So, We're all Victims Now?

I listen to the radio quite a bit. We don't have cable or satellite anymore, nor do we have a tv in the main living areas of the house. Instead, I listen to am talk radio, or to music, as I am carrying on with my day-to-day routines. Lately, I've been hearing how the tone of all the commercials has been changing. It seems that every commercial has to point out our "victimization" by the economy, and of course, the advertised service's/product's ability to alleviate our suffering. It is just plain annoying! I don't know any other word for it. I'm really growing tired of hearing how Americans are "victims" of these hard times. It's called LIFE people. (not speaking to my dear readers, of course - but rather to the knuckle-heads out there who just don't get it.)

I really don't understand where or how Americans have reached a point where they act entitled to an easy life, with no strife, worry, or financial constraints. We're entitled to drive a gas guzzling car AND have gas prices low. We're entitled to the top of the line health care, and it better not cost us one DIME. We deserve to buy whatever we want, whenever we want. If grocery prices go up, we whine. If there's a new gadget or tech toy, we MUST have it. They're not wants, they're needs....... necessary, after all, because we can't imagine how we ever got by in the past without them!

(Backing down now.....)

Whatever happened to just managing our resources and living within our means? Whatever happened to "make due", or "make the best of what you have". What I see happening, is that an entire generation is being robbed of the joy of ingenuity and perseverance through difficult times. Very few are willing to slow down their lifestyle to work on the skills they need to improve their family's quality of life. Talking about things like gardening, real cooking, learning how to do repairs yourself, building things you need, basic sewing either fall on deaf ears ( the "I deserve my candy and I want it now" mentality) or are received as a "pipe dream" ("I don't have time to cook!"). So, we have the ads, endeavoring to appeal to these victims of our modern hard times.

I do feel like I'm quite qualified to write on this subject, as we have taken our fair share of hits ourselves. We're currently living on less than HALF the salary we had just 4 years ago. We lost a very good paying job, only to have my husband take a string of "band-aid" jobs to just put SOMETHING on the table. We're currently striving to become self-employed in a state that the "doom-and-gloom experts" would say is impossible....... yet we're doing it! Still, my husband easily works twice the number of hours per week to provide merely HALF the income we used to comfortably live on. Yet, I would say that in many ways, our quality of life is far greater than it was when we could "afford everything". We learned to garden, not because it was a hobby - but because we HAD to feed our family, and reduce our dependancy on a grocery store. I have learned to cook from scratch, easily cutting our grocery bill in HALF (I spend in one month what many families spend in a week and a half!). My boys have learned alongside my husband how to do basic car repairs, as we can't afford the mechanic. I've learned how to do basic sewing and keep my kids outfitted in pajamas, and I've discovered the blessing of thrift stores and garage sales! My gas budget is $25 a week. This means that there have been weeks I could afford just under a half tank of gas per week - so I stayed home alot, and my kids learned the meaning of "no". (No, I can't take you across town to see your friend right now..... but I will be out in a few days, perhaps we can meet his mom some place and I can pick him up then.) They've also learned that "this is what we're having for supper tonight, eat it with thanksgiving - rather than complaining because it isn't your favorite, or you aren't keen on all the ingredients!"

The other thing that I want to point out is this: I have had several people ask me why I have continued to stay at home, and homeschool, through the times that my husband has been unemployed/underemployed. The answer is simple: I can do more at home to save money (a net "gain" to our household) and better manage what money DOES come into our home, than if I went outside the home to work a job and pay for the expenses associated with all of that. This only works if you're willing to let go of "the lifestyle". Unless you are saddled with consumer debt - I am firmly convinced that a woman can do more to advance the financial prosperity of her family by STAYING home, than by working outside the home. Homemaking beyond maintenance requires TIME.

You know, I look at my Grandparents, of whom I have tremendous respect. I think of how they talk of persevering through the depression, and of the character they gained. I fear that we are now a nation of the "I want my candy" mentality rather than the "I'm going to figure out how to make this work on less, AND choose joy" mentality. I suppose time will tell.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Shauna