After reading that heading you must be like "How is that even possible??" You see, in every bad situation I've come across in life, I always try my best to find the good in it and that's exactly what I did when the recession hit.

At first I was completely unaware about the changes my lifestyle was undergoing until one evening when I was having a conversation with my sister. She asked me when last I threw food away because I took more than I could eat and I really couldn't remember. Unconsciously, I had become very aware of my food portions and I barely had any excess to dispose, no matter how little.

This made me think about other aspects of my life and how I had somehow curbed my excesses without even noticing. But first, what is the true meaning of recession?

According to Investopedia, a recession is a significant decline in activity across the economy, lasting longer than a few months. It is visible in industrial production, employment, real income and wholesale-retail trade.

For example, if you've noticed, most manufacturers of consumer goods have reduced the quantity of their products in order to maximize their profit. This is simply because they're spending more than usual on production because of the increase in prices of raw materials. This in turn affects the prices of the goods, which makes us, the consumers, spend more as well. So it's not a pleasant situation looking at it first hand. But let's look on the brighter side.

Have you noticed that a lot of young people are acquiring skills? Most of us are no longer relying on our certificates from school to get a job. Even those of us who have an 8-5 still make sure we have something else going on by the side. It may seem stressful viewing it from the surface but then, we're building our empires little by little. We have become so determined and hardworking that we refuse to settle for less.

 

I recall when the recession just started and everybody was complaining about the price of rice, foreign packaged rice. My dad said, "what happened to Abakaliki rice (i.e a variety of our local rice in Nigeria)? What happened to cocoyam? Must we eat rice all the time even?" Some of us have been so reliant on processed and packaged food for so long that we somehow forgot about our local foods. These days I eat more healthy than I used to because I simply can't find myself spending so much on processed food. Healthy eating, win-win!! Thank you recession!

Talking about fashion, I can say I have mastered the fine art of wardrobe maximization (yes, its an art). Once you figure out your style and invest in basics, the rest is cheese cake.

In essence, what I'm saying is that the recession has made me realize that I can do without a lot of things that I thought were NEEDS. My priorities have been redefined and I have become more prudent in my spending. I must say it's a blessing in disguise because I feel like a better individual. When the recession eventually ends, more money would be saved and wiser financial decisions would in turn, lead to financial freedom. Let's look at it as a reality check and a time of temporary discomfort.

I hope August is treating you well and everything's going on great. I have been on a sewing spree and I can't wait to share my creations with you guys.

Now tell me, how has the recession treated you so far? Has it been terrible all along or have you seen the brighter side just like me? Please don't be a stranger. Feel free to leave me a comment below and I'll be sure to respond.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

xx, Evita.