Pinching Pennies

Each day brings more grim economic news. Just reading, and sharing with the boys, that the average middle class income is $63,091. So much for thinking we were in the middle class.
One can either despair, or chose to believe everthing will work out ok. I am working hard on having faith and remembering God has brought us through tougher times than these.
The thing I remind the boys of is, what a great opportunity they have to learn about being frugal. Something which will put them ahead of the crowd when things turn around.
While I was being a worry wart about some disturbing news from work, my dear eldest offered to take a quarter off from school. Absolutely NOT! It is funny how one quarter can become two and then they multiply and suddenly you are 40 and have no degree to fall back on in the face of educational discrimination by employers.
We can work together to curb things which do not bring value to our family and learn to entertain ourselves. My children don't really know how to cook, because most of our meals have been pre-prepared, fast food or very, very simple-now is a great time to teach them.
This is where the rubber meets the road and we now have to walk the talk. When things get tough do we pull back from others, or do we stay 'all in' with the things we value-church, charity, those less fortunate from ourselves. I think it is critical to remember there are always those less fortunate than us.
I was talking with someone today whose childhood was lived through the Great Depression. Their means are certainly more than ours, but I find they have exactly the same fears as we do. Losing 50-60% of your portfolio brings the same worries whether that portfolio was worth $5 thousand or $5 million, will there be enough money for necessities?
Here is a challenge, to earnestly review your values and decide what is a necessity and what we can do to pull together during these tough times.