Dog had an interesting post the other day…What the recession taught us?  She says that the recession was a giant wake up call for her.  That she realized that she wasn’t invincible and nothing in life was guaranteed.  She’s finally learned to live below her means and doesn’t depend on anyone.  And she has no loyalty to her job.

So what did I learn?  That life is what you make of it.  It can be half full or a half empty glass.  When I first graduated from college, I went through a job a year.  Yep, every year in my industry I was laid off and downsized.  I learned really fast that there is no loyalty, job security, and lifestyle. 

My DH was laid off less than 6 weeks on the job at a company we moved cross country for.  We knew the risks and still gambled.  Luckily we had money in the bank, all due to the lessons I learned in 2000, 2001, 2002.  Money in the bank, don’t buy what you can’t afford, never charge more than you have, and live well below your means.

Nothing has really changed for my DH and I between college and now, nearly 10 years later.  We didn’t scale up our lifestyle, we are driving the same cars now as 10 years ago.  We have some of the same clothes.  We do have a bigger place to live and a baby (on the way), but we still have our hand me down cookware and dishes.  Our lifestyle certainly doesn’t reflect the changes in our income.  We still buy a lot o f used stuff and simply.

But the recession taught me that belt-tightening, cutting coupons, looking for deals, bargains on used goods should be used at any income level.  Just because you make 2-3x what you did before, you should still try and save money.  Every penny has a purpose and meaning.

It means just as much to save $20 on eating out if you make $20k, if you make $200k.  It’s still $20.  Do you really need it, want it, or can use it?

The recession also taught me to embrace my inner scrooge.  The frugalite that I have always been, was long hidden away.  I was embarrassed and my DH as well with our coupon clipping, deal seaking lifestyle. 

But then 2008 and 2009 happened and suddenly people were asking us for tips.  Our friends became curious about how we managed so much on what seemed a limited income.  Suddenly our behaviors didn’t seem weird or cheapskatish.  Rather it seemed wise and prudent.  Suddenly our behavior was the “norm.”  Telling people we couldn’t go out to a $100 birthday dinner seemed smart, not cheap.  Telling people that we prefer to cook at home, seemed reasonable instead of scroogie.

I don’t know how long people will really embrace frugality and savings. I don’t know how long I have to be part of the norm, instead of apart from it.  But I’ll take it.  I don’t mind for now, and when extravagence takes hold again, I’ll still enjoy the same lifestyle. Perhaps slightly upgraded with cable tv, cell phones, and wireless internet.  But I’ll know that if necessary I could always cut my expenses to the bone and survive the next recession.