Loading ...The Price is Rising
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“My dog is worried about the economy because Alpo is up to 99 cents a can. That’s almost $7.00 in dog money.”
~Joe Weinstein
I get on weird kicks every now and again where I go through ‘what if’ scenarios in my head. I think it relates to my fascination with the end of the world and survivalist stories. Or perhaps it is my motto, “Plan for the worst and hope for the best”. Either way I get caught up in stories of rising grocery prices, oil/electricity rationing, or if we will go through another great depression.
In some ways it can be a depressing to dwell on, but in those dark daydreams there is inspiration. It makes me think of ways I need change in case the ‘what if’ becomes the news of today.
I remember reading a book in elementary school that was about the Vietnam war from a nurses point of view (the writer was female) and for someone under 12 that was heavy stuff. It was hard to break out of the book world into the current world I actually lived. The same is true when I think about prices rising or the sky falling. I put myself in that situation and work out various ways I need to change my current situation to survive that catastrophe.
The upside to working through those is that I see ways I can improve and it inspires me to work at it so that I am prepared and ready, ‘lean and mean’ in a way I guess. But it has its downside as well. I can become obsessive about it that I truly become mean and think only of myself and my own survival.
I see this at times through financial bloggers or writers. There is a fine line between warning and preparedness and becoming so obsessed in planning out this unknown future. It is a balance that needs to be closely watched so as not to accumulate in a way that we look back on our lives and regret that we didn’t accumulate more of the intangibles of life.As we get older, the price will always rise on food, gas and shelter and it will sometimes lower a little, but not very often.
The ultimate price though that will always rise no matter what, is the price regarding the precious time we have left on earth to share with the people we love and also how we spend that little bit of time that is left.
I have bordered on obsessive in my insecurity by times. It fluctuates between trying too hard and giving up entirely. I definitely need to find some balance.
I started a new blog today, please come check it out: www.frugal-parents.blogspot.com
January 11th, 2008 at 7:23 amIt is very hard to find that balance. But being prepared for anything by having a stockpile of food to last a few months and (something we need to work on) a stash of money to cover bills for a few months either in the bank or under your mattress is I am finding a good balance.
If something happens, such as job loss or tornado, you can still feed your family while you get back on your feet.
January 11th, 2008 at 7:43 amI really love that quote.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:13 amI think about this too. Aside from being more frugal than I used to be, I usually keep a few weeks worth of canned food around. I’m planning to keep some cash on hand as well.
We are entering difficult economic times and I’m afraid that, after several generations of prosperity, a lot of people have simply lost the skills to cope with economic challenges.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:27 amYour final quote is going on my mirror! This weekend I have “bought” more precious time to spend with those I love by taking two car-loads of time-eating *stuff* to a charity. A small price to pay for something of finite supply and inestimable value. Thanks for the reminder.
January 12th, 2008 at 1:15 pm