"for riches and rank I do not long"..........

Does money make the world go round? Should it? Well, probably, but in my view and according to several religions, it shouldn't.  Short Blog. (You'll be lucky). Of course at a macro-level money really does keep the world spinning, dictating the relationship of nation to nation and the balance of power across the globe.

There is no sphere immune to the impact of the gravitational pull of money or lack thereof on their orbit - it will be a terrible thing when financial cuts impact the arts even further - museums, libraries, opera companies, orchestras....we need them, but they need money.  Isn't our ability to transcend ourselves and be moved by music, words, images & sounds something that makes life worthwhile and separates us from our very close mammal neighbours?? However, my musings aloud on this topic prompted Mr LAL to deliver an impromptu lecture on market economies, capitalism versus socialism and indeed economic history (I think I lost consciousness about the industrial revolution) - among his undergraduate degrees is history & economic history and he routinely reads for fun (including on honeymoon) textbooks more suited to your average phd reading list........I digress, he's brilliant QED.

Of course I am totally unqualified to comment on the arts, economics, history, in fact most things except for my own specialised area of law (the knowledge of which is, naturally, fading).

But what about my new "job" - Housewife - cook, cleaner, factotum and, crucially, budget manager.  You may remember that one of my Top Five (questions people asked me when I Gave It All Up) was about The Money.  Do we miss it, how do we cope etc etc.  Well of course it is sooo vulgar to talk about money but, as lots of people will be in the same situation we are, lets.

Well (a) we'd already "salary downsized" through a combination of smaller firms, maternity leave, career changes (Mr LAL) before I gave up wages (they're a dirty habit).  But, and more importantly, (b) the money nowhere near made up for the strain and fallout of The Juggling -it's not pretty.

The initial draft of this blog was much longer but even I lost the will to keep reading.  So the summary is:-

1. We are b****y lucky to be able to just about keep our heads above water on one salary, so I'm just thankful for that;
2. There are lots of tricks for making the money stretch further - online grocery shopping, a full disclosure policy on any spending (after a brief "Amazon One-click account" amnesty), recycling and buying "vintage" (sounds better doesn't it), seeing holidays as a luxury not a privilege, but you can get a week's pitch on a campsite quite cheaply, agreeing not to swap Christmas presents with everyone I ever met who has a child, making presents for loved ones, grow veg at home if you can etc etc etc and I do now have time to try all these tips;
3. There's always someone worse off than you, comparing yourself with them makes you feel guilty for being stressed about your own situation.  There's always someone better off than you - comparing yourself with them makes you want things you can't have.  Therefore just getting on with it is easier;
4. Keep your mind open to unexpected possibilities to improve the financial status quo and don't be too proud to accept help or take an unusual tack (a story for another day).
5. Don't give up on beautiful, uplifting experiences, just get smart about how to access them (Royal Opera House tickets for £7.50 each anyone!)
6. One thing I don't do is play the National Lottery.  I used to, I don't now.  More on that another time.
7. Finally, work as a team.  He earns, I don't, but we are in it together.  The times when we struggle most are the times when we forget that.  

May the force be with you. Now, baked beans for tea anyone...........................