| October 2008 - This feature is a regular article where I share my observations, reflections, and "musings" about being a mother of a large family. I hope you enjoy my ramblings, and perhaps they will help inspire you, make you smile, or at the very least help pass a few minutes in your hectic day. |
When Less is More
I will be the first to admit that the crisis the U.S. (and now the world) economy is going through it terrifying. It has hit our home particularly hard, with my husband being out of work for over a year and unable to find employment. We have ridden the rocky road of rising food costs, skyrocketing gas prices, and simply not having enough money for daily living expenses.
Having 8 kids, we lived a pretty frugal life before the crisis. While we did have some excess in various areas, for the most part we watched what we spent. We managed on a modest grocery budget, only bought used vehicles, and tried very hard to live within our means. It's sad because when this crisis hit and people see us struggling, they assume we were one of the many who were "living large" and outside of our means. Not true. As I am apt to argue, unemployment and hard times can hit anyone--not just large families.
We have had to tighten our belts. Even though we were living pretty tight before, we did manage to find ways to cut more. The difference this time was that the changes we were making weren't unique to just us. The financial crisis has caused a lot of people to cut corners. Those who were comfortable are sweating a bit. Those that were barely making it are really struggling, or simply not making it at all. We are at a time when the majority of people are cutting back, making due with what they have. They are delaying big purchases, re-using what they have. Luxury stores are suffering, where discounters like Walmart are gaining new customers. People are realizing that frugality isn't simply for the poor, it's a means of survival.
I keep hearing in the press "spend more, spend more." But isn't that what got us in this mess? Okay, I understand economics. I do realize that the way out of this recession is to spend and fuel the economy. What I don't see is the government saying is HOW we are supposed to spend, when we don't have money. Sure, we can put the spotlight on greedy financial vipers who made millions of dollars. Problem is, it was their greed that whittled away the pocketbook of the average consumer, to a point where there is no money left to pump into the economy. This is not merely a matter of fear, but a reality that most people simply don't have the resources to do that.
Who would've thought that there would be a time when so many people would have to make the decision between buying that big screen TV or possibly not making their mortgage payment. That kind of choice makes you learn to live with your 19-inch. People considering buying that luxury vehicle realize a used economy car will get them around just as well...and honestly isn't that bad to drive.
Lessons are being learned, albeit the hard kind. It's those lessons that may shape our world far beyond anything else this financial crisis does. We have had hard times in the past. The stock market has seen glum days like the "Black Monday" of the late 1980s. What we haven't seen is this kind of impact on the little guy. This crisis is not only scaring people, it is changing them.
There are many people who have lived in the world of excess. "More is Better" was their mantra. And who could blame them? The media rams it down our throat that we need the biggest and the best. "Keeping up with the Joneses" was almost a given. Now circumstances have forced them to re-think this mentality. People are struggling, but they are realizing an important thing: Less really IS more. And while there will be some that will be happy when the times of plenty return, I think there will be many that will be changed forever. When you have spent months scraping and realizing that you can survive on much less than you thought, are you really going to rush back into that excess lifestyle? When you realize that $20 toaster works just as well as that $75 one, are you really going to be inclined to pay the higher price again--even when you can afford it?
I have to admit to getting a giggle seeing all of these articles about how to live on less. It tickles me to see journalists saying "Boxed macaroni and cheese is a real bargain and it's not that bad tasting. Here's how to dress it up." Or people saying, "your kids don't need a new wardrobe, utilize hand-me-downs for your children." They are acting like all of these ideas are new and innovative, when large families (and frugal small families) have been doing them for years.
As much as I hope that more people truly adopt the "less is more" philosophy, I am not idealistic enough to think everyone will embrace it forever. But I am hopeful enough people will make a shift that a simpler lifestyle will not be looked down upon, but rather embraced. There must be some hope, as I recently learned that the one demographic group they never thought would stop spending--teenagers and young adults--are buying less and making a conscious decisioin to be more frugal. Indeed, there is hope.
I truly don't know what the various bail-outs and interventions will do for our economy. I don't know if they will be a good thing or bad. It certainly won't fuel some big, quick turnaround. However, I do believe it will be good for our world and our future. I hear so many people saying, "well, at least I have my family." People are learning that stuff is just stuff. The really important things don't cost money, and the things that do cost money don't have to cost a fortune. Less truly is more. That's a good thing, bad economy and all.
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Article by: Michelle Lehmann
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