Thing$ Going $$South Pt 2: Is Greece slip sliding away?

Some readers will recall I wrote a series (brilliant, no doubt) a while back (time flies when you’re having a good time, eh) of some significance pertaining to many of the cost$, and fee$ and taxe$ that are going north in this country - and making more than a few people just a wee bit snarky I might add.

Thing$ that are also going $$south. (Please link to Thing$ Going $$South Pt 1)

Greece’s economy is another example. It shrank “more than expected in the second quarter and unemployment climbed to 12%, reflecting the pain of austerity measures agreed to with lenders to overcome the country’s financing crisis.” (London Free Press, Friday the 13th; now, isn’t that timely!)

Greece’s GDP dropped by 1.5% in April, May and June and as is often the case, things may get worse before they get better.

In other words, larger hits to personal consumption may lie just around the corner.


England is belt tightening too. Government costs are being cut, taxes are increasing. So Greece isn’t alone as lifestyles take a hit, or go south.

I recall loud gnashing of teeth could be heard when Greece first introduced austerity measures and it made me think that austerity is a dish best served late at night when people are asleep.

It is also best appreciated by those who self-impose restrictions on spending instead of waiting for the roof to fall in upon their heads.

I think those who practice austerity now (in as many ways as possible) and save for the future - rather than accumulate debt as is the trend - will be better prepared for the inevitable, i.e., higher fuel prices, taxes, levies, fees, etc.

A practiced retreat from excessive consumption has many benefits, from cleaner air and fewer smog alerts to a healthier savings account.

Retreat. Not a bad word, in my opinion.

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We actually have had fewer smog alert days in the last few years.

(Link to air quality site at this post)

Does the recession help our air quality?

I would say yes.

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