Thoughts on Spending in a New Economy

Like most people these days, I find myself in the position of having to think very carefully about how I spend my money. While we were never quite rolling in the dough, my boyfriend and I had both been in good-paying jobs for some time, we are childless and mortgage-less. Before the world shifted and the economy took a nose dive, we spent fairly freely - there were no restraints on our food and entertainment budgets, and I will admit to a certain amount of recreational shopping. Now... my real estate career and my boyfriend's work have slowed considerably. Fortunately for me, I have other things to fall back on and fortunately for most of us on Nantucket, seasonal tourism will inject some much needed cash flow into our economy very soon. We will be fine, but the reality hit many months ago that our days of thoughtlessly spending money are gone for the foreseeable future.

It's not that bad, to be honest. I like to know that I can comfortably pay my bills, and beyond that, the financial restrictions have brought us back to a lifestyle that feels simpler and somehow more peaceful (despite the money worries always in the periphery). I find myself returning to a more creative lifestyle, and this new economy has forced us revisit and restructure our priorities: connecting with our families and friends and time spent really experiencing and enjoying life on our beautiful island with less focus on material gain.

This new economy has also forced me to really consider how I am spending the money I do have to spend. For example, this year we are participating in a CSA through our friend's farm/nursery Seaside Gardens here on Nantucket. We are paying for a season's worth of organic produce in advance, and come June we will begin to receive, every week, a bag of freshly picked veggies and herbs. This will supplement the small plot of veggies that we grow here at our home. I feel good about spending my money with a small, locally owned and operated business that practices organic agriculture vs. our large chain grocery store. The locally-grown produce I buy requires fewer petroleum based products (fuel for shipping and plastic packaging), reflects my ideals for a healthy environment, supports our local economy by providing much needed jobs, and assures that the money I spend in my community stays in my community.

I've now started reflecting on how the choices we make about how we spend our money can help both individuals and entire communities at a time when many people are struggling. I still need to by gifts, and I do want to treat myself with a new something-or-other occasionally, so it's not just about the essentials. I am trying to "buy local" as much as possible rather than ordering online, and I am taking the time to consider ways that I can buy from individual craftspeople and small businesses.

A few useful sites for finding beautiful handmade and locally produced items:

Etsy - You probably know Etsy already; if you don't, take a moment to check this site out. Etsy features handmade items (everything from artwork to shoes to books), supplies for creating your own handmade, and vintage items. They even have a "Shop Local" search function so you can locate sellers from your area.

Art Fire - Same idea as Etsy, an online marketplace for handmade items, supplies, and vintage items.

The Crafts Report has a great online craft show finder, you can search their database by show name, date, and location.

I love the Local Harvest web site. It has search functions that help you connect with farmers in your area. You can search for farmers markets, CSAs, restaurants that offer locally grown food, and co-ops. You can also search by item and producers of everything from chocolate to seafood to yarn.

While I'm in this vein, I just started a Style Hive account, you can find me under Twill and Dot. This is another way to find unique and handmade items.




If you still aren't convinced, please visit the Why Buy Handmade? web site. There you will find great links and articles on Conscientious Consumption, the Handmade Movement, why buying handmade is better for the environment, challenging the big box stores, and more.

Have a great weekend, and happy shopping!