There's satisfaction in economizing

What are you living without these days?

A long-planned family vacation. A new winter coat. Takeout lunches. This season's fashions. A dental checkup. A cozy, warm car ride (versus a chilly wait at the train station or bus stop.)

That's what Daily Herald readers told us as part of our ongoing series, "Our uncertain times." They're cutting back to cover rising costs for basics like food and heat, to keep pace with salary cuts, to hedge against possible job layoffs, to react to depleted savings and declining home values.

Many of us are economizing in one way or another. And you know what? It feels kind of good.

There's satisfaction in taking action, after all.

We're tightening the belts, circling the wagons and proving that the egocentric Me Generation, the money-grubbing Gen-Xers and the overachiever Generation Y still have what it takes to emulate our Depression-era ancestors.

Experts and everyday people are full of ideas for how to do it: Re-examine your cell phone and cable TV costs. Get a part-time job to pay off credit-card debt. Cut out automatic payments for things you don't really use (gym membership, anyone?)

This isn't to minimize the struggles of many suburban residents for whom new clothes or a vacation getaway are far from discretionary - they're flat-out impossible. This recession has caused real suffering.

So let us make the following suggestion: If you're in a position to give help to others, now is the time to do it. When you're making your own spending cutbacks, try to leave charitable giving off that list. Food pantries, homeless shelters and many other organizations can put your donation to use right now for people right here in our towns.

The months ahead no doubt are going to challenge many of us. In today's paper, Burt Constable tells about the last days of Irv's Mens Store, a fixture for 50 years. We're sure to see many sad economy-driven changes to our suburban landscape.

But let's get on with it. We'll plow through it and come out at the other end, though not without bruises. We'll become creative economizers and flexible financial managers.

How do you plan to do it? If you'd like to tell us what you're doing to cut costs or manage your money, please e-mail us at uncertaintimes@dailyherald.com and include your name, town and a phone number (for verification purposes.) We'll share your stories with the rest of our readers.

To paraphrase a certain high school musical, we'll all get through this together. Do you suppose that's the silver lining?