Your Personal Economic Stimulus Plan

Now here is story that reflects how people are feeling in general right now. In our little town, there was a story in the local paper about shops in town were closing. One lady said she couldn’t cut her costs anymore, so she was closing the shop because she didn't want to sign another year lease since she didn't know how the economy was going to do. It sounds like she is making a decision based on fear.

 This is the part that frustrates me. That means that the landlord is going to be without rental money for a while, so he will have less to spend. Why didn't she talk with him about a month to month lease, explaining her predicament, and possible impact to him if she closed her shop. She draws traffic, which has a positive effect on stores next door. She closes, some of that traffic will not materialize. See, it all feeds on itself.

 Maybe she did try to renegotiate, or was losing money at an un-sustainable rate, the story didn't elaborate, because it was too focused on the negative economic aspects.

 Now read this story on the opposite side of the economic fear spectrum.

 Last evening I saw a story on NBC nightly news segment called "Making a Difference". This was a story about a local pharmacist in Brewton, Al., a small town, with economic troubles of their own.

Here is the bright spot. The pharmacist decided to begin his own economic stimulus plan. He ordered $16,000 from his local bank in $2 bills. He then called a store meeting. Some were afraid of pending bad news. You know the typical story these days, "Uh oh, layoffs or store closing!" Instead, the pharmacist gave out the $16,000 to the employees with these instructions.

Do not use this money to pay bills. Do not put it into savings. Do give 15% to charity. Do spend it all locally. The use of the $2 bills was to let people see how spending their money locally helped other local businesses. So off they went. One fellow needed two mattresses, so he bought one mattress at one store, and the other mattress at another store. Thus he was helping two store owners. They earned a profit, giving them money to spend at other local stores, and so on. They are seeing those $2 bills all through their town reminding them that they do help each other.

The moral to this story is if you are working, if you are part of the 91% employed, then get out there and spend a little bit locally. 

If we could get the 91%, to stop listening to the instant evening news about how bad everything is, our attitudes would improve, and slowly we would resume living a normal life. So turn that evening news off for a week and see if your attitude improves. If the 91% would start this spending plan, you would then see on the evening news "Consumer spending is on the rebound", wall street would go crazy, and your stocks and retirement funds would begin rising. Did you know there is $4 Trillion sitting on the sidelines waiting to renter the stock market, hoping to catch it at the bottom? Once the flood gate opens, it will be a tidal wave of buying and computerized trading.

There are some great bargains to be had right now. Fall and winter clothing is on sale, so it is a great time to start that early Christmas, or birthday shopping now. You save money, you help stimulate the economy.

Need a new car? This is the best time since 1974 to buy a new car. In fact, new cars are even close in price to late model used cars. Plus you can help those folks out in Michigan, and other states that supply parts, the truckers that carry those parts.

You have the potential to create more jobs than anything stimulus plan that Congress can put into place. 

So if you are ready to go spend a bit of money, here is a website that offers advice on saving money by getting free shipping, coupons, etc. www.savemoney.com

and the save money blog.

Also, if you just need a good laugh to take your mind off all that emphasized depressing news, go to my joke blog, www.zjokes4u.blogspot.com, to help put a smile on your face.

Let's get this economy moving!!!