Catholic Consumers and the Economy

Nice story on Catholic Exchange extolling the rewards of doing without in this economy.

Anyhow, when my husband’s van up and died last summer, I was easily able to step back into the “one-car, two-driver” mode. However, just about everyone we know was flummoxed by this decision of ours to ride out (pun intended) the economic uncertainties by juggling schedules and sharing a car.

But, for me, taking my husband to work a few times a week has provided newfound treasures. We’re older now and so our conversations have changed during this “alone” time. Although, admittedly, we still recap how much sleep we each received during the previous night, it is no longer the fault of babies who needed feeding as much as it is tending to our own nightly needs combined with the worry and wonder of kids in college and concerns about the world they are inheriting. I have to chuckle when I think that I used to imagine the post-baby years would certainly be long nights of rejuvenating sleep!

Nonetheless, the morning rides when we share a car are much easier now. There are no babies or toddlers to bundle up — although I miss those little boys. My husband I just each grab a cup of coffee and off we go.

This isn’t to say that it’s been a piece of cake. I’ve had to do some serious adjusting. It has been imperative that I become more organized and I have also had to learn to deal with a cabin-fever on many occasions during our extremely long and cold Midwest winter. Then there are the times like when I missed a night out with a friend because our one family car had to be available to take our youngest son to and from work. But priorities are often about sacrifice. Overall, however, we’re doing quite well with this arrangement.

We were a one care family for a very long time. I can second that in the hectic pace of a full-time jobs, school, teenagers with part-time jobs, extracurricular activities - the precious time spend shuffling to and fro was a precious gift. My son bought a car a few weeks ago and......I think he misses me! Last night, he arrived home at 9pm after a day of school and work and said "How are you, I don't think I've seen you for two days, we don't get that time together...(which I customarily used to have a mommy-to-son chats about general observations and life experiences and, more personal things when appropriate!). We agonized about the expense for a couple of years and actually put it off until it got to the point where it impeding earning wages or asking favors for rides that exceeded charity. I feel the need to put more effort into creating alone time with each child to make up for it.

We're all much more frugal these days about how we spend money. As the prices rise, Ithink more and more people are getting tight-fisted about things that used to be absolute staples. The prices of groceries are going insane. For instance - I used to stock up on Bear Naked cereal when it was on sale for $3.50 (regular price was $4.99). When it got to $7.50 within the course of a few months, I cut it off my list (though I did recently find a deal at BJ's on a humungous package).

Grocery shopping online to me saved me hundreds of dollars a month. At one point about three years ago, live shopping, I was spending $250 a week for a family of four. I've cut it down to $125. My oldest moved out and I occasionally will spend a little more when I make the BJ's run, I find I'm able to shop specials (which I never do with spontanous shopping) and the feature that clearly states your bill as you put things in your cart is a reality check. And, we're eating much healthier.

Everyone is cutting costs. I don't think this has yet to ripple in the economy (And, the "bailouts" have yet to be invoiced to us.) Seems we've reached beyond the ability to think how frugality is adding complexity nationally.