i'm lucky because neither of our salaries depends on the economy, so we still bring in the same amount. also, we aren't feeling the gas pinch as much because we get like 50 miles to the gallon and don't generally drive all that much. but still i'm very worried about the economy and about money.
we've cut back on luxuries, but we've also tried to make conscious decisions where our "luxury" money is going. among other things, we want it to help the local economy as much as possible. so, for instance, we've cut back on buying things for the house (like at home depot) but we still had landscaping work done by a local landscaper who works with a local crew. i'm much more likely to buy local conventional produce than non-local organic. i avoid chain restaurants even more than i did before.
it's not just because i want to help my "neighbors" -- i feel like it's in our own best interest to do so. i worry that if these small businesses (like kel or the landscaping guy) don't get business in this recession (are we allowed to use that word yet?) and my fellow marylanders get poorer, that will just continue the downward spiral on the economy. i feel like buying local has a better impact on the economy than supporting big chain businesses. it's not that i didn't think about trying to "buy local" before the problems with our economy, i just think about it as an issue of self preservation now, which i'm sorry to say is more motivating than just "trying to do the right thing".
