Things You'll Need:
- A Good Attitude
- Creativity
- Willingness to change old habits
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Step 1
Reduce. Get rid of all the stuff you don't need. I wrote an article on how to start decluttering your home (in resources at the bottom) earlier on eHow. My first garage sale --full of stuff I didn't need-- made me over $500. You have filled your house with stuff and things and all they do is remind you that you need stuff and things to have a home. Break this habit! Once you rid yourself of much of your clutter, you can think more clearly and better enjoy the things you have that are truly important.
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Step 2
Reuse. Before you throw something out because it is broken or damaged, ask yourself if it can be fixed. There comes a great satisfaction from fixing a thing, and skills like sewing, basic carpentry, and car maintenance are all great skills to have. If you don't know how to fix it, chances are there is an article on eHow! Save the money and spend the time learning something new.
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Step 3
Research. Every local paper has a "what's happening" section and often the events are free or very low cost. Go see a kite parade, listen to a poet read from his or her work, help wrap presents for a charity, learn how to say a few phrases in Cantonese. Getting out of the house, away from the TV and computer, will give you more to think about and more life lived.
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Step 4
Barter. I have worked out trades with a massage therapist, a chiropracter, a carpenter, and a junk hauler. Things are tough all over, and while we all want to make a buck, we all love to save them, too... What can you offer someone in exchange for a service you need? Be creative! Lots of people need babysitters, petsitters, errands run, help with fix-it projects. There are new opportunities to barter on craigslists everyday. And websites like couchsurfing.com allow you to trade things like a stay in your home for a stay in someone else's home in nearly every country in the world.
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Step 5
Enlist your friends. Instead of Ladies Night Out, how about ladies night in? Have a potluck, put on mud masks, and watch a chick flick. Much cheaper (safer than drunk driving) and with an environment you can actually hear eachother in, you can have conversations and make connections. Guys can start a weekly poker game or "Lawn Posse"--each weekend the whole group goes to a different members house and does all the yard work, gutter cleaning, garage clean up, and the host makes dinner. Start a book club, but don't all read the same books, just get together and talk about reading. Or a writing group, a crafting group, a hobbyist group. Connecting with other people should be free and more rewarding than the newest gaming console or Manolo heels.
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Step 6
Be compassionate. This is going to take some time, go easy on yourself when you get frustrated or down. And understand that those around you are struggling, too. Get a good night's rest. Be kind. Do your best. We will get through this!
