How to Enjoy the New Recession

Before the recent recession, I put up a post  that people told me they found helpful.  I predict a new, and far deeper, recession.  If I am right, the next little while could be very hard indeed for many people.  Rather than panic, get prepared.  The following helped me a great deal through the last recession - where my husband was made redundant and we often made do with a food budget of £20 a month - I hope it helps you through the next one.

---

A recession is upon us. What fun. A jolly challenge presents itself and we all get the chance to perfect a bit of old fashioned stiff-upper-lipped Britishness (whether British or not.) Dust off the brown tea pot, polish up your knitting needles, get out your baking trays, it's show time! Some of the following will only apply if you're English but the general gist of it should be of assistance regardless.

  • Don't be a wimp. If you need to cry about the economy taking a downturn, losing your job etc do it now and get it over with... finished? Good. Get counselling for it once the economy picks up again but for now, get over it; there's more important stuff to do. Remember something that is easy to forget in a capitalist society - you are more than the sum of your belongings - Get some lipstick and, on your bathroom mirror, write the following in 'large friendly letters': DON'T PANIC! 
  •  Edit your friend wardrobe. If you have any friends who only judge people based on what they earn or possess, they need to go. You can pick them up again when the economy picks up - if you want to - but for now they will make you spend too much and cause you all manner of hell once they lose their own money and realise their lives are empty. Get out while you can. Friends cost money and, in a recession, you can only afford the good ones. Work out their 'cost per grin' value. If it fits into your happiness budget they can stay.
  • Poverty doesn't kill you. Starvation kills you. Enjoy your food. Re-jig your attitude to your jiggly bits. Stop asking 'does my bum look big in this?' Start asking 'does my bum look small in this?' If it does, eat some biscuits. If this recession turns into a depression, some people will starve. Make sure you are not one of them. Carbs are your friends. Throw out the sugar substitutes. Shake that healthy butt. Camels have humps for a reason and so do you. Celebrate your body's ability to store calories for later use. Exercise them off again when the economy picks up. Until then, remember that rice and pasta keep for ages so if there is a supply problem later in the year or the price goes up due to requirements elsewhere on the planet, it won't hurt to have some in a cupboard.
If you're not in financial trouble, have oodles of cash and don't know what all the fuss is about take the following steps: 
  • Spend some of it. Look around; think which businesses will affect the local community most if they disappear, and spend more cash there. 
  • Pay taxes. Stop it with the tax-haven malarkey. It's just wrong in the current climate. Pay some tax in your home country. Go on, you know you want to really. 
  • Give some away. Try giving money away to people who really need it. Who in your county or country needs some money and would do something great with it? Just give it to them. Do this with at least 10% of your worth every month. Wipe out your affluenza at a stroke. 
  • Buy organic. Many people have to adjust their organic and green principles in favour of annoying things like avoiding starvation and hypothermia. You don't have to do that so splurge on organic, environmentally and ethically sound produce and keep these people in business. Keep partying for the greater good. 

Jennifer Perry  – (18 May 2010 at 05:39)  

Yes, yes and thank you. All brilliant and usefull suggestions. Last week a recently laid-off pal and I took our dogs to the dog park. Ended up staying 2 hours, had such a good time enjoyed the dogs, good weather, each other, and some other nice folks and dogs. Cheap and fun.

Karena  – (23 May 2010 at 17:31)  

Yes do lots of fun things that don't cost or cost very little. Movie at home with wine and popcorn, going for walks at the park. Garden tours etc.

Karena
Art by Karena

Rebecca Woodhead  – (23 May 2010 at 21:16)  

Great ideas from both of you. Thanks for adding to the discussion. :)

Jacqueline Gates  – (28 November 2010 at 20:13)  

There's nothing like a recession to make one re-evaluate the really important stuff.

Loved the editing of the 'friend wardrobe' ~ brilliant analogy and a definite must-do.

Great post, goddess Rebecca. So looking forward to sharing a cuppa with you.

Rebecca Woodhead  – (28 November 2010 at 20:28)  

Thanks for the comment Jacqui :) I'd love to have tea with you. If you ever come across to England, let me know and I'll get out my finest tea cups. x

Christine  – (4 July 2011 at 18:57)  

Bubbles. It's amazing what bubbles and a bubble wand will do to lift your spirits - especially in a dog park, lol! Loved the edit your friends part - that's been totally done.

Though years ago when we were all poor, starving actors, we'd host big soup or stew style dinners and friends would bring cheap wine or cheap beer, salad, bread...we ate that way at least once a week. It helped us all get through it.

Great post - thanks!

BBMM VIP  – (13 October 2012 at 14:28)  

Like you say in th post - Celebrate your body's ability to store calories for later use. Exercise them off again when the economy picks up. Until then, remember that rice and pasta keep for ages so if there is a supply problem later in the year or the price goes up due to requirements elsewhere on the planet, it won't hurt to have some in a cupboard.

Post a Comment

Welcome to the blog. I love to hear your feedback so don't be shy. You don't have to follow me but if you'd like to, just click the follow button. Thanks!


Cannot express how helpful these social media tools are

I write like
Margaret Atwood

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

My debut novel

My debut novel
Palaces and Calluses

My Website

My Website
All my blogs link from here

  © Blogger template Shush by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP