by John LeCoq
Let’s face one fact; things may never be the same again. The economic upheaval of the past few years has changed the landscape of America for good in all probability. The way of life America has been used to for a very long time will fundamentally change for the future. As life gets more complicated though, don’t try to row into the headwind. Go simple!!
Soaring unemployment will change the job market. Many jobs will not come back. The old jobs we were used to will be gone, many outsourced to other countries. New technology will leave many behind. The older worker may be on the outside looking in as new markets emerge. For the foreseeable future many American workers will be underemployed.
Our money markets and just money in general have become more volatile. Wild swings in the stock market make investing an adventure. Money market accounts pay next to nothing as do most other fixed interest vehicles. Taking care of your money will be of vital importance in the future. Yet, the volatility of the market makes plying the financial waters treacherous.
Even our food is under siege. Genetically modified food may not be the best for us. Pesticides are still being used on many crops making them suspect for being clean and pure. Disasters in the ocean and on land may alter the food chain enough to affect all of us. When your food is suspect many health concerns come to the fore.
What does one do amid all this turmoil and confusion? As our lives get more complicated and iffy we tend to want to apply new, more current, methods to solve our problems and make our lives easier. We look to computers, debit cards, cellular phones and other modern technologies to help us out. Maybe we should look in the other direction for help. Go simpler instead of more complicated.
One does not have to eschew modern technology in his or her life. The modern conveniences in our lives have made them necessary in everyday life. Instead of leaning on them more and more to make life better why not de-emphasize those gadgets and opt for simpler solutions to everyday happenings in our lives. Following will be a short list of things one might try.
Of course, food is the most basic of life’s needs. With genetically modified foods creeping into our food sources one needs to be vigilant when purchasing food. Read labels carefully. Research where the food comes from to insure it’s safe. Educate yourself on what’s good and not good. Talk to the store manager where you shop and find out about organic products his store carries. Shop at a store that only sells natural, organic foodstuffs that are grown in accordance with organic principles. Be a “locavore”. Buy food that is grown local. Frequent farmer’s markets. Being vigilant will insure you buy healthy food.
A good adjunct to buying better food is to grow it yourself. Starting a garden is a great thing to do. Not only will you control that part of your food but it’s a great hobby for you and maybe even the whole family. Home-grown produce is much tastier than store bought products. You can do all your growing organically, making certain your produce is as pure as it can be. Don’t have a yard? That’s no problem. There are a plethora of products that will allow you to grow at least a few plants on balconies, patios and even inside. There’s no excuse for not trying at least a small planter with some type of vegetable in it.
Money needs to be watched closely in today’s changing world. That chore does not have to be more complicated though. Choose stocks and mutual funds that have a steady track record of earnings and growth. Don’t jump on the latest craze in buying your investments. Look into more conservative investments for your portfolio. Buy green stocks or ones that specialize in socially responsible investing. Keep a portion of your portfolio in “hard” assets, such as gold, silver and precious gems. Just be smart, and conservative, with your money and in the end you will wind up with plenty enough for whatever your need it for.
In a word, live somewhat frugally. It’s not that hard. Why not cut out coupons from the newspaper? Why not plant a few tomatoes, peppers, onions and other vegetable you use often? Why not check out that fund that makes microloans to people living in disadvantaged countries? One does not have to give up on modern living and modern technology; just de-emphasize it! Getting back to basics and living simpler might just be the ticket to making your life better, not more complicated. Just try it!!
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