BigDog Speaks

With the economy being what it is, if you have a job you need to keep it. If you need a job, they are hard to come by. Times are getting tough and look to be getting tougher. With these thoughts in mind, it is a bad time to leave a job and a worse time to try something new.

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The economy is forcing folks to tighten up if for no other reason than to support their fuel habit. They will be less likely to spend on goodies as they need the money for necessities.

Crafters and home workers are going to feel the pinch as the dollars continue to dry up. Those providing services will see a slow down, but services will STILL be needed and paid for. The lawn guys might see accounts quibbling over frequency of cuts and customers more picky and harder to please. This picky, harder to please attitude is most likely folks taking out frustrations in things they cannot change on things they DO have a say in, like their lawn care. Irritability will probably be more noticeable in general as money is indeed the root of all evil and the increasing cost of fuel is eroding away our extra funds. The new iPod will have to wait until we are sure our gas tank is full. Houses will still sell but not easily, and not as crazy as they have been. Fewer and fewer people will be able to qualify for home loans, especially with 20% down payments for conventional and 5% for FHA. Much like it has always been historically, the rich will continue to get richer, and the poor will get poorer. Fighting back can be done, not easy by any means. Cut your budget. Yes, it has already been trimmed severely but find more ways to cut it. Walk or bike more, drive less. Plant a garden. Raise chickens and eggs instead of buying them. Turn off the electronics when not in use. Take shorter showers. INSULATE your home. ALL of the tips, advise, and suggestions for reducing the human footprint will also reduce your cost of living. OK, so the savings may not be dramatic, a penny is still a penny and pennies add up to dollars. Save where you can. Reduce where you can. Get creative. Take stock of where you are and remember, now is NOT the time to lose your head.