How to survive the recession in Michigan | Surviving the War


Apr

4

How to survive the recession in Michigan

Posted by admin at 13:44 | Filed In Michigan

A mother during the Great DepressionWhen you take into consideration the bad mortgage problem in Michigan, plummeting interest rates and especially the outrageous Michigan prices, it almost feels like the world is just about to end. Many people in Michigan are hopeless and many are devastated by their current living situation. Michiganders giving up their homes and going bankrupt is most disturbing. You can buy a house in Michigan for a fraction of its price 5 years ago. It’s ridiculous! It’s a buyer’s market like never before but if you have to sell a house first, then you’re pretty much completely screwed.

As someone who lived in the war zone, I’m going to tell you that things are not so bad here. Let’s just hope that they do not get any worse. Although, in order to get through this recession, or if you want, depression, we do need to adjust and change the way we live.

There are five most basic needs to survive this - food, clean water, clothing, shelter and of course, the transportation.

Let’s discuss these five most basic needs to survive, in order:

1. Food - You want to eat organic? Well, now is not the time for it. You will not die from eating non-organic foods which are in most cases expensive or just overpriced. Go to a grocery store and buy some cheaper food products. Instead of going out to eat, cook from scratch - that will save you a lot of money!

1. Shelter - For most Americans, and therefore Michiganders, this is most likely the most expensive need. Since 90% of Michigan homes are just not selling even with they cost a fraction of the price, it is very hard to downsize and cut expenditures that way. So if selling is not an option, then what? It may be new and strange to you, but consider renting out a portion of your home to younger people (college students, etc.) or other Michiganders who lost their homes to foreclosures which ruined their credit scores.

2. Food - You want to eat organic? Well, now is not the time for it. You will not die from eating non-organic foods which are in most cases expensive or just overpriced. Go to a grocery store and buy some cheaper food products. Instead of going out to eat, cook from scratch - that will save you a lot of money!

3. Clean Water - This one should really be obvious. You do not need to drink bottled water all the time. Invest in a water filter or one of those Brita water pitchers. They’re inexpensive and could save you loads of money. They cost about $25-$30. How much money would that save you over a period of 6 months? A year? See, it adds up. Besides, how do you know that the bottled water really is as clean as they say? And seriously, here is one that most people don’t think of - take a shower instead of a bath and turn the water off while soaping yourself. It may not seem like it would help much, but it actually does help a lot.

4. Clothes - Before I tell you to go to a thrift store or a garage sale, here’s something else. Take care of your clothes. This way they will last way longer and look new for a long time. Be careful how you wash and dry them and try not to spill stuff over them. Try swapping with friends, and lastly but definitely not leastly, go buy slightly used clothes from a thrift store or a garage sale. Your favorite name brands are there! Oh yeah, and no one will know if you don’t want them too. Big money saver here!

5. Transportation - what to do about transportation in Michigan? This is a difficult one. Metro Detroit is a huge area and most people dread the public transportation. If you drive to work in a general direction as a few other people in your neighborhood, then simply carpool - you will save gas, mileage and wear and tear of your vehicles. If you have to go to a store that is a couple of miles away, then walk or ride your bike. You will save on gas AND you’ll be healthier! Two birds with one stone!

Do not get discouraged! There are certainly more ways to save money than the five that I’ve listed. Remember, where there’s a will - there’s a way!

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