The Zbicks
For Susan Zbick, this economic downturn is all about changing the little things.
The part-time accountant and her husband, Joe, a partner in his own structural engineering firm, have felt economic jabs coming from every direction. At the same time, the Zbicks and their two daughters, Emily (7) and Meghan (5), have taken a proactive approach to battling this downturn.
“We’ve cut down on how much we eat out. We’ve increased our savings and put more money in accounts that will earn some interest, instead of just in the checking account,” Susan Zbick says. “Last year, we sent the girls to summer camps that cost hundreds of dollars. This year we found some free ones for them to try.”
Zbick says a few of her friends thought she and her husband were crazy when they bought a historic home in Downtown Phoenix eight years ago, but now it has its major advantages.
“When we go out, we ride our bikes with the girls all over Downtown,” she says. “Before I would have just said, ‘we’re running late, let’s just drive,’ but not anymore.”
Zbick also is cutting down significantly on her road trips. She generally spends much of the summer in San Diego with family, but not this year.
“I drive a Volkswagen Passat wagon, and it would still cost me $250 to drive back and forth.”
The tough economy also has cut into her husband’s business. “We have seen a shift in the types of projects we are being presented with, and the employees are not having to put in quite so much overtime,” Joe says.
More than anything, Susan says this economy has made her more aware of money on a day-to-day basis.
“One thing I’ve quit doing is buying the girls a lot of the little things they ask for. I used to think it was no big deal to spend $12 on this or $20 on something else they ask for at Target,” she says. “Now I just tell them ‘no.’ The funny thing is, what little money they have, I see them saving now.”