Admit it, as part of the over-achieving, multi-tasking generation, you have some semblance of a life plan. You may not have fleshed out the details or timelines, but you probably have an idea of some of the biggies you’d like to get accomplished (marriage, home ownership, pet, MBA, etc.).
So with the economy changing, you might have to change, too. I’d like to express this to you in the form of three weddings.
Wedding #1: A close friend of mine (younger) is getting married this spring to the love of her life. They’re having a pretty traditional wedding with 80% of the bells and whistles. Even with the economy, they’re going forward with everything as planned. She just got a promotion at work, so she’s financially secure, in addition to her fiancé.
Wedding #2: Another close friend (same age) is getting married in the summer, and she’s a smart cookie. Even before the economy started its nosedive, she wanted to just have something small and fun. She’s even bending over backwards to help out-of-town guests save money by sharing hotel rooms or carpooling from the airport. Her and her fiancé are going to spend the next few years in grad school, so they’re already thinking about budgeting and living within their means.
Wedding #3: Due to the economy and some personal circumstances, this friend (same age) did an elopement, and still only a handful of people know. Her June date now is a reception and college girlfriend reunion. She and her husband work for the same company in the banking industry, and luckily, both are still employed. But that could change tomorrow. They decided to forego a costly wedding for friends and family to be more secure in their future together.
As you see, there’s a progression here of how the economy can affect something as common as getting married. Life goes on, even in hard times.
Have you had to change any life decisions due to the economy?
The views expressed in my blog are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of my employer.
Graphic courtesy of Clipart
