Alone in the Car: Do It Yourself

Those who read this blog on a consistent basis know I talk about the panoramic view because it is so important for small business to see beyond their company. Owners, bless their hearts, have to spend much time keeping the doors open that they can't take time finding out about resources, trends, research, etc. etc. Hence, my purpose for this blog.

Usually I mention a fact and work up to the panoramic view, but this time let's start with the panoramic view and work our way to the details.


The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) has issued the following news release April 12th:
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, announced today that total February exports of $181.2 billion and imports of $227.2 billion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $46.0 billion, down from $52.5 billion in January, revised.  February exports were $0.2 billion more than January exports of $180.9 billion.  February imports were $6.3 billion less than January imports of $233.4 billion.
The full text of the release on BEA's Web site can be found at www.bea.gov/newsreleases/international/trade/tradnewsrelease.htm

 If you look at the numbers, there is some good news. I would like to point out that we still have a trade deficit.
Nothing will change that until we decide to make a change ourselves. It isn't due to another country, it us up to ourselves to make that change. Hence: DIY or another words Do It Yourselves.

I used to teach a budgeting class to those receiving public assistance. I guess a case could be made that we all are receiving some form of assistance since we go about our daily life knowing that our government is trillions of dollars in debt. Some of us are not very happy about it, some of us vote for a new U.S. Representative or Senator thinking they will make things happen, or some of us vote for a new President for the same reason. After all we are suppose to have a form of government where representatives vote since we can't be there ourselves. But what it really boils down to is that each one of us has to do something in order for a significant shift to occur.

Back to the budgeting class. The first thing the manual (thanks to the Ohio State University Extension) mentioned was for class members to think of their parents or grandparents. What do they remember (especially as children) their previous generations doing? Class members always came up with a list. What could they do now or revise slightly from that list? How did they live as children and what could they do without? What are their real priorities?

You may have an export/import imbalance in your home or office. You could apply these principles mentioned above, even as an experiment, to see how it will affect your bottom line. I have successfully Done It Myself at home and have saved money. I am less dependent on others. And that makes my "little country" feel better.