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Rules for the New Economy

Transportation

* Walk or bike when you can, only drive when you must. * If you live in the city, learn the bus route and take it. * Ask if every licensed driver in the household needs a personal car. * Drive a car 7 years before trading.

Housing

* Housing expenses should be no more than 25% of your net income. * If you are relocating, move to where you don't have to drive to everything.

Consumption

* Do not shop for entertainment. * Buy local. * Patronize locally owned businesses. * Repair rather than replace. * Learn to do it yourself or make it yourself.

Banking and Finance

* Using local banks and credit unions helps keep money in you community. * Pay off credit cards each month. * Don't spend more than you make. * Trade, barter, and buy used.

Think About Where Your Dollar Goes

* Buying local means buying into your community and its producers, artists, and professions. * Give to a cause.

Communicating with Your Creditors

* Creditors have a lot more understanding than you think. Call them first. Harassing calls and letters are made as a defense mechanism for the unknowns they face and the risks they take. Don't be an unknown to them. By taking the first step you are making a creditor not have to react, and a defensive reaction to the many delinquents (the term they give their unknowns) will be impersonal and harsh. Creditors have forms to defer payments for those in hardship. They have more favorable terms if they know in advance of your situation. It is expensive to use collection messures and you will save when they save.

Fun Frugality

Board Games

If everyone played a board game a day we would live in a world where people interacted more, laughed more, and exercised their brains more. They would also spell better, watch less TV (thus being advertised less to), and know more random facts.

Cook Outs

Share the cost of the meal and make a dish or bring a drink. Also deepen relationships with neighbors by inviting them which results in a sense of place and a tightening of the community. You can even trade DIY skills or agree to share a lawnmower next year.

Rearrange

Tired of the same stuff and feel like you need new stuff? Shopping does not need to be a form of entertainment. Make something for your house that is meaningful out of something you wanted to get rid of. Find things to give away. Have neighborhood yard sales with the junk and buy street trees.

Take a Walk or Ride a Bike

But I have to go shopping

Okay. Map out a thrift store on your route and go in a group. It will get silly. Buy an old board game that has a least most of the pieces and wear your new clothes to the party.

Vegetable Gardens

Plant something you can eat on you own land and save money. You'll feel satisfied that you cared for something. Walk out and pick something fresh, still warm from the sun and a little dusty. Compost all year round and make your own dirt. Share the work and rewards with neighbors.

Get Talented

Pick up an instrument, draw, paint, sing, dance, or act. Go to the library and check out all the material you need. Also in this category is learning a new language.