Life Challenges - I Accept!

 

Life always comes with its ups and downs regardless of what is going on in the world outside our door.  For some, it may feel difficult to step out our doors and face whatever life has to offer on any given day.  You just never know what might happen.  It is important not to lose hope and be willing to face whatever comes our way and meet it head on.  Much of what we face every day is far beyond our control.  Prices are rising at a rate most of us have never seen in our lifetimes and it affects everything – food, utilities, education, travel and transportation, goods and services, medical care and even our entertainment.  To meet these challenges I am happily becoming more resourceful.  Even more importantly, I am choosing to become more resourceful.  

 

Daily Transportation 

Instead of worrying about how I can afford to fill the gas tank on my car and truck I am choosing instead to figure out ways to purchase less fuel.  I am walking, riding my bike and taking the bus and using my car for just a weekly trip to run errands.   When I do go to the gas station I will only need to purchase five or ten gallons of fuel at a time instead of needing to fill the entire tank.  To save even more I will fill up at gas stations that I can use my rewards points for discounts and pay with a credit card that gives me 4% cash back on gas purchases.

 

Food & Health 

Food and my health are interconnected.  I am focused on eating good quality nutritious food as that is going to be my fuel to keep me going each day.  Making sure I have plenty of protein in my diet to keep my muscles in good shape is important so the bulk of my grocery dollars are spent on the best quality meat and seafood I can afford.  Fresh and frozen vegetables, a little bit of fruit and some dairy is next on the list.  To make sure I can best afford this I take advantage of coupons, digital store offers, sales and markdowns.  I have also adjusted my spending in other areas to free up money for these important purchases.

 

I make simple meals.  I cook at home from scratch, I make most of my own condiments and salad dressings, I plan my meals based on what I already have on hand, I batch cook or meal prep and make my own convenience food and freezer meals.  There are no quick trips through the drive thru for this girl, in fact it has never been one of those things I was ever prone to do.  Eating out has always been viewed as a treat, never a necessity.

 

Consume Less 

For the most part, I stay out of the stores and shop a whole lot less online.  I tell myself “I have plenty” and it is true.  If I think I need to go out and buy something I push the pause button and really give that purchase a lot of thought.  Nine times out of ten I can find something I already have in the house to do the job.  I make do with what I have and I take care of it too.  I make repairs or mend items to make them last longer.  I keep things clean, protected and well maintained.  I do as much as I can, and do it myself, to avoid costly repairs or replacements.

 

Find FREE 

There are a lot of ways to do things and enjoy life that doesn’t cost anything.  I like to go for a bike ride with a packed lunch, stop at a park and eat it and then ride back home.  Our city offers a ton of free activities so I keep a watchful eye on the community calendar.  Several of our churches offer a free dinner once a month which is a great way to go out to eat and meet new people.  If I’m hankering for a movie night I can pull out one of my own DVDs or find something on Youtube, pop some popcorn (in a pot on the stove) and settle on in.  In the summertime our city offers free movie nights in some of our parks where you can spread out a blanket, bring your own food and enjoy the movie on a giant screen. 

Check Facebook Marketplace for FREE items when you are in need.  Clothing swaps are a great place to get used clothing at no cost.  The Bicycle Project can get you bicycle or help you repair yours and it costs you nothing.  If you are low income you may qualify for free bus passes.  Our county has a program for eligible seniors to receive a monthly food box delivered to their home.  Meals On Wheels delivers hot prepared food to seniors Monday through Friday.  Once a year there is a community health fair offering free screenings, immunizations and other resources to help people.  We also have free medical and dental care clinics available to those in need.

 

Our food banks and various food pantries throughout the area can help bridge the gap when things run low and payday is still a ways away.  There is no shame in accepting help from one when you need it.  Our city provides a list of them to assist people in getting what they need.  Many of these pantries can also provide toiletries, hygiene products, dish soap and laundry detergent.  The university here has a beautiful food pantry for their students that offers pretty much anything they might need.  If you want to give back you can donate money, items or your time by volunteering.

 

Embrace Community 

We’ve become a society that doesn’t necessarily interact well with others.  Many of us don’t even know our neighbors.  I encourage you to find your tribe.  Touch base with your friends and relatives and form a group.  Each of us has something we can bring to the table to help each other out whether it is knowledge, a skill or even a tool that one can share with others - trade labor, trade goods, trade advice and ideas.  Help each other rake leaves, paint, work on vehicles, or whatever needs to be done.  Connect with each other and form bonds so you are not alone.

 

As we age I think it becomes even more important for us to stick together and help each other out.  Aging comes with its own struggles on top of everything else we have to deal with.  Having good companionship can go a long way in helping us navigate the bumps in the road.

 

I want to encourage you to take a look at things with a different lens and to become better prepared and more resourceful as you move forward.  By being better prepared things will be easier in the long run, and by that, I think we become less fearful.  I want you to feel empowered to take things on and to be successful at it.  We can do this!