Erin's Lounge

I have to say…this recession we’re in seems to be taking a bit of a bigger toll on all of us than we might have originally thought.¬† Dragging on longer than some of us more optimistic ones had thought.¬† So many of my friends are out of work.¬† So many of my friends with small businesses are struggling.¬† So many people that I know seem to have just given up.¬† But over the last year my outlook about this entire thing has come full circle.¬† I did a post, last year, that discussed benefits the recession would have on your lounging schedule.¬† Because whether you call it lounging or not, staying at home instead of going out is the only option for so many right now.¬† So you might as well make the most of it.

Here, I’ll highlight some of my previous recession lounging tips and add on a few more.

Last Year…
I wrote about shopping at my local Latin grocery store where produce was too cheap to be true!  Great meals at home are really nice and economical, but the wrong shopping destination can make them equally as expensive as going out.

This year…
Since the recession forced the doors closed on my Latin grocery store, I’m all over Trader Joe’s.¬† I mean, I love Whole Foods as much as the next person, but eggs cost double what you can get them for at Trader’s.¬† I also occasionally visit Fresh and Easy.¬† Not as great as Trader Joe’s but I do eat a lot of popcorn and it’s really cheap there for some reason.¬† Costco can also be great for SOME things (produce, salmon, Kirkland’s vinegar).

Last Year…
I wrote about ordering cheap Thai food or Pizza when you really don’t feel like cooking and you want to stay in and keep within your budget.

This Year…
If I’m being honest, that cheap pizza was really bad.¬† A frozen gourmet pizza from the grocery store costs the same thing and tastes better.¬† But since I’m on this new health kick, I have to say that I cook ALL the time.¬† This eating in has forced me to eat the best I ever have.¬† Check out some of my easy, favorite recipes that keep me healthy and more than happy about home cooking.¬† You can even turn these meals into dinner parties and invite friends.

Last Year…
I mentioned I had to cut out my Netflix due to lack of time and look at Blockbuster every now and then. I also began to focus on my overfilled Tivo.

This Year…
I found a new movie option.¬† It’s not super convenient, but the Redbox is great if you want to see a movie now and know you can return it within 24 hours.¬† You can even reserve them online! Not a perfect solution, but they usually have all of the new releases and you can return them to any Redbox, not just the one where you picked up your movie.¬† So that’s a plus.

This year I’m also trying to spend more time reading.¬† It’s an old method of entertainment but a good one!¬† I even heard that more people are taking advantage of public libraries.¬† I, personally, don’t have a library card for the Los Angeles Public Library, but as soon as I finish this post, I plan to go online and see if I can apply online.¬† I’m a big fan of sharing books and swapping them with friends.¬† I also know you can rent movies at the library, so that may be an option for many as well.

We’ll all make it through these rougher economic times.¬† Many of us just have to approach things a little differently.¬† I see it as a time to really work on things that I need to work on like my mind (through reading more), my spirit (through keeping faithful and hopeful about the future) and body (through healthier eating at home and with friends).

eb-