In tough economic times, many people spend less and tighten their belts in order to avoid getting into financial trouble. Others on a macroeconomic level of thinking prefer to spend the same amount of money to keep the economy going in the hopes conditions will improve sooner. I fall between these two camps. Below is a list of what I am doing differently since the beginning of the recession (which happened conveniently around the same time I became an adult).

1. I do not eat out as much.
2. I use coupons.
3. I look for free stuff.
4. I invest every penny I save.
5. I do not drive.
6. I try to only make money from home.
7. I have expanded my interests and possible careers to more than just writing.
8. I have worked on my employability skills faithfully.
9. I have lived at home, or with roommates, the entire time.
10. I have cut back on smoking (and am working on quitting).
11. I seek free forms of therapy, like hobbies and writing, rather than always staying on medications and seeing a therapist weekly.
12. I have tried to create passive income as much as possible.
13. I am more productive, but more stressed.
14. I have made more friends who would prefer to stay home.
15. I cook a lot more.
16. I do not buy name brands unless I have a coupon.
17. I have begun exercising more to work off the extra weight I have put on from the stress.
18. I have begun meditating.
19. I am happier.
20. I am healthier.
21. I am better financially.

I have learned many things about being frugal, both from necessity and from desire to master a new skill. We rarely do things outside of the home because things inside are just as enjoyable and are much cheaper to do. I find myself spending more time talking with family and less time getting into trouble.

I hope some of these are relateable. What have you done since the recession, either directly or indirectly?