In Times of Economic Crisis, Support Local
As countless financial advisers have announced, the best way to keep the economy from collapsing is to support it. Looking back at history, it is easy to see that the panic about economic depressions often has a more disastrous effect than the factors which caused the problem in the first place. Just like rushes on banks caused banking institutions to crumble in the early 1930s, removing money from the market only contributes to its decline.
If you want to make sure that your community makes it through this time of economic uncertainty and struggle, then you need to be actively making an investment in it. Supporting local is a lot easier than you might think, and all it requires of you is a little bit of forethought and follow-through. Instead of ordering something online, for example, buy it locally. If you can purchase an item from an independent merchant rather than a big-box store, that's all the better, as more of your money will stay in the community. But even if the item you want isn't available from a local independent seller, the big-box store in your town is still a better option, as that store employs people in your community who will hopefully be spending their money locally. If everyone makes an effort to support locally- from farmers to booksellers to insurance salesmen, you'd be amazed at how much of that stays in your community and even makes its way back to you!
While a barter community feels like a thing of the past, you'd be surprised how much of that still goes on in today's society. If you have a skill that can be of use to others, you might consider bartering with them for a skill or product that you need. Both of you benefit, and neither of you have to spend money from a tight budget to gain the services or products you need or desire.
Building Your Own Sense of Community
Growing up in a community of Polish immigrants, the concept of community was just a way of life. My family and I sought the cool summer breezes on our stoop since we didn?t have air conditioning and it allowed us to socialize with our neighbors. When a new neighbor moved in on the street, we would almost bombard them with casseroles, baked goods, and other homemade offerings that were our way of saying welcome to the neighborhood, and to our family.
My parents were so distant from their family that they created their own through close ties with friends. Because of this, my concept of family was always fluid; past coworkers, friends, friends of friends, and their children are just another extension of my family. My children have grown up with the same concept of community identity, and I love it. Teaching children about tolerance and inclusion through example is what I strive for, and I know these qualities will open their world and enrich their lives as they experience a variety of cultures in the world.
To build community with a variety of people in all walks of life and cultures, consider taking your children volunteering the community. Taking children to visit patients at nursing homes and veterans hospitals and helping serve the homeless at the soup kitchens are just a few of the ways you can enhance your childrens'-and your own- awareness of the world around them. Before you know it, you?ll be talking to the people in line with you at the grocery store, making friends as you wait for hours at the DMV, and brightening the days of all the people you encounter. If you look toward everyone you meet as a future friend, you?ll build community more quickly than you can ever imagine. It?s worth reiterating that it?s important to be careful when talking with people you don?t know, being cautious and following your instincts. But don?t let the ?don?t talk to strangers? childhood mantra keep you from building potentially life-changing, valuable relationships.
Community and Communication
Traveling with an International Cell Phone Rental
One of the most important things to ask yourself when preparing to embark on an international journey, is what are you going to do about having a reliable form of communication? If you think your best bet is to simply take your regular phone with you and use it as you would back home, you'd better think again. Not only might your phone not even work at your destination, but if it does--you can bet that it will cost you a pretty penny to use it.
So what do you do? Well, pay phones aren't exactly the most viable options these days, as they are disappearing rapidly, and in the event that you find one, prepare to deal with foreign operators and/or fickle phone card services. That leaves you with the solution of an international phone rental with a local calling plan that will keep your rates locked in at a low price for international calls. If you think that sounds good, wait until you hear that you can get just about any kind of phone shipped to your doorstep with the plan you choose. That even includes an international Blackberry rental if that is your device of preference. All you have to do is place the order for the phone and the plan you desire (based on the communication features you require and your travel destination), and it arrives right at your doorstep before you depart.
With an international cell phone rental , there will be no surprise charges and fees. You'll know in advance the rates you will be charged, so you don't come home to an unpleasant surprise in the form of a bill. When you arrive home from your trip, simply return the phone in the provided prepaid shipping package, and you're done! International cell phones are great for folks who travel a lot for business, students, or just about anyone traveling abroad for any length of time. Don't be stuck without a reliable mode of contact when you're far from home--ensure that you're more than prepared by renting an international cell phone before you go.