As I was flipping through a magazine, I saw an article featuring some high-end clothes for children. There were outfits starting at $200 and going up. When I was a child, I didn’t have designer clothes. Although I don’t think there were any real designer clothes. Two hundred dollars could buy a child’s wardrobe.

Children are just additional pawns in the consumer wars. Looking fashionable and presentable was always something important as a teenager. You didn’t want to be an outcast. The outfits for younger children who can barely read and will definitely grow out of them soon makes no sense to me. I prefer to buy something that will last and has a more classic look so I can wear it for a lot longer than just that season.

What about the adults? The economic stimulus package that is being bounced around is so that people can continue their lifestyles. Basically, we spend too much, and save too little. We have been doing that for years and now we have come to a crossroads. In order to preserve our lifestyle (a nicer word than poor, middle or upper class status) we need to have some spending power. Those with the least spending power will have less in a recession and those who had more have less during a recession.

Retailers are being innovative and trying to toss in little perks to get people to spend the money that they do have. This doesn’t mean that people have something to spend. For some the spending hasn’t been with cash and that’s the crux of the problem.

Some Americans are coming to saving late. Being thrifty and frugal was not seen as something that was cool. It’s as though we were all galloping along and pulled the reins of our horses and then we were thrown off.

I think that the money we receive as part of the stimulus package should be saved, donated and spent on local items. If you don’t have debt. For those in debt, use some of it to help you get out of debt. If you buy something with your government money, make sure it is made in the United States or supports a local business in your community.

We do not need to spend more to enjoy life. You can enjoy life on a little. Money may fail you but if you learn to life on less you will make it. Bring back thrift.

Michael Kinsley sums it up well…

“Here’s a thought. Suppose we don’t go further into debt in the name of fiscal stimulus. Suppose we stop selling ourselves piece by piece to foreigners (and suppose we stop blaming the foreigners for problems of our own making).”

I agree and while we’re at it put some money away for the future as well.