A Financial Fast
I have been trying to think of a great post for today and just had no inspiration at all, that is, until I spoke with my daughter. We were discussing the state of the economy and how frightening it is and I told her I wanted to start a campaign to get on the Glenn Beck Show where I could share food storage and other preparedness ideas. We then lamented that Oprah, Glenn Beck and others are discussing the economy but they never follow through with practical ideas. A few weeks ago, on Oprah, it was suggested that everyone take one day and spend no money. What? One day? Are there really people who can’t do that? My daughter went on to tell me about her friend who is going on a financial fast for the next month.
Now, that is a great idea. What do we really need? How much do we really spend, and on what? Let’s find out. Here are the rules:
1. You will agree to the following guidelines for two weeks.
2. You will keep a journal and record all the items you wanted to purchase but did not.
3. You will eat all meals at home or brown bag at work.
4. You will pay all bills as they come due.
5. You will only purchase food and toiletries at the grocery store, nothing else.
6. If there is something you absolutely need, besides food or medicine, you will barter or trade for it.
That’s it. Please take the challenge. You can do it. At the end of the two weeks we will share what we have learned. Get that notebook out and get ready to keep a record of what you are doing over the next two weeks. Let’s get going today!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=90fac0ec-3f37-4f74-83a2-ffbc2eb2f127)
This is an interesting idea. We usually eat all of our meals at home anyway and my husband takes a lunch and thermos to work and has for over 30 years. If I decide to buy more seeds for the garden in the next two weeks, I am going to–but I probably won’t need to. I have already bought quite a few. Our neighbors decided to celebrate the 40 days before Easter by cooking at home. This is definitely an effort for them because they like to order food in. So if participants don’t actually cook their own food for the next two weeks, they may not be any further ahead. Some great recipes to use for those not used to cooking too much are those posted by Janet Peterson in Meridian a few years ago. I just made her Easy Lasagna today. It is so easy to make and takes fewer pans than the traditional way. Here is the link:
http://www.meridianmagazine.com/aroundthetable/050310pseudo.html
You are right – it is frustrating that even those in mainstream media who seem to get it do not follow through with the drastic measures we need to take. I think one reason is that the rest of mainstream will blast them for “hurting” the economy further by promoting less spending – rather than the usual song and dance about how we all need to get lending and spending again.
Of course, despite their best efforts, we the people (some are further along then others) are seeing things as they really are and are scaling back. I have been on a spending fast for about ten years, being at home with four kids and living on one income. Since going back to work last year due to fears that my husband will lose his job (which is coming true this month or next), we have not treated the additional income as our new standard of living. We have continued to spend as little as possible and do as much or trade for as much as we can ourselves.
The government and administration can pretend like this is just a dip, but our economy needs to change and more and more people are realizing that while it is changing and until it does, tough times are ahead.
Good to see you addressing it!