Meltdown Survival Handbook
Or: 20 ways to stop worrying and thrive in the recession
By Matthew Halverson, Jessica Voelker, and Laura Cassidy
19. Don’t Be Afraid to Help
Being employed during The Worst Economic Downturn in Years is a tricky thing: You feel fortunate to be drawing a paycheck, but you can be so busy freaking out about losing your own job that you forget about your out-of-work friends. Or even worse, you pretend they aren’t hurting. “Some people think, ‘If I address the elephant in the room, it’s going to sit on me,’ ” says Deborah King, manners maven and founder of Seattle-based Final Touch Finishing School. “But unemployment isn’t a disease that gets passed around.” So what can you do? You’ve got a couple options, depending on how proud your laid-off friend is:
THE DIRECT ROUTE: If you feel comfortable addressing the situation head-on, King points out that even small gestures can mean a lot. “I like to take friends out to lunch or dinner,” she says. “And if the individual is involved with LinkedIn or other social sites, I will offer to write them a recommendation.”
THE INDIRECT ROUTE: Free meals are nice, but you can’t make a mortgage payment with crab cakes and Caesar salads. Yet even when giving money is the most helpful option, it can be a dicey transaction. “If you’re giving to someone in need who you know, it can often create a sense of obligation in the relationship,” says Bellingham resident Lionel Thompson. With that in mind, two years ago he founded the nonprofit GivingAnon.org to facilitate anonymous monetary gifts among friends. Since last September the site has distributed more than $140,000.
20. Treat Yourself
When deprivation becomes a fact of life, you learn that happiness is about the little things. In Seattle every neighborhood, every farmers market, every corner coffee shop offers up some little luxury that will gobble up your gloom faster than you can say, “I’ll take another to go, please.” Here, four low-cost, high-return edible experiences to help keep your head up during these hard times.
1. Fran’s salted caramels ($1.50) They’re sweet, they’re savory, they’re so damn good. No wonder President Obama can’t get enough of the world’s greatest candy. And while the POTUS has to get them shipped special, we can simply stop into one of Fran Bigelow’s three Seattle-area sweet shops. 1325 First Ave, Downtown, 206-682-0168. 2626 University Village St, University Village, 206-528-9969. 10036 Main St, -Bellevue, 425-453-1698; franschocolates.com
2. The red velvet cupcake from Trophy ($3) Quite simply, the perfect cupcake. 1815 N 45th St, Wallingford, 206-632-7020. 2612 NE Village Ln, University Village, 206-484-2017; trophycupcakes.com
3. Broiled oysters and a pint at Emmett Watson’s Oyster Bar ($15.25) Menus are printed on paper bags, tables are gingham-topped, seafood is no-nonsense. 1916 Pike Pl, Ste 16, Pike Place Market, 206-448-7721
4. Paseo’s Midnight Cuban Press ($7.75) Toasted egg bread, succulent slices of smoked ham and roast pork, decadent aioli: This is a sandwich for which you won’t mind waiting in line (and you will wait in line). 4225 Fremont Ave N, Fremont, 206-545-7440. 6226 Seaview Ave NW, Ballard, 206-789-3100
Published: August 2009
I thought this whole entry was great, but I must say I have to disagree somewhat with 5. Reduce, Refuse, Rejuvenate. I subscribe to Marcus Buckingham’s words in that what you’re good at isn’t necessarily what gives you strength. From his examples and case studies, people who are good at certain things don’t always get energy from these activities. A strength is any activity that makes a person feel stronger, which isn’t necessarily what they’re good at!
I liked reading all of these entries, especially 7. Bulletproof your job because I realized I was going about some things in what can be perceived as a facetious manner
Some new and pretty good ideas.. Thanks much.
Hmmm. Care to make this a regular column? It would make it easier for me to return to this site.