2016 Postmortem

But how many of us are willing to go dark? Examine our lives for
every last efficiency, turn to used items, curtail spending on
everything to the extent possible?

But we do have some tools. The Great Recession has left us with
thrift shops everywhere, internet bartering and re-sell venues. We
can shop for insurance, carpool, learn some home-based skills like
sewing, car repair, plumbing.

I do some of these things, and also examine what I spend. I watch
profit margins. Why pay up when another brand is on sale? Haggle.
Don't be a willing mark for the fattest profit margin of the month.