Getting Smarter...Consciously

I’ve been hearing a lot about the economy recently. And not just from all the national news media sources, but from friends and family and people in Madison who are feeling the financial pressures of the current state of affairs.

More than anything what I’ve noticed is the toll that the economic downturn is taking on every aspect of our life. We’re getting scared to spend money so we’re saving by cutting costs which in turn affects industries that have to lay off their workers because there just isn’t enough work. I mean sometimes I feel like any decision I make has profound effects. Granted, the choice of me not buying one new sweater might not make that big of a difference, but if there were 30 other people who thought the same way I did then that could potentially cause a big difference in the economy.

One of the bigger changes that I’ve made recently is to really buy local and go to local restaurants if dining out. I figure with the recent rise in prices for things like groceries, if I’m going to be paying that much for apples, why not spend an extra dollar to support the local farmers. Or if I’m going to be going out to eat anyway, why not go to a local restaurant and support local businesses?

I think it’s not just that we need to be smarter about saving money, but it’s about being smarter about how and where we are spending our money these days. Because fear is not something that is going to help us get out of this ‘rut,’ but we just have to stick together and work through it.