The Old Gray Mare She Ain’t What She Used to Be
I am reminded today of the song “The Old Grey Mare She Ain’t What She Used to Be.â€
You likely remember that tune…I was humming it today when I filled the car up with gas. I remembered my son calling early this morning while he was driving back into Columbia to work from a job in Charlotte. He was listening to NPR (National Public Radio) and called me to say there had been a talk show on discussing the fact that the dollar wasn’t worth nearly as much as it used to be. He gave me a few examples and we talked about that a few minutes more.
I remembered when his Dad and I went to Britain the first time to visit my family. The dollar had an exchange rate of 2.83 pounds to our one dollar.
That was a good exchange rate and we loved it as we shopped over there. Today it is has almost reversed in value….and the euro far surpasses our exchange rate as well.
All this to say that, our dollar bill sure isn’t valued at what it used to be. Or, maybe what we’re really saying is that everything costs much more than it used to.
Think about gas. How in this world to people do it? I suspect many people just go out less – just so they have enough money to get back and forth to work, etc.
So how do you handle it with the dollar being worth less?
I think you either cut way back, OR just work longer. If you look at us, I believe many of us just work more.
I do have some friends who have cut back and they seem much happier these days. They sold their big fine home and bought a more modest house, they still drive their “new†car that is now much older, sold their boat and skidoos, and just seem to be living a very comfortable life…all well within their budget.
If you drive in any given neighborhood, you will see foreclosure signs all over the place. Have you noticed that?
I suspect many of us are living way over our means and the weakness in the dollar is not helping at all.
My wish for you today is that you live within your means and that you do it with grace and dignity. The pressures will be less and the real joys of life can be embraced even more.
~ Joellen