I found an interesting article this weekend from the London Times. Columnist Minette Marin wrote Waste not, want not: here comes the new austerity chic (Wayback Machine). I had two grandmothers who lived through the Great Depression and I understand what she is talking about. For people who are younger and didn’t have grandparents from that era or WWII, it is hard to fathom the mindset of saving every little thing just in case. Marin writes:
It was recently reported that in countries such as Latvia and Ireland, where people have very recent memories of austerity and poverty, they have found it easier to accept radical cuts in their salaries and standard of living than Europeans who don’t remember hardship. Experience helps. In this country most people haven’t had such experiences since the 1950s, but there are still people in their eighties who remember austerity scrimping and saving, and many others who, like me, have lived in the shadows of such memories, and with the mentality of making do. My late mother and the dear departed women of her generation would have had several helpful hints for today.
If you have been watching the news or reading any of the articles from my new Daily News page, you’ve probably seen the term “austerity” more in the past two weeks than you have in all of the rest of your previous life. I think people should plan on hearing it regularly in the weeks and months ahead. And they won’t just be talking about Greece and Britain. Have you considered that the term austerity might be used in the United States?
On the one hand, I can’t quite picture Obama getting up and talking about the new austerity measures. Yes, he’ll be talking about the general idea before too long, but I can’t picture that word coming out of his mouth. But this slow motion train wreck that we are all watching isn’t going to end in Greece or Spain or Great Britain. Anyone who thinks the USA is going to be immune from this is just in complete denial. Seriously. And the same goes with Canada for my Canadian friends. There’s an article on the news page today about that.
So I’ve been thinking about all this and today visit the new D&W store that opened kitty corner from the Meijer where I shop. Wow. Very nice. would call it Meijer meets The Fresh Market or The Fresh Market Light. Gorgeous store with all the foodie bells and whistles that is in the location to pull from the nicer suburbs on the northeast end of town. I went to check it out and take advantage of their grand opening specials. Very nice, but I think it would cost me about $15 – $20 more a week to shop there because everything is more expensive than Meijer. On top of that, they have so many great smaller labels and specialty items that I would probably spend another extra $25 a week on trying out new things. So I might run in and out for the specials, but I think it is in our financial best interest if I not make that my main store as much as I enjoy the ambiance. My problem is I have ritzy suburban tastes and we try to live on a working class budget.
Anyway, I wonder how well that store will do over the next few years. Will be interesting to watch how a store such as that does in the midst of what is coming down the pike. I don’t think we have enough banksters in Grand Rapids to support such as store. But we do have a lot of frugal (read – historically cheap) Dutch people in the area who I suspect are doing just fine thankyouverymuch given their heritage of being careful with their money. So maybe the store will make it.
So back to the austerity thing.
I was pondering the quote above about people adjusting more easily if they have experience with austerity and poverty. David and I have never been reduced to that point, but we’ve gone through some extremely lean times. I know there are people who read and comment here who have also been through similar experiences. We’ve also been living the “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, do without” mantra for a number of years. Partially by choice and partially by necessity. I’m not eager to see this become a widespread necessity in our country. It is one thing to make that choice yourself and know you can ease up if you want to do so. It is another thing to be forced into it by the collapse of your country. If you believe in the theory of Turnings in History, then you already know that we are in the midst of the Winter (Wayback Machine). As a Christian, I do not believe God is bound by cycles of history. But it makes for some really compelling reading and thought-provoking discussion.
How well do you feel you are prepared to handle the new austerity if it does indeed happen here?
Peggy
Our local upscale garden store has been featuring a thrifty old-fashioned antique look in their decorating department lately. They’re trying to sell it as a fashion statement, but I see it as a hopeful trend toward acknowledging and adapting to economic realities.
I sometimes wonder how the Proverbs 31 woman could “laugh at the days to come”. I think she must have gradually worked her way to affluence, and along the way gained confidence in God’s ability to provide and her own ability to make do, either with little or with much.
We already live a fairly austere and creatively frugal lifestyle, but there are some little luxuries that we would have a very hard time giving up. (Chocolate, tea, Saturday lunch out…)
Carole
I find your article very interesting and thought provoking. My husband and I both read and discussed it. Frankly, we try, on purpose, to live a simple life and while I don’t feel it’s austere, we do try to live well within our means. I think the things we do can be done by almost anyone….we have a garden…but if you don’t have room for a full size garden, it’s amazing what vegetables can be grown in a flower bed and never even be seen. If flower beds are not possible, pots work very well. Planning menus, while possibly time-consuming, makes use of what one has and also creates less stress. People may find that there are very nice articles found at garage sales, or bartering for services or items with friends is not only cost effective, but actually enjoyable. “Hand-me-downs” are not to be feared. I wore them, my boys wore them and my grandchildren wear them! Learn to be creative. Homemaking is an “art”….and it’s a beautiful art.
Jo Anne
We have been living frugally for the past 2 years. Since my husband is unemployed for the 2nd time in 2 years, we have cut back on everything we could. However, since we live in Nashville, things are even worse than they were before. It is a difficult time for everyone, and to be honest, I don’t think it will get any better anytime soon.