Over the last few months we have witnessed many of our friends and even some of our family feeling the pressure of the economic slow down. For us personally construction has always been a feast or famine industry so this latest round of down sizing and lay offs to the oil patch just seems to be an expected bump in the road. My question to you loyal readers is this new slump a drastic change in your life or is it just something that is happening to others on tv. In church on sunday we had a guest speaker a Nigerian Bishop who brought to mind that many families live for weeks off of what we make per hour. Do we indulge in to many wants instead of needs? Could we survive without? I am not a Catholic so if I get this wrong please excuse me but I want to challenge you all to participate in Lent. As I understand it for the 40 days leading up to Easter those who particapate give up something. Literally sacrificing it to God. Whether it is your very expensive morning coffee, having your nails done or what ever; I challenge you to sacrifice your I want for 40 days. My sacrifice for Lent is going to be NO eating out of any kind for 40 days. This is going to be difficult for us as every Thursday we spend the whole day in the city. I must pre plan snacks, lunch and dinner to be taken with us. My hope is that this sacrifice will bring the family and I to really appreciate how much God has given us. We are so fortunate to have Shawn still working; even though at much reduced hours; when 65% of the oil patch are unemployed.
My next thought is that making these sacrifices might also be a way to save money. Are you feeling the pinch of a lower income or maybe none at all? How are we coping, are we helping friends and family do with less by planning a potluck movie night instead of going out to a restaurant? As I was rooting in the dark recesses of my cupboards looking for an elusive bag of microwave popcorn I had a realization. There was several things that I had bought in the famous Costco multi pack and once the kids had tried one pack they decided they didn't like it. It had been discarded to the back of my pantry. Maybe it is time to take a look in the cupboard and see what should be donated to the food bank before it expires and we simply toss it in the land fill.
Whether we are feeling this slump as a bump in the road or the edge of a cliff maybe we should take this time to reavaluate how we spend our money. Shouldn't we use every penny to God's will rather than just thoughtlessly dropping it along the way in a drive thru window or a coffee shop register? Please let me know your thoughts about our changing economy and how you are coping. Or are you even affected?
