I thought this was interesting - I may post more from the psu ag news feed. I bolded a few things.
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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- With thousands of job layoffs and
recession news dominating daily headlines, many young people
understandably are fearful about their future. But an intergenerational
specialist in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences says
grandparents can offer unique support for youth entering college or the
job market. 

     "We are going through economic circumstances that younger
generations have never experienced before," notes Matthew Kaplan,
associate professor of agricultural and extension education and
extension specialist for intergenerational programs and aging. "These
are trying times for young people trying to figure out their careers or
get started on their own. Grandparents and great grandparents can offer
experience and wisdom that parents can't.    

     "Many older family members have lived through economic hardship and
dealt with a lot of uncertainty, so they know how to survive. They have
figured out how to be frugal when it is necessary and how to finance a
lifestyle."

     For example, Kaplan says, those who lived through World War II
likely will remember how war ration books and tokens were issued to each
American family, dictating how much gasoline, tires, sugar, meat, silk,
shoes, nylon and other items any one person could buy.

     "People were proactive and creative in finding ways to survive and
thrive," he explains. "Folks grew 'Victory Gardens' to help feed their
own families and take pressure off of public food supply. The same idea
can help resource-strapped families to produce their own food today. The
historic experience of living through financial hardship has relevance
to surviving today.

     "There is value to having a strong sense of thrift - for example,
re-using things, stretching resources and not living beyond one's means.
There is also value to being self-reliant, such as in growing one's own
food."

     Young people can gain an intellectual understanding of what happens
during economically tough times from history classes in school, Kaplan
notes. However, this does not necessarily prepare them for the emotional
side of dealing with the loss and uncertainty that comes with personal
financial hardship.

     "To help fortify a young person's emotional bearings for
encountering economically tough times, it is useful for them to hear
real stories about how their elderly relatives not only survived, but
thrived in ways that kept their families together and value systems
intact," Kaplan explains. "Older adults' lives provide instructive
examples on everything from food to finance. Lifelong practices that
have had positive or negative consequences can help to guide younger
generations in the right direction."

     On the other hand, many older adults are struggling themselves and
may need support from younger family members, Kaplan states.

     "Nobody is immune to being negatively affected by the deteriorating
economic environment that we now find ourselves in," he says. "Many
older adults who have retired or are near retirement are losing
significant portions of their retirement savings, and many older adults
are falling victim to scams.

     "Perhaps the only way we can survive this current economic downturn
is to come together in ways that utilize each generation's knowledge,
fortitude and compassion for helping others. However, it's clear that
older adults have much to teach and contribute to younger generations,
especially during trying times such as these."

###
EDITORS: Contact Matt Kaplan at 814-863-7871 or by e-mail at
msk15@psu.edu.
Michele Rodgers, writer
e-mail  mdr229@psu.edu

Gary Abdullah, editor
office (814) 863-2708
e-mail   gxa2@psu.edu



Penn State Ag Sciences News is a free, electronic distribution of news and feature articles about research, educational programs, faculty, staff, students and events in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences and Penn State Cooperative Extension. It is distributed by Ag Communications and Marketing, News Unit, 134 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA 16802.