Comments on: New Year’s Resolutions And The Global Financial Crisis http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/ Introduce yourself to the world Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:13:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michele http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3867 Michele Tue, 10 Feb 2009 17:30:46 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3867 I live in the mid-west. I quit my full time job and got a part-time job. Crazy you say at a time like this...but it was necessary to achieve what I had resolved …to be a better wife and mom. My husband has a secure full time job and we have a small farm. By quitting my previous employer who was downsizing I was able to help save someone else's job (Most were the main breadwinner of a family.) and I was able to improve my home life. It has made us stop eating out so much, have time to cook, and to not spend money on "wanted" items instead of on just "needed" items. The kids are learning what truly matters in life. We resolved to have a garden this year, showing the kids the rewards of hard work. As a family we resolved to more to our community. The kids were not learning much when we just gave money to organizations. Our family life seems to be better when we are "poor" moneywise but is "richer" family wise. I think some individuals will have a hard time and my heart goes out to them. But I believe this financial crises in the USA will be good in other ways for our country. It is pulling people together, we are being less wasteful, we are getting back to basics. The USA has been like a spoiled child that needs to be shown tough love, especially the corporate world. We need to pull together like other countries and also look how the rest of the world lives and see we still have it pretty good compared to many others. I live in the mid-west. I quit my full time job and got a part-time job. Crazy you say at a time like this…but it was necessary to achieve what I had resolved …to be a better wife and mom. My husband has a secure full time job and we have a small farm. By quitting my previous employer who was downsizing I was able to help save someone else’s job (Most were the main breadwinner of a family.) and I was able to improve my home life. It has made us stop eating out so much, have time to cook, and to not spend money on “wanted” items instead of on just “needed” items. The kids are learning what truly matters in life. We resolved to have a garden this year, showing the kids the rewards of hard work. As a family we resolved to more to our community. The kids were not learning much when we just gave money to organizations.

Our family life seems to be better when we are “poor” moneywise but is “richer” family wise. I think some individuals will have a hard time and my heart goes out to them. But I believe this financial crises in the USA will be good in other ways for our country. It is pulling people together, we are being less wasteful, we are getting back to basics.

The USA has been like a spoiled child that needs to be shown tough love, especially the corporate world. We need to pull together like other countries and also look how the rest of the world lives and see we still have it pretty good compared to many others.

]]> By: Mary http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3710 Mary Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:23:45 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3710 I feel fortunate to have a job and to be able to pay my bills. Even though there is not enough to put into savings, I can, at least, pay my rent and bills. I have resolved to increase the amount of food that I give to our parish food pantry. I am also resolved to continue my charitable contributions because there are many who need our help even more! I believe that it is a blessing to help even one person. It is my way to say thank you to God for the good God has given me. I feel fortunate to have a job and to be able to pay my bills. Even though there is not enough to put into savings, I can, at least, pay my rent and bills. I have resolved to increase the amount of food that I give to our parish food pantry. I am also resolved to continue my charitable contributions because there are many who need our help even more! I believe that it is a blessing to help even one person. It is my way to say thank you to God for the good God has given me.

]]> By: julianna http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3707 julianna Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:18:15 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3707 I AM VERY CONCERNED MOST OF ALL WITH CHILDREN DYING OF HUNGER. EVERYTIME I THINK OF THAT , I FEEL BAD ABOUT WASTING MONEY IN FRIVOLOUS THINGS WHILE A CHILD IS DYING OF HUNGER OR DISEASE. I HAVE A FEW RESOLUTIONS THIS YEAR BUT ONE IMPORTANT ONE: CONTRIBUTE TO CRS, VOLUNTEER FOR THEM, TELL OTHERS AND PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN. THIS IS NOT A CHOICE, OR JUST THAT I AM TRYING TO BE NICE, NO. THIS IS MY DUTY, THE LEAST EXPECTED FROM ME. GOD HAVE MERCY IN ALL OF US AND ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO WORK SO WE CONTRIBUTE WITH CRS. I AM VERY CONCERNED MOST OF ALL WITH CHILDREN DYING OF HUNGER. EVERYTIME I THINK OF THAT , I FEEL BAD ABOUT WASTING MONEY IN FRIVOLOUS THINGS WHILE A CHILD IS DYING OF HUNGER OR DISEASE. I HAVE A FEW RESOLUTIONS THIS YEAR BUT ONE IMPORTANT ONE: CONTRIBUTE TO CRS, VOLUNTEER FOR THEM, TELL OTHERS AND PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN. THIS IS NOT A CHOICE, OR JUST THAT I AM TRYING TO BE NICE, NO. THIS IS MY DUTY, THE LEAST EXPECTED FROM ME. GOD HAVE MERCY IN ALL OF US AND ALLOW US TO BE ABLE TO WORK SO WE CONTRIBUTE WITH CRS.

]]> By: James Heines http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3699 James Heines Sun, 11 Jan 2009 20:55:03 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3699 On the domestic front, when the wolf prowls around all of our doors we begin to see the man working a sign on the street corner from an entirely different perspective. I can be highly critical of our economic system and am quick topoint out the holes in our social net when compared to the rest of the world but it is a scociological fact that we are givers with our resources, by far and away exceeding the rest of the developed world in contributions of time and money to charity. I am curious if the chill of the economic times has constrained this American tendency or if we are showing our true colors and as many of the subscrberiers to this blog work in the field, what can you report? On the domestic front, when the wolf prowls around all of our doors we begin to see the man working a sign on the street corner from an entirely different perspective. I can be highly critical of our economic system and am quick topoint out the holes in our social net when compared to the rest of the world but it is a scociological fact that we are givers with our resources, by far and away exceeding the rest of the developed world in contributions of time and money to charity. I am curious if the chill of the economic times has constrained this American tendency or if we are showing our true colors and as many of the subscrberiers to this blog work in the field, what can you report?

]]> By: Sister Mary Schmuck, RSM http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3691 Sister Mary Schmuck, RSM Sat, 10 Jan 2009 20:24:36 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3691 In this Catholic Charities' office January calls to parish contacts (47 parishes in 19 KY counties), I'm carefully conferring with them about what is happening in their area, urging them to examine and upgrade their parish response, and this office will build toward region deliberations on this topic. God help us all focus on the common good and protect persons who are poor and vulnerable! We have been given many gifts toward this end! In this Catholic Charities’ office January calls to parish contacts (47 parishes in 19 KY counties), I’m carefully conferring with them about what is happening in their area, urging them to examine and upgrade their parish response, and this office will build toward region deliberations on this topic.

God help us all focus on the common good and protect persons who are poor and vulnerable! We have been given many gifts toward this end!

]]> By: Barbara R. Kingston http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3689 Barbara R. Kingston Sat, 10 Jan 2009 06:01:45 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3689 I am 81 so have family if not clear individual memories of the Great Depression. I have though regretfully the last few weeks that my lifestyle has not changed appreciably over the last months. I tithe each month to the church, church related charities and other conscience driven organizations. At the beginning of this month I wondered what more I could do if I carefully watched my spending. Tonight the "world" economic crisis came home to me when I heard that one of my sons had lost his job in a company lay off. I already help my daughter who is a single mom and now, if necessary, I will help my son, but I still look forward to the end of this month (and coming months) to see how much I've been able not to spend out of my monthly income, or to put it differently, how much I'll have to give to the hungry here and abroad through organizations which address that need. Maybe I've kind of made a game out of my cutting back, but I sincerely believe that I, we, all have responsibility for the well-being of our neighbor . . . anyone in need. I am 81 so have family if not clear individual memories of the Great Depression. I have though regretfully the last few weeks that my lifestyle has not changed appreciably over the last months. I tithe each month to the church, church related charities and other conscience driven organizations. At the beginning of this month I wondered what more I could do if I carefully watched my spending. Tonight the “world” economic crisis came home to me when I heard that one of my sons had lost his job in a company lay off. I already help my daughter who is a single mom and now, if necessary, I will help my son, but I still look forward to the end of this month (and coming months) to see how much I’ve been able not to spend out of my monthly income, or to put it differently, how much I’ll have to give to the hungry here and abroad through organizations which address that need. Maybe I’ve kind of made a game out of my cutting back, but I sincerely believe that I, we, all have responsibility for the well-being of our neighbor . . . anyone in need.

]]> By: Barbara http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3670 Barbara Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:14:24 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3670 it's always been helpful for us, to live within our means, all these years. we have been out of work and back again in the last two years. all i can say is, i've read in the papers about certain countries hoarding their food supplies by not exporting it. well now, this is not the time to do that. I pray that I can continue to maintain our charitable contributions and try to increase if possible and not give in to my fears of 'what if tomorrow...' it's important to remember that little widow who gave out of her necessity and not only when it was convenient. i hope and pray for everyone who is of such good heartedness and love for the pure reason of loving God who gives us so much. I convey a huge thank you to all who work and volunteer for CRS and other organizations who do this wonderful work. it reveals the face of Christ in the world. God bless you. it’s always been helpful for us, to live within our means, all these years. we have been out of work and back again in the last two years. all i can say is, i’ve read in the papers about certain countries hoarding their food supplies by not exporting it. well now, this is not the time to do that.
I pray that I can continue to maintain our charitable contributions and try to increase if possible and not give in to my fears of ‘what if tomorrow…’ it’s important to remember that little widow who gave out of her necessity and not only when it was convenient.
i hope and pray for everyone who is of such good heartedness and love for the pure reason of loving God who gives us so much. I convey a huge thank you to all who work and volunteer for CRS and other organizations who do this wonderful work. it reveals the face of Christ in the world. God bless you.

]]> By: Ginny Kaschmitter http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3667 Ginny Kaschmitter Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:02:33 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3667 My husband and I have a small engineering consulting business and our major client is in Europe. So far the outlook for 2009 is not much different for us, but we don't expect our good fortune to continue. We are going to be more careful with our spending and we hope to save enough to be able to contribute more to our special charities; the need is only going to grow. Yes, unfortunately, the global financial crisis and the global food crisis are related, as are all evils. Fear and greed are the engines that drive us all to break the first two commandments. My husband and I have a small engineering consulting business and our major client is in Europe. So far the outlook for 2009 is not much different for us, but we don’t expect our good fortune to continue. We are going to be more careful with our spending and we hope to save enough to be able to contribute more to our special charities; the need is only going to grow.
Yes, unfortunately, the global financial crisis and the global food crisis are related, as are all evils. Fear and greed are the engines that drive us all to break the first two commandments.

]]> By: Elizabeth Rogers http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3665 Elizabeth Rogers Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:16:20 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3665 One step I've begun to take is when friends or relatives want to give me a gift, I suggest that what would please me most is that they make a donation, in my name or in my hnor, if they prefer, to a charity of their choice or make a microloan through Kiva or another organization that advances capital to persons needing money to start an enterprise to support their family in a oor country. One step I’ve begun to take is when friends or relatives want to give me a gift, I suggest that what would please me most is that they make a donation, in my name or in my hnor, if they prefer, to a charity of their choice or make a microloan through Kiva or another organization that advances capital to persons needing money to start an enterprise to support their family in a oor country.

]]> By: Sandra McCally http://crs-blog.org/new-years-resolutions-and-the-global-financial-crisis/comment-page-1/#comment-3663 Sandra McCally Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:50:33 +0000 http://crs-blog.org/?p=2679#comment-3663 The financial meltdown has had a very substantial impact on my plans to retire. I have to keep working for at least 3 or maybe more years. HOWEVER, if that is the worst that can happen it is nothing. I have the essentials and will continue to give to my charities and support the children I foster. Many people NEVER retire and never have life's essentials. I am going to make it a daily part of my prayer and reflection to remember what is truly important and give thanks for all I do have. Most people in the world would love to have my life. The financial meltdown has had a very substantial impact on my plans to retire. I have to keep working for at least 3 or maybe more years.

HOWEVER, if that is the worst that can happen it is nothing. I have the essentials and will continue to give to my charities and support the children I foster. Many people NEVER retire and never have life’s essentials. I am going to make it a daily part of my prayer and reflection to remember what is truly important and give thanks for all I do have. Most people in the world would love to have my life.

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