Do you feel like there is a money shortage for necessities?
By writersedge
@writersedge (22563)
United States
November 2, 2009 7:38am CST
In your home? In your extended family? In your community? In your state? In this country?
I think people are having to make choices between necessities. It's one thing when people have to forgo non-necessities like not go to a movie so you can have food or not pay for 100 channels on tv because you won't be able to pay for something that is a necessity. But another when people have to decide which necessity to pay and which one not. Like get medication or put gas in the car for work. Buy groceries or make part of a payment for the electric bill, etc. We're having to let our barn fall in (no animals in it)because we can't afford to brace it up.
Yet some places have worked on answers or are working on answers to a lack of money. They are following the example of Ithaca, NY. Ithaca prints some of its own curency. You can find out more by going to www.ithacahours.org and clicking on the site map. It tells you about the program, about the most frequently asked questions, and provides a directory of all the businesses that take payment in local currency. It's NOT meant to exist instead of USA dollars, but to increase cash flow and help people. It has been around since 1991 when 30 people started out to make a difference during a recession. It has continued and grown to about 900 businesses and thousands of people in Ithaca. There is even more information on www.ithacahours.com including success stories of people who use the currency for things they might not be able to afford or get paid for otherwise. There is also a list of communities in different states in the Union and Provinces in Canada as well as some listings of countries around the world that are looking into local currency.
3 people like this
6 responses
@cher913 (25781)
• Canada
2 Nov 09
we sure have amoney shortage in my house. my hubby lost his job in august so we are busy trying to make money in other areas while he looks for a job. i am fortunate that i have a good job but i only work 3 mornings a week. we have pretty much cut back to wear we can. it sounds interesting though (i am in canada).
3 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Nov 09
There are local money systems in Canada. How current some of the lists are, I don't know. Some are listed on the Ithaca site and some may be able to be searched. Local currency and your province would probably help a search.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I just looked at an enlarged version of your avatar, that is beautiful.
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
3 Nov 09
We have been faced with the need to pare down our expenses. With the need to purchase fuel to warm our home we need to cut expenses elsewhere. Our only entertainment is cable television and the internet. These will be hard to give up, but we may have to in the end.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
3 Nov 09
Yeah, I'm trying to get my husband to give up satelite tv. I'm the one that does the computer. Got this to be able to work online and for three years, I was working online when I worked for Blue Buffalo. My boss was in Watertown and the company was in Conneticut. Had to have computer to communicate with them. But I haven't worked for Blue since June.
He watches the same stuff on tv all the time. Told him to buy a couple of seasons of NCIS and watch reruns like he does for three hours every night, cheaper than 70 dollars a month for that.
Right now all my money goes for bills. I will be able to breathe easier when the third installment of my taxes comes in.
1 person likes this
@KrauseHome (36445)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I have heard about the way that Ithica does things on the News, and actually think this is a wonderful thing. Around here, they tried running a Trade and Barter company that the person who was running it did not know what she was really doing and ended up killing the idea, but personally there needs to be more help available around places to help people out, because there are times when you have to choose what is paid when, and then hope that you do not loose something you really need in the end. And since I am Diabetic I have to Budget the cost of my meds in, and sometimes forgo something else that paycheck that should have been paid as well.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 09
Their sites are amazing. I wanted to go to a meeting last year. But the weather was sooo bad. It's exciting what they've done. Many states have at least one area and some up to three that do this kind of thing. It's worth looking up to see if any area near you does this. I knew people who went to school in Ithaca and didn't even know the Ithaca Hours existed there.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 09
I found 2 for Washington State, but the last time this was updated was in 2001, so they may or may not still be running. The information could have changed, too.
Lopez Hour
Steve Ludwig
495 Aleck Bay Rd.
Lopez Island, WA 98261
360 468 2104
Sound Hours
Sound Exchange
Gail Sullivan
311 9th Avenue SE
Olympia, WA 98501
360 352-2428
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
14 Nov 09
Found this site, but I don't know anything about it, so be careful:
http://www.seattlewashingtontimebucks.org
or http://www.seatlewashingtomtimebucks.org
If that doesn't come up, a search with the key words listed there should come up.
I can't vouch for the site, have never used, so disclaimer cna't be held responsible.
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
6 Nov 09
We are comfortable so I feel very fortunate. We haven't had to make choices since my husband continues to work full time in a secure career. I feel so bad for those who struggle to pay bills and do have to make choices of which bill(s) to pay and which ones to delay payment or not pay at all. Makes me sad to hear some people have to sell their personal items in order to help pay the bills. I would like to see a program that offers a barter system. In other words, those who can't find jobs or lost their jobs could do something for the utility companies in place of actually paying the bill. It would take a much brighter person than myself to try to implement a program of this nature. It might work!
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
7 Nov 09
There are some places that have barter systems that assign points, I think it's called LETS program. But NY STate says that you must pay taxes are bartered items, so anyone who barters keeps silent about it.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
2 Nov 09
I think it depends on your lifestyle and spending habits. When I have extra enough to budget in some spending money for entertainment and non-essentials I spend freely within the limits and when there is no extra I only spend on what is absolutely essential to keep me going until the next upswing.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Nov 09
Well this was prompted by people having their electricity shut off because they had to either pay their rent or electricity or food or electricity. Also by people having to either go to a Dr. or buy gas. Or in my case, pay bills or keep my barn from falling down. Those people are no longer able to do the non-essentials versus essentials, they're at which essential do I pay and which do I let go. I'm letting my barn fall in. I used to have money for big repairs like that. I had new roofs put on my house (more than one roof on it), a well drilled, and a septic put in since I bought this house (since 1998). But I don't have any more money for large items. Just paying the bills. My husband had wanted to go to the movies and I was like, "We're letting the barn fall in. I have to figure out how to pay for our bills and you want to do what?"
So right now, you're where many people are and many more wish they were.
Have you ever heard of local currency? It's a really cool concept. Ithaca has animals, people, a waterfall, etc. on their currency. It's based on work and not on welfare. It's called hours because work is often paid by the hour. The sites are every bit as cool as where's george and then some. So if you get a chance to check out Ithaca Hours dot com and dot org, you may find it interesting. Not sure if Louisianna has local currency anywhere in that state or not. But many states are listed with their local currencies on it under other local currencies.
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Nov 09
This page might give you the idea of their local currency:
http://www.ithacahours.com/intro.html
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
2 Nov 09
Found Lousianna (spelling?)
http://www.progress.org/currency.htm
Has a Lousianna listing. Mo Money
Ithaca's listings haven't been updated since 2004, this might be more up to date, at least I'm hoping.
1 person likes this
@rosekiss (30413)
• Eugene, Oregon
3 Nov 09
I do feel that there isn't enoough mone to go around for the necessities of life. I have had to cut back myself, as I only have so much money for the month, and it only goes so far. I do have a mortgage, that I have to pay, so that really cuts into my income. I also have to pay property taxes, and not sure whre the money is coming from, but all I know is God will provide, and it will be there. Things are a lot more expensive than they used to be, that is for sure, so it seems that the money doesn't go as far as it used to. This economy is horrible, and I don't see it getting better anytime soon. I just have to do wthout a lot of things, but taht is okay, because if I don't have the money, I can't affort to buy it. I just hope that things to get better, and they might in time, but or now, I think we all have to tighten our belts and not spend like we used to. Take care, and happy mylotting. 
2 people like this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
3 Nov 09
Yeah, as long as your basic necessities are provided for. But more and more people, even with cutting back don't have the money to pay for just the necessities. Luckily, I drilled a well and put roofs on my house before all this started. If this had happened during the years my well went dry or I had a leak in my roof, I would have never made it. Our taxes can be divided by three. I hope you're able to get the money for property taxes. Luckily all my taxes are included in my mortgage so every month about 50 dollars of my mortgage goes toward all my taxes. I thought everyone's was like that, but I guess not.
Have you looked into local money at all? Wherever you are, there may be local currency and often that can help people afford things better. Often local money can be used to stretch food dollars as well as other necessities to make things like taxes easier to pay.
Happy Mylotting, too.
