Economic Status

When the winds of fortune change, it doesn’t mean disaster for everyone. In the past couple of years, I’ve had the strange, unreal experience of moving up the ladder in socioeconomic status without moving in any real sense. I still have my low-pay, dead-end job. These days, just having a job, any job, is a boost. I thank the Good Lord every day for my continued employment, because I know it could end tomorrow. Despite modest raises, when real inflation is factored in (see shadowstats), I make less than I did ten years ago. Nonetheless, in comparison to a large portion of the population, I’m doing quite well. A strange place to be, indeed.

You see, until the economic downturn, I felt that I was far behind my peers in economic achievement.  A lot of people my age have acquired assets such as a home, investments, and a retirement plan. I, on the other hand, have lived in rented abodes, driven old cars, and eaten a lot of spaghetti. Investments? I think I’ve heard of those. I got by, but it wasn’t fancy. It was hard. There was an enormous amount of pressure to have a lot more than I ever did, and I felt it keenly. As I stated in the intro to this blog, I expected to be doing better by now. I am certainly doing better than I was when my children were small. I never dreamed that raising three children in poverty would become a distinct advantage. I am better prepared to weather the depression to come because I have already dealt with some of the challenges. I know how to cope with economic adversity. I’ve had plenty of practice.

2008, The Crash, Part I: There is something to be said for having nothing to lose. Gas prices really bit into the grocery budget, but otherwise, it didn’t seem to make a lot of difference. Businesses closed, and a lot of people lost their jobs and the fat paychecks that went with them. Their investments and homes lost value overnight. Assumptions about the future evaporated in the blink of an eye. We’ll leave behind the fact that much of the wealth enjoyed was in fact, illusory. That’s a blog for another day. But these things happened to other people. My situation stayed the same.

Regarding status: I’m a security guard. It’s a really low status job. I like my job. I’m not looking for sympathy. Where else can you get paid to do (practically) nothing all day? I’ve had other, higher-status jobs. The pay was about the same, but I had to work a lot harder to get to the same nowhere. (I seemed to always find the jobs where hard work was rewarded with a heavier workload, not raises and promotions.) Here is something you probably don’t know about security work: Most people wash out within six months. They can’t handle the boredom, restrictions, or requirements. It’s an easy job to get, but not easy to keep. When economic collapse (The Crash, Part II) really sets in, security will be a good place to be. People are going to want to protect what they have. If your job is precarious, you may want to consider putting in an application at a local security firm. They may not hire you now, but when stuff hits the fan, there could be a lot of work.

Back to status: Any job, even a “lesser” job, bestows status these days. Having been a welfare mom in the nineties, I am acutely aware of the collective change in attitudes about status.

So here I am, caught in this weird twist in reality. The winds of fortune have moved the definition of success a little closer to me. I’m not doing anything differently, but my relative socioeconomic status has been raised. I’m dismayed by the change in so many people’s fortunes. I feel no triumph at their loss. While it is decidedly odd to change status while remaining in the same place, I would be dishonest if I didn’t admit to liking my rise in stature just a little bit.

Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Updated below!

I apologize for my long silence. I had a serious case of writing burnout, as online classes are very writing intensive. I am taking a break from classes for a while.

Meanwhile, I'm discovering many other ways to live better on less.

The latest discovery: Homemade microwave popcorn!

This is something I never even considered doing myself. Partly because I despise most commercial microwave popcorn. But some I can make myself...well, that may prove to be irresistible.

Evidently, all you need are fairly fresh popcorn kernels, a paper bag, and a microwave. You need fresh popcorn because it has the moisture needed to pop the corn.

(What you don't need is the loads of unknown fat and chemicals that go with most packaged microwave popcorn. Fat, in and of itself, is not a bad thing, but some fats a far better than others. The key here is that you control what goes into your popcorn.)

One blogger recommends using 1/4 cup of popcorn kernels &1/2 teaspoon of olive oil in a paper bag with the top folded down and crimped. Pop as you would normally pop a smaller bag of commercial popcorn. There is a related page about how to make kettle corn on the site as well.

At The Yummy Life there are tips on how to make popcorn in a microwave safe bowl and a related post on different flavors you can create.

For my own part, I'll be picking up some organic* popping corn, and trying my own microwave popcorn with some butter and salt. I'll report back on my own results soon.

UPDATE: I have tried two versions so far. One involved butter in a glass bowl. The popcorn was delicious, but the butter at the bottom of the bowl burned.  I also put some unadorned popcorn in a paper bag and microwaved it. It popped up beautifully but was somewhat tasteless. In both cases, it took longer than packaged popcorn does to pop, so put some extra time on when you cook it. As with the commercial popcorn, stand by and listen carefully.

Neither version caused the usual bloaty feeling that commercial microwave popcorn causes me. Big plus!

Here are the website addresses I have linked in this post:

• http://tipbusters.com/2011/microwave-popcorn-in-a-brown-paper-bag/
  
  http://tipbusters.com/2012/microwave-kettle-corn-in-a-brown-paper-bag/
  
  http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2012/04/303/Healthy+Microwave+Popcorn+--+10+sweet+%26+savory+flavor+recipes+using+coconut+oil%3B+100+calories+%28or+less!%29
  
  http://www.theyummylife.com/blog/2011/02/146/Homemade+Microwave+Popcorn+-+Healthier,+Cheaper,+%26+Greener

*Note: I recommend organic popping corn because genetically modified (pesticide resistant) corn has been approved for human foods now, and it won't be labeled. The only way you can be sure you aren't getting GMO corn is to buy organic. Since the corn in pet food makes my pets sick, I don't care to try it myself. But that's another story for another day.

Inflation

We all tend to think of inflation as a rise in prices. In fact, rising prices are a result of inflation.

Inflation is an expansion in the money supply.

Money supply expands when it is created into existence without a corresponding rise in goods and services. Like when the Federal Reserve quietly injects more than 20 Trillion dollars (by some estimates) into the banking system over a three-year period. The money did not come from anywhere. It didn't exist until the Fed said it did.

When there are more dollars, but there aren’t more goods, (like gasoline, sugar, and corn) the prices of those goods rise because there are more dollars competing for an unchanged number of goods.

In the end, goods have not gained value. They aren’t more valuable today than they were last year. Instead, the value of the dollar has fallen. It buys less than it did before.

Expansion in the money supply = currency losing value. That is why prices are so high and rising.

For more comprehensive information on inflation, see John Williams' Shadow GovernmentStatistics .

On Poverty

Several weeks ago I read a comment responding to an article about the “plight of the poor” in the US. The respondent was a paramedic who regularly made calls in public housing areas. He said that he was discouraged by parents who had big screen TV’s, expensive clothes, and other costly items sitting around, but couldn’t seem to come up with money (or be bothered) to buy Motrin for a feverish child or get them to a doctor. He took issue with their choices and priorities. I see his point.

I got me thinking about poverty and money management. There is a difference between being poor by statistical measures, and living poorly.

Admittedly, we all come up short from time to time. Emergencies can catch us off guard. The car loves to break down when the bank balance is lowest. There is a line between having enough to meet your needs and falling short of sufficient income. There are some costs that cannot be further reduced beyond a certain point. There is also a point where it becomes possible to get by. Whether or not you can do it is up to you.

In some cases, a very low income will undoubtedly mean an impoverished life. But in other cases, is it lack of income, or poor money management, that causes poverty? How is it that some couples who collectively make about $100k per year have so much trouble paying their bills that their lights and water are regularly turned off, while others making less than a quarter of that keep the bills paid?

A lot of people live in “technical” poverty. Their incomes are low enough to qualify for public assistance, but they don’t seek any. Yet they live fairly well. They certainly aren’t miserable. It isn’t a fancy life. It means doing without sometimes, making things yourself, cooperative efforts, finding things at thrift shops, and not having the newest and latest electronics. Some people call it “living within your means”. It often means redefining what it means to live well. It means shutting out the noise that tells us we need more and more, that we deserve newer, bigger, better.

What it comes down to is being really, really careful how you spend what money you have.

You can be impoverished because you just don’t have enough money. You can also be impoverished because you don’t manage what you have. Know the difference.

Do It Yourself Sweet & Sour Sauce

I love Chinese food. One combo plate can be stretched for 3 or 4 meals. Still, the money can go a lot further at the grocery store. Sigh. Responsibility is such a drag…

Let’s face it, inflation is strangling budgets in most households these days. Going out to eat is a getting more rare all the time. So when hit by that sweet-and-sour chicken craving, it’s time to get creative.

Armed with search engine, the perusing-of-recipes begins. I never knew that sweet & sour was so basic. It’s made up of just a few ingredients:

Sugar
Vinegar (White vinegar*, rice vinegar or rice wine. Cider vinegar could work in a pinch too.)
Ketchup
Soy sauce
Cornstarch

*Note on vinegar: white vinegar turned out to be far more potent than cider or balsamic vinegar, so use less (by half even) or dilute with an equal part water if you go with white vinegar. (Edited May, 2012)

Yep. That simple. Of course, there are infinite variations and additions, but this is a good starting point. This “Betty’s Kitchen” video has a really good explanation of the process:

Betty's Basic Sweet & Sour Sauce Recipe

Here is her ingredient list:

1/3 cup rice vinegar
4 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
4 teaspoons water

However, I wanted to go a little more exotic, so I used pineapple juice and balsamic vinegar, with a little clove thrown in. It has a Far Eastern flavor to it.

Juice from a 15-1/4 oz. can crushed pineapple (Save the pineapple. Reserve a few tablespoons juice to mix with the cornstarch.)
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup ketchup
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1.5 Tablespoons cornstarch
1 Tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp cardamom

Directions

Mix the cornstarch with a few tablespoons pineapple juice in a small bowl to avoid lumps. Place the remaining juice from the can of pineapple, sugar, vinegar, water, soy sauce, ketchup, spices, and cornstarch mixture in a medium saucepan, over medium heat, and bring to a boil. Stir continuously until the mixture has thickened. I know, I know, it takes forever to come to a boil and you’re sooooo tired of stirring. Hang in there. It’s worth it.

Once it has come to a boil, it will be thicker, smoother, and clearer. Add the pineapple to the sauce at this point. My version is not red like others, due to the balsamic vinegar, but very tasty nonetheless. If color is really important, go with white vinegar. I might not have balsamic next time, so it will probably be different.

Instead of ketchup, cherry jam or preserves work well. Use more if you go with preserves because of the whole fruit. If color doesn't matter, try other tart fruit jams/preserves, like apricot or peach.

This particular recipe makes a lot, so I’ll be bagging up a good bit and freezing it.

I served it over some pork roast. Very yummy. I’d just as soon dispense with the bread coating on most sweet & sour dishes. Add in some rice and you’ve got a rounded out entrée. Enjoy.

It’s well within our abilities to live well despite the assault on the value of our dollars. It takes a little time, (about as long as the trip to and from our favorite Chinese take-out place) and some practice. But we CAN do it. I used to be afraid to make my own bread. There have been some colossal failures, believe me. But with practice and experience there have been some amazing successes as well. Homemade sweet & sour sauce is just the latest “try something new”.

Go ahead. Give it a try.

I dare you.

Wellness & Prevention

When I first wrote about this elsewhere a few years ago, few people had experienced what I was talking about. Now, a lot more people have run into this phenomenon as primary medical care changes over to “preventive” services. The following is a fictional account, but it bears resemblance to actual experiences.

A trip to the doctor’s office nowadays:

Doctor: “Hello, I’m Dr. Smith. How can I help you today?”

Patient: “Well, I’m here about my foot. As you can see, it’s swollen and black and blue. I tripped going up the stairs a few days ago, and it’s steadily gotten worse.”

Doctor leans over to look at the foot. Winces. “Uh-hmm." Straightens up and focuses on patient record. "I see here on your record that you’re a few months overdue for your annual PAP smear. Lets make sure you get scheduled for that before you leave.”

“Um, we’ll see. Now, about my foot…”

“Yes, it does look bad. Maybe you should elevate it.”

“I have been every chance I get.”

“I see here on your blood tests that your blood sugar is nearing the pre-pre-diabetic stage. We’ll need to schedule a series of tests to see if you might be a good candidate for medication.”

“You know, my foot really hurts.”

“Hmm, yes. Oh, I see here that you haven’t had a mammogram recently. Just tell the receptionist and she’ll get you set up for one.”

“Look. I’m having trouble working because I can barely put any pressure on my foot. I can’t even get my shoe on. I’m afraid that I might have broken something.”

Doctor shrugs. “Uh-hmm. Now, I’m concerned that your cholesterol numbers are little on the pre-high side. We’ll need to monitor them every month to see if you might be a good candidate for cholesterol medication. You don’t want to develop heart disease now, do you?”

“I came here to get help for my foot. It’s very painful. I’m getting really concerned. There’s a red streak going up my leg. I’m scared.”

Sighs. Rolls eyes. “We’re getting away from the disease treatment model. We’re a wellness organization now and we focus on finding diseases you don’t have yet.”

“So what about my foot?”

“We want patients to take responsibility for their health and realize that there are consequences for poor decisions. You really should be more careful, you know.”

“Do you mean to tell me that I can’t get treatment for illness and injury here anymore?”

“We believe that prevention is the very best health care. Make sure you see the receptionist about scheduling those tests on your way out, after you pay your bill. Nice talking to you. Goodbye.”

“But what about my foot?”

“Oh, and don’t forget that mammogram. You don’t want to get breast cancer, do you?”

Dr. Smith disappears.

“Hello? Anyone?”

Unspecified assistant-type arrives.

“Miss, we need you to leave so the next patient can come in. Do you have any questions before you leave?”

“Yes. Can you point me to the nearest Emergency Room?”

Politics As Usual

I did my very best to avoid the As the Stomach Turns/Debt Ceiling Follies headlining the DC Congress-theater this summer. I did not succeed. Everywhere I turned there was a new headline blaring the latest installment of Budget-Hostage Negotiations: 2011.

I didn’t agonize over “will they/won’t they?” I already knew the ending. The debt ceiling would be raised, just as it has been every year since it was “established”. I viewed it as history repeating itself. It reminded me of the “hold the budget hostage’ follies in the mid-1980’s, (and mid 1990's and...) when federal paychecks were delayed so they could be added to the next year’s budget instead of the current one. That clever accounting sleight of hand sure fooled everyone, right?

And then a really appalling realization hit me: I’ve been around long enough to see history repeating itself. I have been around long enough to conclude that things will never change. The players may change, but the nauseating show just goes on and on and on.

I used to believe that Congress was making progress in running this country. Now I don’t think they’ll ever fix anything. They’ll only make it worse.

I’ve come to appreciate the irony applied when naming new laws. I know that one (hypothetically) named “Widow & Orphan Assistance Act” would ultimately cut benefits to widows and orphans while increasing subsidies to life insurance companies. I know that one (hypothetically) named the “Automobile Safety Act’’ would have little impact on passenger safety while making sure that well-connected car makers are safe from competition. Wonderful, wonderful irony.

Whatever moniker they give a bill, I assume it achieves the opposite. Makes life simpler. That way I don’t get my hopes up.

I know I’m echoing almost any member of the populace who’s been paying the slightest bit of attention when I express my disgust with the latest show. Few of us have emerged from this travesty without a really bad taste in our mouths. It has been one of the most depressing episodes of As the Stomach Turns in recent history.

Beer, anyone?

Nah. I think this calls for Tequila.