With the reCent release of the January 2009 unemployment statistics , a further 129 000 Canadians found themselves unemployed. Further significant job losses are predicted for 2009 (the March 13, 2009 Labour Force Survey just adds to these number); but the January 2009 numbers are over three times worse than expected by most estimates and the worst in over 30 years of them being tracked by Stats Canada.
So, this is a perfect time to look at and re-evaluate things I would suggest. It’s not a nice thought, but you’re more likely to have it work out in the end now and keep with it then if you wait until times are better.
So, what things am I suggesting you look at and how does that relate to being more environmentally “friendly” and self-sufficient? Well, let us look at some of the following:
- Cable/Satellite TV
- Cell Phones
- Misc Expenses: Starbucks coffees (for example), dinners out, bought prepared meals
Okay, let us look at the three example areas I’ve put forward now:
- Cable/Satellite TV: How much of the TV that you watch on a daily/weekly/monthly basis is both good quality and provides real enjoyment for you (by this I mean, not just sitting there and watching whatever comes on); I suspect that if you think about it (just like my family did in in May 2007), you will find that much of your money and time spent on it is “wasted”. I am not suggesting you’re being stupid in watching TV; what I am suggesting is looking at how much you spend on a monthly and yearly basis on TV watching and ask yourself if you can find other ways to watch the same shows, get the same information at less cost to you? To this end, maybe your radio can be a great help, generally radio listening is free (at least AM(or MW outside North America)/FM/SW and LW) or very cheap on a yearly basis. The programming is broader than on TV at times and often more informative, interesting and gets you thinking more then TV does.Now, beyond the cost savings (as noted earlier, my family chose to get rid of our Cable TV subscription back in June 2007; the cost savings was to the tune of about $600CAD/annum), you will be cutting down on electricity usage around the house (most likely, even if you listen to the radio more, it uses (generally again) much less power then the TV does) and saving money (the less electricity usage will also have a knock on effect in that you will be using less power generated (in North America at least) but fossil fuels (it’s our main form of power generation on the continent); you will also be likely more active (as you will be having more time to delve into hobbies (these may cost money; but the psychological benefit to you and your health will pay-off in you being sick or ill less often)) and any family or personal situations that you were having will be more present and you will be more attentive to dealing with them.
- Cell Phones: They’ve become a ubiquitous facet of our modern lifestyle; but do we really need them? I agree that they are handy, potentially improve our safety and allow us to instantaneously communicate with anyone; but at what cost? If you think about it, how much do you pay for your cell phone plan per month and could you possibly do better? Call your cell phone plan provider and ask about a better deal/rate from them (it can’t hurt to ask; if they say “no”, you can find another provider). Also, do you really need the latest and greatest model on the market or is your current one just working fine (read <a href=”http://controlthechange.net/2008/09/23/purchasing-our-happiness-is-coming-to-an-end/”>Purchasing our happiness is coming to an end</a> to read about my personal “battle”)?
- Misc Expenses: We all know we enjoy a treat; but do we enjoy it any more if we have it daily? Think of a place that you get a treat from, whether it be Starbucks or your local pub; do you really need it every day? The answer is probably not; if you saved that one treat coffee or pint of beer, glass of wine out with friends for once a week or once every two weeks, you’d probably relish is more. And you’d save the money not spent on it daily, and put it into savings or paying things off. Okay, so a latte and a pint don’t convince you, think about ready-made meals or take-out meals, or dinners out. Those can quickly add up. In our neighbourhood, we’ve a number of good Greek restaurants as well as good pubs; well, a night out for dinner can be cheap (say around $60 total) or expensive (around $150). The point is, cut back on the frequency that you have your indulgences, don’t cut them out completely, or you’ll more likely fail at trying to save money and get out of debt, as we get further into these tough times.
Beyond these belt tightening ideas, think about starting a home garden (check out Off the beaten garden path for some sites and books on gardening); yes, it may take some initial setup costs; but you’re growing your own food and can save it (by freezing, canning or preserving) for seasons when it’s not easy or cost effective to buy it. Plus, you’re learning a new skill (or rejuvenating an old one) and making yourself just that bit more self-sufficient and lessening your overall impact on the resources of the planet.
Take care and comment on what you think and how you tighten your belt (or how you already have).
