I don't know anyone who hasn't been hit by these tough economic times. Of course, I don't know any insanely rich people who probably have no idea on how much they spend on groceries monthly or what they actually pay the gardeners (though part of me figures they must be affected somehow, too).
In my household, we've made adjustments to our lifestyle because we've had to. Fortunately years ago we decided not to buy a larger house when interest rates were absurdly low. Part of the reason we didn't, however, had to do with sheer laziness (and maybe a bit of luck). My husband didn't want to deal with endless, continuous waiting lists to even try to buy a house; I was too lazy to work on a household budget so we could handle increased mortgage payments. There was no motivation to push ourselves to have more: we were spending less for a home of our own than what apartment rentals were going for, and little enough so that we were secure in our knowledge that we could well afford it. Anyway, with only two persons and a cat who's usually rolled up in a ball fast asleep all day, we figured we didn't really need a lot of space. We were happy just having enough.
But with increased prices of -- well -- everything these days, and with so many people losing their jobs here, it does feel like things are crashing down around us and we're feeling a bit frightened, or at least not as secure. We've had to redefine what we used to think was enough; now we're trying to live with as little as we can and I have this nagging sense that we're going to keep finding out how little we actually need.
For instance, my husband and I carpool every day. We discuss what we need to do for the week and see if we can arrange our schedules so we can do as little driving as possible. We walk to the grocery store at night when we only have a few things to pick up. We cook more and eat out less. When we do eat out, it has to be at a restaurant where we know the food is better than we can make it at home and where the prices won't make our teeth hurt. Our planned kitchen renovation has been put on indefinite hold, but also because everything in it is working anyway. We have only basic cable -- no HBO or Showtime, and especially not TFC because there were only two shows I watched regularly anyway. I'm also trying to grow more edibles in my garden -- which takes up time I'd otherwise spend on watching television.
Despite all the clearance sales in stores and online, I've resisted shopping (though I did buy just a couple of items from Bobbi Brown's and Nars' Fall 2008 makeup collections. Baby steps, peeples!). I'm finding more things in my closet to fall in love with again so I don't have to love something new. Before I actually buy anything, I first try to talk myself out of it. I've only had one facial this year and my weekly manicures are every three weeks now. I'm fast becoming a stranger to my hairstylist and my eyebrows have become much bushier (thank heavens it's actually the trend these days). My skincare products no longer look so pretty inside my medicine cabinet and can be found in any major drugstore (even my local health food store); the best weapons I have against aging now are sun protection, moisturizer, more sleep, and lots of water.
I haven't used a cleaning service in ages; I've had to figure out how to find time to keep things sparkling around here. I no longer pay for a fitness trainer -- I have to push myself to move now and try not to accept my own excuses. I rarely go to the dry cleaners anymore; I wear mostly washable clothing these days and with what can't be immersed in water I've learned how to keep clean and fresh for much longer.
Many of the changes we've made will most likely remain permanent even after we feel financially secure again because we realize they were better choices to begin with. Having to make do with less has only made me realize what is actually essential -- which is always a good thing to learn, even if one can afford all the luxuries in life. And not having almost everything I want has only made me appreciate what I do already have so much more.
My friend Cathy emailed me a collection of funny "Only in the Philippines" images and one of them -- while awfully cheesy -- just gave me a new perspective on the more basic lifestyle I'm trying to get used to now.
Since I'm hardly miserable and definitely surrounded by love, I'm smiling for sure. Pissed off at the people who let things get this bad, but smiling. And especially so after I cast my vote this November, and when these folks are finally gone. Like I say, there's always something better to look forward to.
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