Only Americans can fix America. Here’s my two cents’ worth, in the form of 11 things every American can do to improve our own lives, our families, our communities and our country:
11. Turn off the TV and pick up a book. We, as a collective of people, have fallen into a bloated state of self-induced ignorance. We know who the American Idol finalists are but have no idea how far we’ve slid into utter debt bondage to China, dependence on foreign oil and recklessness in our own nation’s economy.
10. Spend on things that matter. Stop eating out and save up for that roof that needs replacing. Do a great job maintaining your car and forego the designer jeans. By your kids good experiences and less stuff. Declutter. Buy only what you need. Buy good quality so things last. Cheapest is not always best.
9. Never use it all up. Always have extra cash on hand. Always have plenty of extra food. Have bottled water on hand, at least a weeks’ worth for every family member, plus pets. Squirrel away for a rainy day, always.
8. Learn how to be self-sufficient. If you’re snowed in and the power goes out, can you cook without electricity or gas? Could you feed your family? What about food contamination (remember the e-coli outbreak in eggs?) Can you manage without certain staples for awhile? Could you hole up at home for a month if you needed to and be okay?
7. Vote and be vocal. Demand financial stewardship of your elected officials. Pay attention to what’s happening. Know what you believe, issue by issue, and why. Don’t vote according to party lines. I promise you’re not 100% Republican or 100% Democrat, your beliefs will be a blend of those two and many other convictions that don’t line up with either. Party politics are a diversion for people who don’t pay attention and don’t know any better.
6. Read your Bible more than you watch the news. Have faith that you are in the palm of God’s hand. Seek to do His will every day. Don’t be afraid, God is in control.
5. If you still have living relatives who lived during the Great Depression, pick their brains. You may have the opportunity to implement their wisdom sooner than you think.
4. Save money. Save money. Save money. Then save some more. Try to have at least $2, 500 in cash in small bills at home, plus at least another $2,500 in the bank. You can do it – just stay out of Starbucks, stop calling Pizza Hut and limit trips to the grocery store. You’ll have the money before you know it.
3. Live below your means. If you make $5,000 a month, you better be living off $4,000.
2. Be generous. Help others. Share what you have. Tithe to your church and support causes that mean something to you.
1. Get going! Give 100% to your job. Or give 100% to your job search. Think positively and believe with all your heart that God intends the very best for you, because He does. Defeatist thinking never helped anyone. Get out there and get busy. Give your best to whatever you do and the results will take care of themselves.
Loading ...
