The Recession? What Recession??

The Recession as a Lifestyle

I must admit I’m a little confused by the recession scare we’re bombarded with for two very important reasons. One reason is that I’ve been living my own personal recession for so long, I’ve probably grown accustomed to the “recession lifestyle” without appreciating the impact it has on others.

With a family of five living in California – a state with one of the highest cost of living indexes — it’s hard to differentiate between how my family manages now and how my family managed prior to the real estate fall.

In fact, extreme budgeting and minimalist living has always been my family’s alma mater, so from a personal point of view, we haven’t experienced significant losses the way others have. I don’t play the stock market, I don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars put away in a 401K plan, and I don’t live under an adjustable rate mortgage. Most importantly, I don’t work for anyone other than myself.

No Job Loss Here

For that latter reason – reason two – I haven’t suffered the job losses so many Americans are bearing right now. Freelancing through Rentacoder gives me the opportunity to sustain my family’s expenses month to month with a modest income.

The income I earn through the site’s contracting opportunities pays my rent, my utility bills, my insurance co-payments, and a portion of my family’s food budget. It also pays for my family’s clothing bills and my household expenses. And I just can’t think of any staples that are more important right now.

My Status Has Changed

Still, the whole experience is ironic in a way. I would be labeled “underprivileged” or “underemployed” by every other economic standard and time of prosperity. Today however, within a growing population of unemployed, homeless, insurance-challenged, and/or grocery-challenged individuals, I seem to have escaped the stigma of sitting low on the “lifestyle totem pole,” and instead, enjoy the feeling of stability thanks to the work I consistently secure through Rentacoder.

Opportunities are Recession Proof

What’s even more interesting is that despite our country’s slow economic growth, Rentacoder jobs keep coming. They come so often and so fast, I can not keep up! I actually have to turn down jobs just so I have enough time to complete the work I’m fortunate enough to attract.

Where are these jobs coming from? How can people afford to hire workers during a “deep recession”?? I ask myself these questions while I watch CNN’s doom-and-gloom reports and while I fill my work agenda with sustainable job opportunities.

I’ll Enjoy My Selfish Success, Thank You

Something obviously isn’t clicking but I’ll leave the explanations to the sociology and economic experts because to me, the ultimate answer is “Who Cares! I’ve got plenty of paying work to do.” Sure, I suppose when the economy returns to the state it was 4 – 5 years ago, I’ll return to my underprivileged or underemployed status.

But if you don’t mind — right now — as I pay just a few bills in advance and enjoy a balance-free credit card, I’d like to look at my current palette of Rentacoder job opportunities and revel in a selfish moment of financial stability… as fleeting as that revelry may be.