Top 10 Bright Spots In a Bad Economy 

Heather Kempskie

1. Our neighbors. “We spend more weekends at home and ith the nice weather, the kids play outside all day,” says Grafton- mom Jennifer Connelly “The other night, my neighbors came over. It was nice to hang out with friends without needing a babysitter.”

2. Our local libraries. “We’re happy to see more people using the library,” says Janice Roddy, the children’s librarian in Franklin. “Besides resources and free children activities, we have all the latest bestsellers and DVDs for free.”

3. Our domestic selves. Stop & Shop’s Consumer Advisor Andrea Astrachan reports more families are opting to eat in and enjoy a family meal together. It’s healthier and more affordable.

4. Our parent selves. At a recent panel discussion, Stacy DeBroff, CEO of Mom Central, said parents are using this tough time to teach their children about budgeting and being responsible with money.

5. Our giving selves. Young people ages 16 to 24 increased their volunteer efforts by 14 percent...boding well for the future of volunteerism since young people who volunteer tend to continue volunteering throughout adulthood.

6. Our “financial muscles.” Mom Alane Brewer Floyd agrees, “(The economy) has forced me to get an accurate picture of my money and make a realistic spending plan. Budget is a negative word.”

7. Our green side. A nationwide survey conducted by Mode™ Products found that 77 percent of American households recycle, and 50 percent are recycling more than they did two years ago.

8. Our ambitions. “When you have nothing to lose, you become braver to follow dreams,” says Nirasha Jaganath, local mom and blogger at www. mommyniri.com. “It’s a time to do something you really believe in.”

9. Our religion. TIME recently reviewed, God is Back by John Micklethwait & Adrian Wooldridge which reads, “For centuries, secular intellectuals have forecast the death of religion at the hands of modernity. They got it wrong.”

10. Our childhood. Dad Hans Eckert says, “We are going on 'old school' vacations similar to the ones my parents took my sister and I on by staying local on day trips. For me, it’s a nostalgic connection that I might not have experienced otherwise.”