Some Positive Thoughts on the Economic Downturn

This article was in the Washington Post Op-Ed section today, and it caught my attention because of the rosy glow it emmitted amid the gloom and doom on the page. 

I related to the article because we selected our house in Leesburg a year ago largely based on the neighborhood and it’s proximity to local stores, our church and a recreation center.  We can walk to all three.  Also, the neighborhood had something we weren’t used to in the suburbs of Washington, DC–sidewalks!  Yes!  We can actually walk separately from oncoming traffic.  Love it. 

In fact, my husband tried out a new Leesburg barbershop, which boasts the cigar-selling Indian statue, traditional straight razor shaves and a father-son special on Saturdays.  Located walking distance from our home, and while it is a buck or two more than where he had been going, he’s ready to make switch to this local shop.  And hopefully he’ll be one of many dads who support this new  main street business and create a great father-son Saturday tradition to boot.  Localism.  Sounds like a positive amidst a lot of negative economic news.

Recession Proof

I came across this article from Suze Orman, about recession-proofing your family.  I am a fan of Suze, and Michelle Singletary of the Washington Post.  They are both big advocates of getting rid of credit cards and operating on cash/debit cards.  They have been touting that philosophy for as long as I have read them.  And now that advice is ever-more essential.

Here is the link to the CNN webpage which has Orman’s article.