Difficult Economic Changes Are Coming

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Author of How to Prep When You’re Broke and Bloom Where You’re Planted online course

Economic changes are nearly always painful. While I sincerely believe America is on track for great prosperity with regard to jobs, consumer confidence, and more reasonable prices, there’s a gap that must be bridged to get there. I wrote about this previously in the article Things Are Going to Get Worse Before They Get Better.

Let’s look at manufacturing as an example. Factories and plants won’t magically return from overseas at the snap of a finger. Facilities will need to be built or modified, workers hired and trained, and raw materials acquired. During that time, we will probably be paying more for our goods, but it’s sort of like personal finance. Paying off all your debt is strenuous, but the end result is worth it.

Consumers are stressed.

Currently, we’re seeing a shaky job market, as even more retailers and restaurants go bankrupt and other companies undergo mass layoffs to try and stay afloat. The prices of rents and homes are skyrocketing, and instead of the recommended comfortable 1/4th of one’s budget, the cost to reside is closer to half or even more of a family’s income.

The price of food is outrageous for many reasons, and the cost of a grocery store visit is higher than ever. Even sales are no longer as good as they once were. Today’s “great sales” were yesterday’s “no way in heck am I gonna spend that much money on a box of cereal” prices, and folks are scrambling to cut their costs in every way possible.

Consumers are spending less and less on things like entertainment, home decor, vacations, and meals out.

There are two ways to get through this.

Americans have survived worse than this, and we’ve always bounced back. I firmly believe we will get through it again. This can happen one of two ways.

We can grimly push through, eschewing all forms of fun while keeping our noses to the grindstone. We can bitterly complain about our circumstances and moan that we don’t deserve to struggle like this, and the whole thing can be an unpleasant blip on our lifes’ radars.

Or.

We can look for ways to save money without making ourselves miserable. We can turn our focus to entertainment that costs little to nothing. We can spend time with the people we love. We can add as much joy as possible to our lives.

This is happening, whether we like it or not, so we might as well like it.

Thrift begins at home.

Of the kabillion and one ways to cut costs, many of them are positively lamentable. But what if we focused on the ones that added quality and positive interactions to our lives?

This all begins in the home.

• Creatively doing things to improve our homes such as DIYs, upcycling, and mending
• Making the time we spend together positive, pleasant, and educational
• Remembering to feel gratitude for all we have, not grief for all we lack

Sometimes, I look back very fondly at the times when we were flat broke when my daughters were younger. We visited the library, went for hikes and walks, played outside, did crafts, and went to thrift stores and yard sales. I often believe that the struggles we went through are part of the reason we are all so close today. We spend a lot of hands-on time together, getting through it and being creative and that is a bond like no other.

How do you make this shift?

Getting your kids and spouse on board may not be as easy as we wish it was, but creativity and a good attitude can really help. I put together a 163-page anthology of suggestions covering the following topics:

• Keep your cash with a culture of creativity.
• Multitaskers maximize meager money.
• Homekeeping hacks are hugely helpful.
• Utilize utilities usefully.
• Frugal fun fuels families.
• Maintaining and mending manages money.

I admit it – I went kind of crazy on the alliteration, but this book is all about enjoying the lives we have, and if tongue-twisters help, then so be it.

In the spirit of everyone’s budget being different, you can grab your digital copy of Home Cheap Home for as little as $2 until the weekend. Your purchase helps keep The OP afloat and is part of our spring fundraiser.

Our finances are going to be what they will be during this transition. The question is, how do you choose to get through it?

What are your thoughts?

Do you think things will get more difficult before they get better? Are you working to cut your expenses now? Do you have other tips on keeping yourself positive and grateful during times of economic strife?

Let’s discuss it in the comments section.

About Daisy

Known for her adventurous spirit, she’s lived in five different countries and raised two wonderful daughters as a single mom. Daisy has managed to juggle life’s unpredictabilities with grace and creativity.

Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com. You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and X.