I have been thinking about this entire financial meltdown of late, thinking alot about it to be honest and I am thinking perhaps that there could be a silver lining to the entire thing. Lets face it Americans have become a nation of consumers, mostly on credit. The average American family has credit card debt of $30,000.00. They have that debt because they bought what? Groceries? Nope, while some people use their credit cards for groceries the majority do not. Fuel? Yes, perhaps. With gas prices being what they are it could be accepted that people are using their credit cards to fill up their vehicles, but probably not. But remember this 30,000 in credit card debt occurred and was accumulated PRIOR to the current financial crisis so chances are (and I would guess the odds are really good) that the 30,000 is as a result of people going out shopping, as a hobby, as opposed to a necessity, and buying stuff they neither need, probably don't want, and ultimately have no place to store. I have a simple equation, if you live in a standard three bed two bath home and you have to rent a storage unit to store stuff, then guess what, you have too much stuff. Perhaps this entire financial meltdown will make people stop and think, shopping is NOT a hobby, it is a chore, you go shopping when you need something, like food, or a new pair of shoes cause your old ones have worn out, you don't go out shopping because your current pair of shoes are blue and this year everyone is wearing green. Perhaps it is time to darn socks instead of throwing them away. Perhaps it is time to get that appliance or TV repaired when it breaks down as opposed to throwing it in the landfill and buying a new one. Perhaps it is time to get that car repaired and regularly serviced as opposed to going and buying a new one. Perhaps it is time to indulge in the ultimate recycling, buying clothes from thrift stores. Perhaps it is time for more people to grow more of their own food, and therefore cutting down on pesticides and additives that go into their food. Perhaps it is time to insulate homes so they use less power, use the fireplace for what it was created to heat the home, time to reuse sour cream cartons for food storage instead of buying food storage containers from the store. Time to reuse grocery bags as opposed to collecting more every time you go to the store. Time to join Freecycle.org and offer your unwanted stuff to people who could probably use it, or even find something that someone has that you could use. You might be surprised to know that people would actually want your piles of leaves from your lawn, or even your lawn cuttings, people who have compost piles LOVE those things. Time to stop throwing things in the trash that someone out there can find a use for. Time to change all your lightbulbs from the regular type to the new energy efficient type. Time to use old t-shirts as rags as opposed to using paper towels. Time to donate all of that stuff you have accumulated and that you have no use for to a local homeless shelter or to a local thrift store. How many coats do you have in your closet? How many do you wear? How many have you not worn for a year or more? This financial fiasco is going to mean that alot more people are out on the streets, and are going cold. Donate your unused coats to the local homeless shelter, and while you are at it, donate some food too.

If this situation can change people's mindset and turns them into a nation of savers, a nation of recyclers, a nation of givers, instead of a nation of mindless consumers then perhaps there is hope.