Homespun guide to economic survival
BLOGGER Stan Marks has some homespun advice on coping with the economic downturn. Some older members of the community have resorted to bartering and are exchanging gefilte fish, chicken soup and other popular foods for mowing lawns, window cleaning and a diversity of activities.
REPORTS indicate that members of our community, like communities generally, are altering their lifestyles and adopting various schemes to cope with the economic crisis.
There is even talk that bartering is being introduced, with points being given for goods and services. Older folks are exchanging gefilte fish, chicken soup and other popular foods for mowing lawns, window cleaning and a diversity of activities.
More non-Jews are warming to good old Jewish cooking. Creating new and lasting friendships through the palete. Younger (and even some older) folk are baby sitting in exchange for kitchen utensils and a variety of goods. Grandma’s cooking is more and more popular.
Groups are getting together to discuss how best to meet any financial difficulties. When to buy shares dropping in price, how to best invest one’s super and, above all, budget the weekly finances.
What current financial difficulties mean for lavish weddings, bar mitzvahs and other celebrations and even spending on clothing and luxury goods — cutting the cloth to meet one’s budget, so to speak.
Even, dare one say, exchanging unwanted clothes for newer or more fashionable items. An “old” fur coat (especially if you are an animal liberationist) for a newer frock.
People who used to dine out a great deal are now discovering it can be much cheaper, and even more fun, to dine at home, including a regular roster for BYOF (Bring your own food) dinner parties at different friend’s homes.
Having an entree at one house, a main meal at another and dessert at another, with suitable wines along the way.
This could even be a boost for industries producing special plates and utensils.
Some people are remaining at home and getting to know their cities instead of travelling up north.
More people are borrowing library books rather than buying new ones and attending courses in cooking, carpentry, building, fixing the family car, painting the house, plumbing and even hairdressing, so they can do their own repairs and cut their own family member’s hair.
Of course, you wouldn’t want to mess up mum’s or grandma’s hair. Oy vey.
There are schemes where groups have honour systems of bartering. They even arrange working bees, gardening and where musicians arrange recitals, and musical evenings, for goods and services.
Members have “accounts” and are debited or credited for time spent or in some other arranged way.
Excuse me while I look up the latest on where the economy is heading. Anything you want to exchange?
Stan Marks is the author of 14 books. He has worked as a journalist in Australia and overseas. For many years he edited the newsletter of the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Melbourne. Now retired, Stan received an OAM in the 2007 Australia Day honours for services to the community and journalism.