I'm starting over in 2009 by being more frugal. Convinced that the global financial crisis and credit crunch have yet to deliver their toughest blows to average Joes (plumbers included), I'm hunkering down. Part of my strategy is practical. Spending less and saving more improves my family's balance sheet and insures us against tighter credit, dwindling job benefits and possible loss of income.
The second element of the strategy is philosophical. Our freewheeling days of consumption without consequence appear to be over. The coming months of scarcity will be an excellent opportunity to ask ourselves who we are, what we value and what we'd like to be. Everyone will arrive at their own conclusions, but I hope to be someone who's able to give more, live with less and appreciate more deeply the gifts with which I'm blessed.
Finally, a resolution worth keeping.
