Time For The Middle Class To Cut Back, Back, Back
Sunday, December 7th, 2008The unemployment rate is the highest it’s been in 30 something years and 1 in 10 homeowners are either in foreclosure or late on their mortgage payment.
I’m totally not into fear mongering and wish the media would stop it, but it’s really time for the middle class for cut way back and learn to be frugal. In fact, things wouldn’t be so bad for a lot of households if they simply cut back.
I know a family that constantly complain about how poor they are and about how bad things are money wise, but they keep going on vacations and eat out more than they eat at home-what’s that all about! If they would eat at home and not go on so many vacations, they’d actually have more money. Big surprise!
The older generation things that parents of today are spoiling their kids like crazy and it’s even backfiring.
Way back when kids got homemade Christmas presents like homemade dolls and trucks and crocheted mittens and hats instead of video games, video games systems, cell phones, cash, ipods, and blackberries.
Give a kid today a pair of crocehted mittens for Christmas and they’d probably kill you. Hopefully not literally, but you never know today.
If things are so bad moneywise:
- cancel your cable/satellite
- have a landline phone and no cell phones
- if you have a cell phone stop text messaging unless it’s free
- stop buying video games
- buy clothes and books at thrift stores and not retail
- cook at home instead of eating out
If you’ve done all this and are still struggling, then there are more drastic measures you can take such as moving to a cheaper place or renting a room out if you have an extra room for a homestay or something. (Be sure to get a background check and have rules in place first). Or going to a food pantry if things are really bad.
And if you STILL need help, then it’s time to put yoru efforts into making more money instead of just saving it. You can’t save what you don’t have.
If you are unemployed, fill out applications everyday. Even if you go to the same place more than once, then they will know you’re serious.
Or if you have no income and can’t find a job go on welfare.
Ok these last steps are for the low class/poor and not the middle class.
Anyway the middle class needs to start shopping smarter and not spoil their kids so much. Besides, love is better than any material item period.
