For the very first time, I lost my job. This happened a couple of months ago, just a week before a
much anticipated European vacation with my wife. I guess there’s never a good time to lose
your job.
The reality of losing half of our double-income
weighted on me very quickly, especially with the intention of going on a relatively extravagant
vacation to celebrate some milestones in our lives. Though most of the trip was already paid for
and non-refundable , the money we did
end up spending while vacationing was very calculated and in some cases,
downright cheap.
I still have some leeway before I get to the end of my financial-comfort-
zone-rope but I have already made
lifestyle changes to anticipate the possibility that it might be awhile before
we’re back to double-income luxury. My
reality now is…less eating out; more
use
of cheaper forms of transportation(bike, public transit, walking); less
expensive/free fitness sessions (no visits to the gym and more biking
and
walking to stay fit) ; making use of
long-forgotten dry/canned goods way in the back of the pantry(there’s
gonna
be some interesting meals for sure!) ; more diligence in scoping out
deals at the grocers.
It’s not my intention to paint a picture that my family will
soon be in need… far from it. In fact, I
wanted to highlight just the opposite. We have so much to be thankful for and are bathed
in luxury, regardless of where our income level is at. I have so much! I have a supportive wife – who continues to
bring home the bacon(or half of it). I have great kids. The oldest just recently married and the 3
youngest living at home going through various stages of college or work. We have a supportive extended family, most
living just minutes from us. We have a vibrant
church community that is so enriching to our lives. We are rich! By the way, nominally speaking, most of us North Americans are the top 5% income earners in the
world!!! See how "rich" you are... http://www.globalrichlist.com/
Yes, I try to live with an attitude of gratitude. I am grateful for food on the table, a meal
from a restaurant, a banquet at a wedding and the ability to work, earn a salary and pay for all of these - the last two of which I consider privileges. Contrast this to friends I have in another part of the world… they struggle
to earn enough take home pay that would
often only cover their meals until mid-week.
I often extol the virtues of simple living(frugality of
consumption) and try to live simpler so that others can simply live. Easier
said than done, but the path to simple living is definitely a lot easier when
you lose your job.
My job search continues… but at the end of the day, I think
less IS more.
Simple Life ~The Weepies
