Living Within Beneath our Means –

At turn of 2006-2007, just before the housing market crash, people were living it up, spending, buying, and really not savings. Through these last 5 years I have been researching the internet, most articles, journal entries, blogs from people that talk about their community and state of finances. I sort of gathered the information and look or swift through it for pertinent information or information that correlates to the economy and what we are experiences.

Anyhow, so I have come to realize while reading and researching these articles that people were not really putting any money away while the boom was going on. So it turns out when the market crashed in 2008- 2009, people began loosing their jobs and at that point realized they did not have enough savings to get them through the rough times…hey even if it meant having 3 months of reserves to pay the mortgage and basic bills. You could have easily have cut back on the other fluffs, such as extended cable, extra cell phone, steaks every Friday, etc.

So it comes that to thousands of people loosing their homes and other possessions due to simply not putting away a little money when times were good. Hey, I am a culprit and did not have anything. The thing is I have been lucky and still maintain my job and well, now I am putting a way a little snipping, but seriously it is not enough to sustain a long drought of no work…like I have seen with other colleagues. I do have a little, but like my previous article, I had to deal with a few set backs in regards to having to reach into that savings in order to get through. So once again I am back to square one in regards to money reserves.

The things, since many of us are feeling the pinch, and for those that have been fortunate enough to find a job, why not try and leave beneath our means…in other words try and cut back on fluff, such as extended cable or if at all possible cut back on the number of cell phones in the household. For example maybe you can purchase a cell phone that will allow you to put minutes into it and only reload it if you run out of minutes. If you go out as a family then take along one cell phone the one that is in a plan, like 69.99/moth unlimited minutes, text, and video. Now, also you can reduce the accessories on your cell phone plan, possibly cut back on the number of text or eliminate that completely, reduce the number of minutes, don’t get that GPS addition, there are features you can do with out that would reduce your cell phone monthly bill. Remember you have Internet access and Google maps or Yahoo maps are available, simply print out your destination.

The thing is trying to find luxury items in your household is the key to finding that little extra money that you can actually put away for a rainy day…and possibly a long drought. There are also many FREE things to do around San Diego and I am pretty sure your city, going to the park, walking on the boardwalk, hikes, etc. what I think is that we need to get back to the 70’s and 80’s and not get so immersed in Technology and the products and gadgets out there. Instead of texting, maybe a phone call or email will be just as affective. Ok it may not be instantaneous, but come on…a little patience goes a long way.

Look around see the things you can cut back on and do without; maybe instead of TV shows, DVR’ing you can play a board game with the family. The thing is I am pretty certain that if we look around our household you will find things you can cut back on and do with out the thing is having the courage to move forward with it and most importantly having the discipline to put away that extra money you found away for such a day when you need it. Now, remember this doesn’t only hold true to families, but to single people as well.

My Perspective:

Times are tough for everyone but I do believe that if we all look around we can find things we can cut back on or do without. Instead of cable, there are options through the internet for free TV, Netflix also has a low monthly plan that allows you to access thousands of movies, yah they may be old, but come on…HBO, Show Time and the other channels also have the same old movies all month long and usually they only have old movies, so instead of 29.95 a month, why not pay 5.95 a month or free…you see what I mean. We all love our morning coffee…ok most of us do, instead of Starbucks, why not make your own coffee…huge savings. Try Godiva coffee which can be found in most market places, I shop Vons. Things are there, I believe if you start saving now for a rainy day…you will be able to handle better any possible layoff or reduction in your business. Once again thanks for reading, Latino Man Signing off.

Finding the Way in Today’s Times

Once again thanks for visiting my blog, always raw, uncut and un-edited…yah sometimes you’ll find some misspelled words, I try and run spell check, but some misspelled words just get through. Yah, sometimes my sentences won’t make sense, but you know something I am really only writing directly on the post…and I write as I am talking…so anyways…glad to see you here and I want to cover a topic that I am pretty sure that everyone is thinking, hearing or talking about, which is our economy and how it is affecting us, our families and those around you.

I am right there with you…I have a mortgage, a job (knock on wood), family, bills and the many others things that come with our daily life and just like you or many others I am struggling through these economic downturns…sometimes I find myself not able to buy all the necessary groceries, looking to see if I could repair things around the house myself, cutting back on certain cleaners…not just to save money of course but to also help the environment. I look around my house and start turning off lights, turn the power off completely from devices, such as stereos, coffee makers, anything with clocks or even small LEDs…yah its crazy but it actually cut my electricity bill by 25 dollars…weird huh. I now don’t buy clothes until they are truly worn out with holes or hey even longer…sometimes probably a little to long and the fad is over…lol. I combined my cable, Internet, phone all into one company…got a great deal and saving about 40 dollars a month…that internet is starting to look a little iffy, but my son needs it for his homework and research, of course I need it to post on my blog…lol. I look around the house and see everything I could reduce, cut back or eliminate without disturbing our life.

Even when we go out, sometimes we eat out…not much, but when we do…I order water instead of soda, tea or anything, or if at a fast food…I now order happy meals…hey they maybe small portions, but I sort off watch my weight and I get a cool toy...lol. Yah, I know lots of “lol” today, but it’s only because I have to keep a smile through such incredible times.

I probably sacrifice a bit more when it comes to me…and I try to keep my son with good clothes, not expensive but nice, keep him and my family with nice shoes, very important to take care of those feet…I don’t mind not getting things for myself…I guess it’s sort of what a parent does…sacrifice ourselves for our children…it’s ok…I really don’t mind. I maintain my clothing well and you know now that I think about it…the last time I went shopping for myself for anything was at the end of 2007…yah…it was around Christmas when I went shopping for slacks, shirts and shoes one day in 2007…hey they still look pretty goo…well maybe not the shoes…lol.

But as we look at the news, hear about a neighbor or family member or friend of a friend loosing their job, their house…it all becomes overwhelming…so much too take in that we just wait and see if it will happens to us and our family…it’s stressful and it could lead to trouble within families…anger, frustration, depression I don’t know…maybe each of us handle it differently, but somehow we are all in the same boat. Will GM go belly up, will Chrysler, cut jobs, will auto part suppliers go under…the domino effect keeps going and going, then you hear about State cuts, programs being closed, health care benefits being slashed…when you stand back and look at everything you think oh no could this be next “1929 Depression”…of course we hope not.

You know I was talking to a co-worker the other day and we were just commenting on this whole economy and how things are coming to a full circle…we discussed and came to an agreement that we feel that this whole crises we are going through is a way to stabilize the economy…there was so much money being pumped into being rich…rich…rich that we believe it went out of control and its time to get back to our roots…where we as families gave to the community, volunteered in our schools, our communities, donated to our schools and community…I think for many of us we forgot that as a community we work together to maintain our kids and family safe and happy…we think many communities have veered off into their own world and stopped participating within the community. Maybe its time to take a step back and start in our own back yard and become involved with our community, neighbors, and family…maybe helping one another will help us through these tough times. You know we were just talking it doesn’t mean its right for everyone, but that’s what these Blogs are for…voicing, giving out opinions, ideas, food for thought.

My Perspective:
Me, you, those around you are all affected by what’s going on today…yah we can kick, scream, complain and even give up…but I am sure if you stop and look at the mirror…the reflection will tell you that you are not the type to give up, that you have seen so much and giving up right now wouldn’t only make things worse..not just for you, your family, but for all those people around you, your family, your friends, neighbors, uncles, aunts, coworkers, boss, the high school kid working at McDonalds…your attitude does affect a lot of people and maybe its time to stand back and take a deep breath and start pushing forward.

Take initiative to see what you can do to help, maybe walk to school, walk to work if you can, walk to the store, turn off unused lights in the house, take care of your possessions, clothes, electronics, toys, help around the house, cleaning, gardening, keep a upbeat attitude around your kids, family, friends, coworkers discuss problems in private with your spouse, girlfriend or boyfriend, don’t let others hear your financial issues, talk to your significant other before it blows out of proportion. Communication is the main ingredient here…it is what makes the world go round and we need to partake in community events, help, if you can, with school fund raisers…even donating 5 dollars could mean the difference in keeping the Art division for students, we need to get back to the roots, get back to knowing your neighbor, not spying on them, but knowing them, helping them…saying hello. I think if we could give to our community, whether monetarily or voluntary your time…it will make a difference for you, your family, your neighbors and most importantly the children…the next generation, your actions will teach them to give back as you have done and that my readers could lead to a better economy, one that makes sense, one that supports families and the dreams they are made of.

Thanks for reading, I know this topic could have been covered more, there is so much more to say, but for now I only suggest that you take part in your community and whether you donate or volunteer your time…where you live…it will make a difference…I promise…you’ll see it in the smiles of all those around you. Till next time, don’t give up, push forward…we will make it through.