Artist Unknown. Made in 1942. If you don’t need it…. don’t buy it.
With all the struggles and tribulations people went through during the Great Depression and now with the current recession, it is good to bear in mind the difference between what we need and what we want. Though this might seem easy to identify, sometimes the lines are rather hazy. Be mindful of powerful advertising. A lot of money and strong semiotics have been utilized to make sure you believe you need a certain product. So maybe a few suggestions:
1) If it’s not broken, and works well, leave it alone. You don’t need the newest iPod, iPhone, smartphone, Mac, Windows, Blu-ray player, or flat-screen TV. If you have these things, and they work, then why do you need another? At the moment, some credit cards are charging interest rates of up to 32 percent. For every dollar you spend, you will pay a whooping 32 cents.
2) Clothes, Beauty, and Glam: Yes, we all love a bit of style and, boy oh boy, don’t the retail stores know it. Fashion trends change every few months. How to keep up? Well, quite frankly don’t. Firstly, we live in a post-modern society. So everything goes all the time. There is no fixed attire. Secondly, it is time to get creative. Never underestimate the power of accessories. Dress up an outfit, dress down an outfit. Mix and match your clothes. Another fact: lipstick sales rose during the Great Depression because Lipstick was cheap and could make a look.
3) Gyms, Diets, and Fitness: Gyms are expensive. Unless you go regularly and stick to the different machines and programs, you are losing money every month. Last time I checked, taking a walk was free. Maybe join a walking group? Maybe pal up with a friend and walk every evening. Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, and South Beach all coast money and, most of the time, never last. Try a free online source like sparkpeople.com. Does the same as Weight Watchers, but it’s free. Learn to cook. Yes I’m saying it. We have lost all home economics. Cooking doesn’t need to be expensive and you might even get great enjoyment out of it. You don’t need to take classes. Take out cook-books from your local library. YouTube a recipe. Experiment. It will save you money, it will save your health, and it might actually help your waist line.
Buy classic clothes and wear them forever! (OK, easier if you are 60.) But I think that dude /needs/ 10 Homburg hats. (Bring back the Homburg hat!)
Perhaps the days of over-consumption are over? Hopefully, the days of over-consumption of poor-quality food is over too.
I have seen the change made in thousands of people’s lives when they learn to cook. I’m not talking about following recipes and spending a lot of money on cookbooks. I mean there is great freedom in understanding the basic methods that go into cooking. When you learn HOW to saute’, you can then use chicken, shrimp, tofu, beef, vegetables, it’s all the same. But, you get to choose the ingredients you desire.
Being able to cook by method means you never have the stress of trying to figure out “what’s for dinner” every night. You can cook with the ingredients on-hand. You’ll never have the frustration of written recipes not working, you’ll save money on take-out food, improve your nutrition, gain a new hobby, reunite your family, entertain for friends, gain confidence, eat a greater variety of foods, and have a skill for a lifetime.
Learn how to cook and a whole new lifestyle opens for you
Chef Todd Mohr