Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Live Small and Prosper: It feels like we’re nearing some kind of edge

I know, 'feels like an edge coming' doesn't sound very scientific, does it?

But lately, I’ve been reading and then writing about US debt and its likely consequences on our over-exuberant lifestyles here in SW Ontario, home of Deforest City and the lovely little village that I call home.

And under the heading of ‘If the US economy has a hiccup many Canadians will find themselves in deeper doo-doo than they already are - which is not a pleasant thought,’ allow me to share the following from a wee ‘businessbriefs’ blurb in The London Free Press (Sept. 14):

The majority of Canadian workers live from paycheque to paycheque

59% say they would be in financial difficulty if their wages were delayed one week

The situation is worst among young people

75% of single-parent households say they wouldn’t be able to make ends meet


["Can we dial it back even a small bit?"]

66% of Canadians say it would be difficult to find a comparable position if they lost their jobs

And finally re top concerns:

Fears about the impact of rising interest rates

Fears about not being able to save for retirement

Fears about the economy slipping back into recession

Perhaps, by trusting in and driving the economy for so many years we’ve painted ourselves into a corner.

Or, we've driven ourselves closer to some kind of edge.

***

Can we shift toward a more sustainable way of life and reduce the fears many experience?

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