It’s pretty common nowadays for people to say how technology can bring us together, but there are a lot of people that would argue that it does the complete opposite. They would argue that all the time we spend in front of the computer or the multitude of technological devices available to us actually make us into less socially interactive people. I tend to disagree. It’s not the tool, but how you use it that’s important. If you want to know the truth of the situation, just look at parking meters…
What is frugality?To all of us here at SYR, its how we live our lives, whether we like it or not.
According to renowned feminist Wendy McElroy, frugality causes you to reverse the way you think about material things.So - what does this mean in this economy, to all of us recessionistas out there? Well, in this context, anything can be frugal - as long as it is resourceful and brings you closer to your goals.
Anyhow, the other day I was getting ready to head out to meet some friends for some cream sodas and I realized that I simply didn’t have any shoes that matched my ensemble. Oh no! I proclaimed, what to do?
Let me lay it down for you. Recently I needed some quick cash and was all out of places and people to borrow from. It’s not that people don’t trust me enough to give me money (some may disagree), it’s that all my friends are as dirt poor as I am. So, I looked around my apartment for things to sell. Now, I have a lot of stuff: guitars, books and my prized DVD collection. I have over a thousand movies, most of which I have never watched. Why, you ask? Well, I tend to buy things because of the future benefit they could provide me, without thinking of the consequences that said purchase could have on my wallet.
As I was looking through my overstuffed bookcase full of movies, I was embarrassed to see lots of these films were still in the shrinkwrap. It was a moment of shame, I must say. But the same idea that started my Gandalf blog the other day helped me realize that I’m going to have to make some tough decisions if I’m going to make ends meet. That, and I think I was keeping the movies around more for sentimental reasons than for any real purpose: like watching them. I’m sure you’ve done stupid, impulsive shit yourself more than once, but when it’s staring you in the face in movie form, you either have to fess up or continue living in denial of your own sheer idiocy.
When Gandalf stood on the bridge of Khazad Dum with the Balrog looming over him and the Fellowship, ready to devour them in eternal flame, the Grey Wizard didn’t run and hide, but made the ultimate sacrifice so his friends could continue their quest. That’s right, he stayed behind. Most of us are wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of modern life and have so many things competing for our attention that we’re more likely to think about our own lives first before giving concern to others . But while we’re progressing merrily along, others are falling behind when they don’t need to. Imagine how you would feel if everyone got a foot massage as a reward for the journey home from the Dark Tower and you were told to go and pick pipeweed for everyone while they smoked and relaxed?
When I heard a while back that a ban was being lifted allowing people to once again let their clothes hang outside to dry, I thought “why in the world was it imposed in the first place?” Apparently, some geniuses believed that hanging clothing on your property is unsightly and brings down the value of the area . I think that associations with the slums we see so often in movies, where people hanging their unmentionables out on their balconies to dry because they were too poor to afford drying them at a buck seventy-five a load, has tainted our outlook on reality just a tad. While it may be true, not everyone can afford little luxuries like a dryer, so why the hell not? After all, you ARE paying for the place, n’est pas?
We’ve hammered this into your brains many times: It’s cheaper to buy groceries and cook than it is to dine out. Just switching to eating in will save you tons of money but how can you save even more?
Here are some ancient Zen proverbs that will guide you in your quest to shrink your grocery bill:
You're just lucky the internet doesn't have 'Scratch & Sniff' yet
So there’s this garbage strike and I’m already starting to see the streets start to take on the putrid clutter of a medieval township. I was with my older sister (older siblings are great for buying you free things like coffee) on the patio of our local coffee shop, when I saw the public garbage bin positively overflowing with cups, bags and unmentionable things that were oozing.
Oh my lanta…can you believe Canada Day is already here!!?? I feel like it was just last week I was waking up with mysterious maple leaf tattoos plastered all over my forehead!  Ooops … I mean innocently checking out the lovely festivities at Parliament Hill =)
Take a peek at my video for FREE/CHEAP things to do this Canada Day! (which is tomorrow, people. TOMORROW!)
I love musicians. I especially love musicians who show us how believing in yourself enough can allow you to overcome almost any shortcoming. Thanks to Brazen Angelz for the interview. All music used by permission of Brazen Angelz. Check out their site here.
The results are in and Waterloo’s D.J. Demers is the official Screw You Recession! Summer Intern. After having his video hand-picked as one of Richard Branson’s Fave Five and meeting with us live and in person, Demers is ready to jump head first into the Screw You Recession! world of blogs, cash-crunching, tip-gathering, and web-combing for the best recession news and cash-saving advice.
Stay tuned as D.J. starts making magic on Screw You Recession! starting next Monday morning.
But there’s more goodness. We were so pumped to see the skills, talent, hotness, and amazing creativity from some of our Summer Intern candidates that we decided we couldn’t let them go. That’s why we decided to build the Screw You Recession! Blog Army.
These guys are kickin ass and takin names. Joining D.J. in the crusade are some of your other favourite Summer Interns: George Panayotou, Thaddeus Bolton, Romi Levine, Lucas Meyer, Andrea Guernsey and Trevor McManus round out our gang of recession revolutionaries. They’ll be taking over the net with video blogs, recession tips, general money-saving craziness, and whatever other random goodness we fee like throwing your way.
Stay tuned. And if you’re the recession… take cover. Our first bombs drop next week.
rachel plan weekly meals and buy whatever you can in bulk,hands wash your clothes when ever you can and grow a garden or if you have a family member that has a garden ask if you can get some fresh veggies when there ready to come out
Derekp I think i’ve seen this somewhere before…but it’s not bad at all
Rath You have a decent blog here. I would encourage you to keep writing and posting as often as you are inspired to do so. In the long run, it will really pay off as more and more people will begin to visit, read and refer others. ProExtender
dawn Now that we have some nice hot weather…save using your dryer and hang your clothes out to dry..Get a clothesline and pins from the dollar store…watch out for the pigeons though….
lasierra great blog! I’m glad I finally found a decent blog that I liked. Just subscribed to the feed and looking forward to future updates.
Theresa Waste less food by taking more trips to the grocery store, but buy less. Plan fresh meals ahead, buy what you need when you need it. Also, frequent local markets for great deals!
