I get emails from people asking if good used car deals exist during a recession. Their question is often born of fear because they have experienced first-hand the trauma of losing their jobs, having previously successful businesses go down the tubes, or seeing the suffering this has caused to family, friends and/or neighbors.

I tend to be a half-full type, and believe it or not, and in spite of current conditions, I find myself more hopeful of the future now than I was just a couple years ago. Why? Because I hear issues being discussed by people that were scoffed at until recently. And I’m not talking about issues dealing with corrupt sleazy weasel-ass politicians (although I think its good this stuff is exposed), but real substantive issues that effect all of us.

I have little faith in the hot air that spews out of self-serving politicians mouths, but…hopeful I am, because that is my nature.

Having said that, I sure hope the freeing-up of our economy doesn’t come too late because I see nothing real being done to make me think that the light at the end of the tunnel is close at hand.

And even for those fortunate few among us that aren’t personally suffering, its easy to succumb to a feeling of malaise or dreariness due to being bombarded by our 24/7/365 negative news cycle.

Maybe its time to turn off the TV for a while?

The other thing is that I really don’t think its wise to wait around for someone to bail you out. I’ve never thought that way because being a victim means you’ve lost control…and victim-ville is a nasty hope-less place to be.

So I think the wise thing to do, and I feel this applies to those that have “secure” jobs too, is to start doing something on the side to make some extra money…or perhaps a lot of extra money.

In fact, if you live in a country where you are free to produce, and buy and sell stuff (and if you are reading this then chances you are), then I kind of feel its your duty to practice being an entrepreneur of some sort.

And I have always thought that entrepreneurialism was super cool – even when practiced on micro scale.

Its cool to have extra money in your pocket, or more money than you need.

Its cool to pay your bills on time.

Its cool to buy stuff you couldn’t previously afford.

Its cool to take trips.

Its cool to experience the self-confidence that comes as a result of successfully doing your own thing.

Its really cool to be able to help family or friends…and often that “help” comes from being an example to them as someone that didn’t wait around for someone else to “fix it.”

And its really cool to feel, that you, once and for all, are starting to have control over your own destiny.

Get it?

Eagles and Buzzards…

I remember hearing a motivational speaker many years ago named James E. Tollesin.

He spoke about how eagles soar from high above and swoop down at break-neck speeds to capture their live prey in their talons.

Whereas buzzards circle slowly waiting and waiting to make sure their meal is dead before eating it.

Eagles don’t wait around until something dies. Eagles swoop in and get it.

Are you an eagle or a buzzard?

And YES – good used car deals do exist during a recession!

How come?

Because people continue selling stuff like cars during recessions just like at any other time.

But there are more good used car deals available because far more people are, sadly, in personally distressed situations during recessions than during normal times.

“But didn’t Cash For Clunkers kill the used car market?”

Yes it did remove a bunch of used vehicles from the market for a while, but bad economic times have made it so more people have to sell what they have in order to survive.

The recession has made selling stuff we don’t really need a very real situation around the world…and usually the first “stuff” to go is that extra car.

“But aren’t little cars going for a premium now due to the high gas prices?”

Yes they are, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t find killer deals out there. And the fact that fuel-efficient cars are a hot item also means that you can sell them for more too.

So it all kind of evens out.

Killer deals will always exist when you know what to look for, and how to find them, and killer deals are even more plentiful during rough economic times.

So don’t use a bad economy as a reason to NOT start making some money for yourself instead of your boss.

In fact, for a whole lot of reasons, bad economic times can be the best time to start making money for yourself – instead of just your boss.

So don’t wait around for opportunity to bash you in the head…because it doesn’t work that way.

Be that eagle.