Prudent, Provident, Pioneers.

"Fix it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."
-Pioneers

Reduce, reuse, and recycle; so maybe we still have a few lessons to learn from our ancestors. I have no idea where this exactly came from, but the concept is right on the money. I don't know the exact source, but I'm sure the pioneers who traveled to the northwest had to live by this concept. I feel that in light of the recent spiked interest in thrift shops and vintage clothing, we ought to remember that being frugal is more than stylish, or cool; it's being resourceful, it's being smart. Some people think that the second a screw comes loose the final destination is the trash can. But replacing something when a phone or iPod is plagued with a scratch wastes so much.

There's a second portion to this quote. Although not said in so many words, this quote speaks of high frugality. Of living within the means that you have. Keeping the financial crisis in mind and how much anxiety the United States is experiencing, you’d think people would spend less; apparently not... So what if you don't have the latest gadget? Are those cookies within the perimeter of the budget this week? Did you save for the holidays, or demagnetize your credit card? Does the word sacrifice have no meaning? Did you have any struggles growing up?

The United States has never been more prosperous, I think it's great the standard of living has gone up and there are higher levels of education available and higher paying jobs. But it has turned the United States of America into the Consuming States of America. Debt is higher than ever, and funnily enough, so has unhappiness. "Owing money or favors to someone gives me a sense of content," said no one ever... What happened? As the world propels head first embracing technology, maybe we need to recycle some core values.