Lisa Simpson
Aug 11,2009
In: Finance

Dwindling Salaries and Rising Costs Making Americans Trim Lifestyles

The dwindling salaries and rising costs are making Americans trim their lifestyles as the worry is being focused on environmental issues. Professor Michael Maniates of Allegheny College of Meadville Pennsylvania said, “Perhaps the silver lining (of the recession) is that people are coming to realize they can live with less and their lives are richer for it.”

A Gallup Poll survey held in April, 32% contend that spending has gone down and people are now planning to make a beginning following a “new normal” schedule. 27% said that have been saving more and are planning to keep it this way.

47% said that they already have their requirements – the figure was 34% in 2006 November, according to a study conducted by MetLife Study of the American Dream 2009.

Julie Morgenstern who had authored ‘Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life’ said, “People are feeling forced and inspired to get back to what is core to them” Their values are changing and instead of material objects more weight is being given to experiences and human contacts.

After reading Morgenstern’s book, Eric Dykstra, the pastor of Crossing Church in Elk River, Minnesota has started to impress upon his members the need to cut down on their personal belongings to less than 100. He himself had already done it after being inspired by the book and a blog by Dave Bruno of San Diego – “100 Thing Challenge.” The response was immediate although some considered shoe collection to be one item!

Dykstra said, “People have really taken this to heart.” Charity donations shot up – enough to fill a warehouse. He pointed out that the main aim was to break down the materialistic attraction and it led to a feeling of freedom.

This new wave has started off courses like “Voluntary Simplicity”. Getting enrolled is simple. The number of participants joining in this course, organized by a non-profit body – Northwest Earth Institute in Portland, Oregon has gone up by 50%.

Acupuncturist Deborah Waddell organized a course in Long Valley, New Jersey in February. She quipped, “It was a perfect time to show people they’re really not giving anything up.”

To focus on the damages caused to the environment caused by excessive consumerism innumerable schools have been screening a short film “The Story of Stuff”. Already more than 6.6 million have seen it since 2007 December says Tide Foundation of San Francisco. There is more traffic on websites dealing with getting close to Nature. The recession has been described as the wake-up-call!