12 Things to
Watch for in 2009
by Gary Foreman
I enjoy watching the old westerns on tv. One
thing I've learned is that is that if you're going to be a gunfighter you need
to always know what's happening around you. Failure to do that could put you in
the Boot Hill cemetery.
Right now our economy is a little like the wild west. Sometimes it seems like
there's no rules. Or that whoever has the most guns get to make their own rules.
So we might be wise to learn something from that old gunslinger and watch
carefully what happens around us. We might keep our finances from an early
burial. So here are 12 things to watch out for in 2009.
Watch for old pricing rules to become obsolete. You're going to have to pay
attention to prices in the new year. Some prices will be trending up, while
others slide down. And, some will change direction during the year. Now, more
than ever, it's important to know your prices. Shop around for any major item <
http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-a.htm#buying>. Use a grocery pricebook
<http://www.stretcher.com/menu/topic-g.htm#groceries-PriceBook>
to keep track of food prices.
It's a good time to challenge your assumptions. Just because you always bought a
specific brand or store doesn't mean that you should continue. Challenging times
cause companies to do things they wouldn't normally do. Some may drop prices
significantly. Others could lower quality. Just because you've known a product
or company for years doesn't mean that they can't change. In fact, you should
expect it to happen.
Watch for ways to save a few dollars. Even if it's only a dollar or two a day.
With an increase in uncertainty, it's much more likely that you could need a few
extra bucks in a pinch.
Watch out for inflation in 2009. As the government pours money into the economy
some prices are bound to rise. It probably won't happen until people are
comfortable that they can spend their money again. When they do we'll all
remember why government borrowing is dangerous.
Watch for opportunities to strengthen your position at work. Learn new skills.
Be flexible. Do anything you can to make yourself valuable to your employer.
Watch for ways to help your friends and family. Even if you don't have money to
spare you can help. Volunteer to help with a plumbing problem. Or save them the
expense of a trip to the store by offering to pick up a few items for them.
Watch out that you don't put your family in jeopardy helping others. It's nice
to be generous, but things like co-signing a note could put your finances in a
world of hurt.
Watch for opportunities. Even in the most challenging times there are some
opportunities. You'll need to think creatively. And, it might take some work.
But I bet that there's someone who owns an unoccupied 'fixer-upper' home that
would be willing to let a family live in it
while repairs and upgrades were made in trade for rent.
Watch your stress levels. When finances are tight it's easy to get stressed-out.
Letting that stress build up will only make things worse. Don't sacrifice your
mental or physical health or marriage to stress. Watch a sunset, listen to music
or find some other healthy stress reliever. (btw, shopping is not an acceptable
stress reliever)
Watch for unusual bargains. You'll find more 'liquidation pricing' on a variety
of goods. Auctions will have fewer bidders and thus more bargains.
Watch your step. Now is a time to be careful in making big financial decisions.
Especially since some of your prior assumptions could be wrong. It's true that
many mistakes are made when we're in a hurry. Those mistakes could be very
damaging in this economy.
Watch your tongue. Saying too little or too much could be bad for your financial
health. There's nothing wrong with letting a few close friends and family know
that you're facing some financial challenges. In fact, it's wise to do so. But,
you don't want to go to the other extreme where every conversation revolves
around your problems. If you go there, you'll notice that people begin to stay
away from you.
Watch your back. Is there some problem or debt that's sneaking up on you? Do you
have a major appliance (think furnace, AC unit, refridge) or car that's getting
old and may need repair or replacement? Or maybe you're close to being unable to
make a minimum payment that would trigger the default rate on all of your
credit cards.
Keep on Stretching those Dollars!
Gary Foreman is the editor of The Dollar
Stretcher.com website <
www.stretcher.com> and newsletters <
http://www.stretcher.com/subscribe/subscribeDS.cfm>. Not only does the site
host thousands of articles on various ways to save money, but you'll also find a
vibrant forum <
http://community.stretcher.com/forums/>where people share their dollar
stretching ideas. Comment on this entry here <
http://community.stretcher.com/blogs/stretcher/archive/2009/01/06/12-things-to-watch-for-in-2009.aspx
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