7 Things to Be Grateful for During Hard Times

March 11th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under • by tisha

While it is easy to think of many negatives during a financial struggle, it is very important that you shift focus and take gratitude a long hard look at the positives. Positive thinking is powerful and while it may not produce actual cash, it can help you refocus your goals and in turn, find more reasons to save.

Here are 7 things to be grateful for, even during the bad times:

Your Reconnection to Family
Since so many families have had to cut out entertainment resources outside of the house, you can be grateful for the chance you have to reconnect to your family at home. Playing board games, card games, or creating your own kind of free family fun is bringing families back to themselves again and allowing people to realize that putting family first is essential.

Your Reconnection to Close Friends
There is a good chance your friends have also made a commitment to start saving more money. Spending quality time hanging out at home is a blast once again. Too=busy lifestyles are being put to the side in favor of frugal get-togethers at home.

You Enjoy More Productive Time
If your idea of an afternoon out involved going to the mall for hours on end, you have more time now to find new, more productive hobbies. In fact, many people who have been hit hard by the recession have taken the opportunity to focus on frugality and have even turned it into a new career – one that brings home additional monies.

You Feel More In Control
In better times, you may have been less concerned with where you money went. Now that you are more in control of spending and your finances in general, you can relish the new money management habits you have been able to incorporate into your household.

You Patronize Your Local Community
Since money is tight, travel may be out of the question. You should be glad to have rediscovered the interesting facets of your own neighborhood. From museums to parks and historical places, you have the opportunity to check out local places of value you may have otherwise forgotten. You also help the neighborhood by contributing money to your local economy.

You Get To Rediscover Old Pleasures
As we grow, we develop different tastes but there are some tastes that still bring us comfort and a smile. Remembering and savoring a grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwhich doesn’t have to be embarrassing. Getting back to the basics is a great way to save money and have some fun with your tastebuds at the same time. It can also be great fun creating and sharing old family recipes with your spouse and kids since dining at home has become more common.

Your Stresses Have Been Reduced
Of course it is stressful to struggle financially but there are other stresses that can be reduced or eliminated all together. Since we as a society no longer feel the need to “keep up with the Jones’”, there can be quit a bit of relief to not have to overextend yourself financially anymore.