Dec
8
Spending and Saving
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The recession has hurt everyone’s banks and wallets. I know that I have to budget every little thing that I do in order to stay within my means. It’s difficult to live impulsive lately because I might come up short some where that I may have forgotten in that moment of impulse. Now I have also learned that in order to get ahead you have to save a good amount of money for those so called “rainy days” because everyone goes through those days, at least I know I have.
I have come to realize that no matter how bad the economy may get people will still spend their money, now they may not go super crazy but they will still go out and buy what they need of course. For those who are or got lucky and don’t have to worry financially during these times, then good for you, but for those of us who have to count for our every dollar, spending it can sometimes be very difficult to refrain. Of course common sense kicks in and tells you that you’d be crazy to spend that exorbitant amount on a certain item that you know you can very well do without.
I have also learned that I can save money almost just as much as I spend if I take my time to manage my money wisely. I have read up on how to save and manage ones finances, and I have taken to the advice very well. Get this 20% of your income is supposed to be set aside for those times of dire need or when you’re in between jobs or whatever it may be, you should have at least three months worth of living expenses saved up for those days that you think you will never come, because trust me that day will come.
Dec
8
Fun and Leisure
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With all our budgeting and penny pinching left and right, who has time or the money to think about going out and having fun? Or even planning for a vacation when the little bit of money you earn is already taken by the bills you have to pay just to live your life from day to day. I know you can save for a nice get away vacation but with all the stress and pressure from trying to budget within your means, who can put aside money for a vacation when you don’t know if come tomorrow you’ll still have your job. Now I’m not trying to be negative here as there are ways to have a good time and it won’t break your bank, hanging out with your family and catching up, or staying home and watching movies instead of going out to the movies can be a major difference if you’re looking to save your money. If you think smarter and take your time to compare prices on the things you want to do you will definitely enjoy it more. You don’t have to go broke to have a good time.
Having fun doesn’t always cost money; you can take a walk on the beach or through a park. You can call up an old friend or distant family member and have a conversation for free! You can watch old movies that you haven’t seen in years or read old books that you haven’t touched in years and remember why you kept them in the first place. It just takes the little things that can mean so much right now in this time of need and shortage.
Dec
8
Employment and The Recession
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The employment rate seems to be the only thing dropping now a day. As the cost and prices for everything go up and up, the employment rate drops further and further. For those of us lucky to have jobs right now, I suggest you do everything in your power to maintain and take care of it as it’s getting more and more difficult to find and obtain a simple job right now. I hear of more lay-offs than I do of companies expanding, in fact there are more companies failing and going bankrupt than there successful ones. Businesses are failing left and right, small business owners are hurting the worst because with the economy the way it is not too many people are spending their money the way they used to. Even though the holiday season is right around the corner, seasonal employment is probably the best and only route for those who need money to take of themselves and their family by any means necessary. Unfortunately, after the holiday rush is over, one must move on to the next employment opportunity if you’re able to find one. It’s getting so serious to the point where the owners of businesses are doing double and triple the work so they won’t have to hire more employees, in actuality the economy has hit business owners so drastically that they have to lay-off their employees that they already employ. Everything is a chain reaction, the recession hit, the cost of everything went up and the employment rate went down.
Nov
10
The value of a dollar
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Have you noticed with the economy, before 9-11-01, how everything was comfortable and almost alright, but after the terrorists attacks on our country the economy just went down the hole from there. I believe certain people started to panic and began using economic resources that eventually deteriorated the country little by little, surely but slowly. Now take a look at what we have to deal with 7-8 years later, all because certain people were ill prepare as to how to handle the crisis that we endured. I believe if the countries defenses were appropriately prepared on how to retaliate without causing such mass destruction among countries, including ours, we probably wouldn’t be in the situation that we’re in today. Our money is slowly becoming worthless, the value of the dollar isn’t as valuable as it used to, now I’m not talking about back in the day 50’s or 60’s, I’m talking about since the 90’s. Our money today doesn’t buy nearly as much as we’re able to a few years ago, even our groceries are becoming more and more expensive. Publix is one of the highest priced grocery stores in Florida, very nice shopping experience, but not so nice on your wallet, while Winn-Dixie may seem a little low class, I truly prefer to shop there any day of the week as opposed to Publix. It may not be as nice and posh as The P Store but you sure do get your money’s worth.
Nov
10
On the rise…
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From gas to groceries, fast food to necessary hygiene, everything is going up in price. The nation as somewhat come to terms with the fact that we must pay these ridiculous prices because we NEED the gas. If we don’t fill the tank, then we can’t get to work. No work, then we can’t eat, bathe or even live. Gas is one thing but prices of fast foods have begun to rise little by little, slowly but surely. For example, the ever so popular $1.00 32oz Sweet Tea went up to $1.19 so after tax you pay $1.27, even sweet tea is starting to get a little expensive.
Little miscellaneous items in corner stores are starting to rise also, like popsicles that used to be .75 cents and $1.00 have risen to $1.25 and $1.75. Foreclosures on tons of homes, the amount jaw-dropping, the market is a buyer’s market right at this point and car dealerships are even hurting too. They try to bring in more business by offering great sales and free gas for certain amounts of time. Sounds good but you still have to spend money that you don’t have, or cannot afford to let go on something so unnecessary.
The prices for hygiene are even going up too, toothpaste is incredible, hair and makeup products, feminine products and cleaning products are slowly starting to get a little steep also. Bleach is almost the price of a gallon of milk, which I cannot forget to mention is also beginning to get very expensive! To me, I find all of this nonsense to be very ridiculous and unnecessary. But it shall continue because unfortunately we will pay these prices because in most instances, we need these products in order to survive our daily lives.
Nov
10
Election Day
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With the Election Day approaching our gas prices are dramatically dropping slowly but surely. I would like to question as to why this is occurring now and not a year or two ago, but I won’t and I’ll just enjoy it while it lasts. I would figure if the gas prices dropped then the price for food, whether it be in the grocery store or in the fast-food restaurant, would decrease also, NOT! Those food prices are still soaring high; little by little the prices are getting higher and higher. Restaurants are raising their prices by increasing a dollar here, 75 cents there, and all the while the portions remain the same size or they get cut back as well. I can’t help but think that the Election, no matter what the decision is, isn’t going to help the inflation as we would all hope for. Now, I’m not trying to think pessimistically but that’s just a gut-feeling, you know sometimes you have to hope for the best but expect the worst. I’m truly hoping with our new President that slowly but surely everything will go back to normal or at least almost normal, I know the economy will probably never be the same again, but I am sure that it can be greatly improved to where we don’t have to scrape up all our chump change just for a gallon of gas. It’s going to take a lot of time and effort to get back to the way we were.
Nov
10
To sum it up…
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With all our gas and grocery prices on the rise, who wouldn’t take some advice on how to be smart during the recession? We need all the insight we can get, not only are our food and gas prices on the rise but the level of employment is dramatically decreasing. In another blog, someone wrote about how if Obama is elected, the recession will only worsen. How he favors the tax-and-spend policies and how that will affect our nations business owners and their employees. This is being called the Obama Effect.