel as if it should be featured on a magazine cover or home decorating show. Consider using an “eclectic” style where you mix and match different themes and colors to combine pieces and color schemes that confidently describe your personality and personal likes.
Once you have a room decorated, you don’t have to buy new items to give a room a different look – just move decorative pieces and furniture to other spaces either in the same room or in different rooms of your home. This can make you feel like you’ve gone on a shopping spree! You may decide to spring for paint if walls have started to look faded or grimy.
Window Unit Air Conditioners & Whole-House Fans (attic fans):
When you consider the fact that every single room of your home or apartment isn’t used at the same time, installing window air conditioning units and whole-house fans makes a good deal of sense.
When you consider the fact that every single room of your home or apartment isn’t used at the same time, installing window air conditioning units and whole-house fans makes a good deal of sense.
The easy-to-install window units can be installed by the homeowner or renter, and turned on in rooms that are in use during warm weather days. They can then be turned off before you or a family member leaves a room. Window air conditioners can be kept on in the evenings with moderated temperatures to make sleeping comfortable, and then taken out of windows and stored away right before the fall/winter chill sets in. The whole-house fans not only cool the entire house, they also cool roofing materials right above it; which prolongs the life of the home’s roof.
These two simple alternatives to central air conditioning installation saves a lot on electricity and monthly expenses, and they are said to be a healthier approach to home cooling for you and your family members.
Cars & Other Vehicles:
Of course, you can always buy new off the lot if you feel you must; but researching Consumer Reports about reliable styles and brands will give excellent information about the durability and reliability of pre-owned vehicles.
Cars & Other Vehicles:
Of course, you can always buy new off the lot if you feel you must; but researching Consumer Reports about reliable styles and brands will give excellent information about the durability and reliability of pre-owned vehicles.
Carfax will also give you the 4-1-1 on a specific pre-owned vehicle you are considering purchasing. Then, try to pay cash for the vehicle if you can; and be sure to have the oil changed and tires rotated on a regular schedule that you work out with your trusted mechanic.
Also, keep both the interior and exterior of the automobile looking and smelling great – wash and clean it yourself every chance you get. Fabric Febreze® is a great item to keep handy in the trunk when your auto needs a refresher.
Taking all of these simple measures will help you drive your vehicle way into and maybe even beyond its “teenage years.”
Back-to-School Clothes Shopping:
Before you spend even one dime, help your child(ren) by pulling every clothing item out of closets and bureau drawers – including footwear.
Back-to-School Clothes Shopping:
Before you spend even one dime, help your child(ren) by pulling every clothing item out of closets and bureau drawers – including footwear.
See which items still fit or are still liked, worn and enjoyed. Pack up everything that’s too small or is no longer on the "My Favorites" list and pass these items over to a younger relative or friend. Another option is to donate them to a clothing charity -- many towns have clothing bins located in various locations around town for easy drop-offs.
Once the closet has been scaled down, sort everything by color, style, particular item, etc. Then, make a written list of what is now owned according to the categories mentioned earlier. This will give you a visual picture of what items are really NEEDED vs. what might be wanted. Doing this will help minimize the amount of new items you really need to purchase for the new school year.
Once the closet has been scaled down, sort everything by color, style, particular item, etc. Then, make a written list of what is now owned according to the categories mentioned earlier. This will give you a visual picture of what items are really NEEDED vs. what might be wanted. Doing this will help minimize the amount of new items you really need to purchase for the new school year.
It’s a great way to do some end-of-the-season “Spring Cleaning” and your child(ren) will feel good about being able to pass items along to a younger relative/friend or to a charitable donation to go to a needy youngster. Your pocketbook and bank account will welcome the tremendous savings you’ll experience, and you’ll be glad you invested the time and energy into this very simple exercise.
If Baby Boomers (circa 1944-1964) and surviving members of The Silent Generation (circa 1923-1943) will pass along to our children, grandchildren, other younger relatives and younger friends of Generation X (circa 1965-1979) and The Millennial Generation (a.k.a Generation Y circa 1980-1994) these simple, eco-friendly, smart, cost-effective, and stress-reducing strategies and traditions; we will have made several wise long-term investments into our own loved ones' lives, and into the success of future global economies…
Sharon M. Biggs, M.A.
Educational Leader
If Baby Boomers (circa 1944-1964) and surviving members of The Silent Generation (circa 1923-1943) will pass along to our children, grandchildren, other younger relatives and younger friends of Generation X (circa 1965-1979) and The Millennial Generation (a.k.a Generation Y circa 1980-1994) these simple, eco-friendly, smart, cost-effective, and stress-reducing strategies and traditions; we will have made several wise long-term investments into our own loved ones' lives, and into the success of future global economies…
Sharon M. Biggs, M.A.
Educational Leader
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