Everyday Economy

Everyone’s talking about the economy and its negative impact on our daily lives. Words like “lingering recession,” “rising unemployment,” “stimulus package” and “deficit spending” stir up feelings of uncertainty and fear about what the future will bring.

In response, Americans are searching for ways to economize. Money management is a buzzword, and for those who are unemployed, making ends meet is a crucial concern. Others struggle with too much month and not enough money from meager paychecks.

Economy is not a negative word, regardless of its current popular usage. Thriftiness has more substance than pinching pennies. Time management, resource conservation, and efficiency considerations all have a rightful place in the discussion and deserve careful consideration.

Throughout history, Americans have proven themselves to be a resourceful lot in this land of opportunity. Benjamin Franklin’s pithy advice, “A penny saved is a penny earned.” has as much relevance today as in the era he dispensed it. The generation that lived through the Great Depression honed their creativity and resourcefulness out of necessity to survive difficult circumstances.

As we all know, deficit spending is not a viable option for our own personal checking accounts. Everyday Economy is based on the belief that it is possible to do more with less, and that it’s even feasible to have some fun along the way. Saving money and conserving time and other resources are valuable lifestyle options—not just crisis management tools.

As a one-income household, my family of seven actively practices the principles of Everyday Economy. My full-time job is to manage the resources of my family, and to do so, I’ve needed to take a hard look at time management and resource allocation, in addition to discovering new ways to stretch a dollar.

Everyday Economy is the adventure of re-exploring subjects that are typically taken for granted. Re-defining a dated economic concept brings its relevance into our modern lives. Re-applying these new ideas enhances both the economy and the efficiency of our lives.

The Greek philosopher Plato said, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” The time has come to re-think our standard ways of using resources, saving money and spending our time.

Send in your ideas, and together we’ll discover the realities and benefits of practicing Everyday Economy.