Yeah, right. Anyone else remember TINSTAAFL from their senior year econ. class? Just as there's no such thing as a free lunch, there's no such thing as free money from the government. That's right, I'm on to you, you tricky politicians. You're getting ready to send me a nice little check, and don't get me wrong, I'm not going to turn it down, but you want me to spend it to help boost the economy. While I may think that's a noble cause (mainly because I want a lot of stuff), I think I can find a better use for this so-called "free money" I shall be receiving. (By the way, that's just a less-boring way of saying that I'm going to be paying my bills and paying off student loans instead of buying
this and
this and....well, you get the point.)
Sustainablog.org has an interesting take on the impending "free money." They suggest saving instead of spending as well, and if we do spend, why not on something like CFLs or repairing windows that don't trap in the heat you're already paying for? Investing in things like these will save you more money in the end, making us less likely to need a handout from the government (again, not that I'm complaining - I'll be anxiously checking my mailbox every day).
So let's not get blinded by the idea of free money miraculously showing up at our doors. After all, there's no such thing as free in our economy.
(Picture obtained
here.)
I totally want windows, but saying so makes me feel kind of, um, old.
ReplyDeleteHaha - is that how you know you've reached a new level of maturity? If I had my own house, I'd probably want new windows, too. After, of course, a puppy. Because somehow I can justify that getting a puppy will combat global warming, just don't ask me how.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's a sign of age ... I knew this rule as TANSTAAFL (replace "is" with "ain't") - and I learned it, not in Economics, but from Robert Heinlein. :-)
ReplyDelete