Normally a new year or new anything is exciting for a
gypsy. However this year is different, despite the fact that 11 is one of my favorite numbers! However, it seems that another year goes
by…job market is shit, and unemployment still lingers around 10% for the
national average. Those of us born on
the tip of Gen Y aka Millenials are once again stuck in this limbo; where
saving money is of the utmost importance, but nearly impossible with little
accumulated savings and even less of an opportunity to save. So these thoughts make me think about how our
grandparents and great grandparents managed.
After all they lived through the great depression. I think our economic gurus have only termed
this turbulent financial period as the great recession…or maybe I just made
that up? Whatever!
Regardless of terminology I have decided to do a little
research into how those who came before us and
lived in more challenging times managed.
One thing I remember about my grandparents (always fearful of another
great depression) is that they were very, and I’m going to use a trendy word
here, “sustainable”. As a kid growing up
my grandparent’s “sustainable” ways were seen as frugal, thrifty, and
useless. I mean, really? Do we need to
wash and reuse zip lock bags? They never work quite as well the second or third
time anyways! Nevertheless, Benjamin
Franklin did say “A penny saved is a penny earned”.
So in this new decade I’ve decided to come up with some new
ways to be more “sustainable”. Some
people may see that as thrifty/frugal/cheap or downright stingy, but the one
thing that my grandparents didn’t worry about is what OTHER people
thought! A lesson in and of itself. Therefore, I’m searching blogs and internet
sights on ways to be more sustainable!
One website suggested using all those little shampoo bottles collected
from hotels. Sadly, I have a whole
entire plastic bin taking up space in my tiny linen closet of these
things. Time to bring those out! Who
knows how long it will take me to go through them all. I may save up to $8! LOL!
The funny thing is that all these little ideas save only
pennies at a time and really don’t seem that significant, so I’m curious to see
if they actually DO save money over time and do they save ENOUGH money for it
to be worth my effort!
For 2011 I was completely Uninspired to set any resolutions. Instead 2011 will be known as
“Sustainability-a penny saved is a penny earned”.
What ideas do you have for saving money?
XOXO,
Moderngypsygirl.
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