There's no doubt we are in the midst of a recession. Prices keep going up, especially at the gas pumps, and more people seem to be looking for work. The people looking for jobs are generally looking for a second job, at least in our area, although there are those who are unemployed and putting in applications.
So, what is a person to do? You need money to live. You have to have it to pay bills, buy the necessities. We live in a society where we can't just go live in the woods anymore, especially if we have children at home, or we are likely to have the authorities after us. (Although there have been times I've seriously thought of that as an option!)
If you have a few dollars, don't squander them on non-essentials. Make sure you have a few groceries to get by on. You don't have to prepare 5 course meals -- just keep it simple and basic for now. You'd be amazed what 5 pounds of flour, 3 pounds of shortening, and a small box of powdered milk can produce! I can remember a time when all we had was either biscuits and gravy or dumplings made with a tiny bit of canned chicken. We also got by, in the winter, on loads of chowder made with canned corn and other cheap canned vegetables.
The next few posts will have tips for making it through tough times and retaining your dignity in the process.
