Every time I come up with some brilliant personal finance solution, i do a little fist pump for being so freaking brilliant. I mean, checking my bank account balance online? Everyday? Brilliant. Quick! Someone test my IQ. I think I'm the perfect candidate for Mensa.

The fact of the matter is that I, Little Miss Disposable Income, a woman who is well versed in economic policy am currently starting to feel the hurt of economic recession. Though it could be a psychosomatic thing due to vicarious living and watching CNN with my mouth agape and my hand on a graphing calculator. Or it could be that we are actually having a recession and I'm starting to get nervous and now I'm developing a tick each time I purchase gas. It's either that or exclaiming "ONLY $3.99! Hot damn! Time for that diet coke I've been saving up for." 

That it's summer helps nothing. I didn't think it was possible to dislike the month of July so vehemently. I was disgruntle and angry at the way July sucked made a giant slurping sound as it sucked up all of my money. And then it burped with while lying in a money grubbing haze. A few dollar bills dribbling from it's mouth. July was not my friend, though mid-summer, at peak travel time isn't really anyones friend but the way July treated not only myself but The Internet was cruel. It should apologize.

Thankfully though, while I am busy using August to stare at my bank account and finding actual mistakes and enjoying the subsequent feeling that occurs in my chest right before I share the more creative part of my vocabulary with Bank of America; Kristen of Motherhood Uncensored has started a Blog the Recession meme for the month of August. The premise:

If you read blogs, then for the month of August, make the "pledge"
to click through from your feed reader. No obligation to leave a
hilarious comment or send a long stalkerish email (although both,
within reason, are always lovely). Just click through to the blog (not
on ads unless you are so led) and if you're feeling generous, click
around to their older posts.

Just those extra page views can make a big
difference for bloggers who could really use the help, or in my case,
where page views don't matter so much, a big fat ego boost. 

Here is the point where one could argue that we aren't really in a recession or the case against page views and advertising on blogs and normally I would and could be right there with those arguments. I will go against contrarian arguments and say, "So what?" The point isn't to be right or prove that you could be better at Ben Bernanke's job and so he should think about taking up golf. The point is to be helpful and supportive of each other and our mutual feelings of community and give back to those who have made us laugh or cry. I could call foul on my need to search deep down for the good of this blogging community because that is so very Pollyanna of me; but I will not. Instead I too will chip in and help out because sometimes I just feel like being nice. And misery loves company. 

From I'm Beautiful Like Me:

I'm not entirely convinced there is an actual recession. I'm more
inclined to think that it's more about inflation (particularly
regarding gas prices and how they are affecting everyfuckingthing else) and lack of job security in this country. I could go off on a tangent, but it's late and I'm not really in the mood.

Amelia Sprout:

Bloggers make money off of page views, and ads that are clicked
through, and when you read them in a reader, while they adore any
attention (we're all just asking to be loved), they don't get paid for
reader views. Even if they're just blogging to get money for a new pair
of shoes. So if you like them, click through the reader, leave a
comment, click on an ad. Blog through the recession. It is all Kristen's
idea, and I'm getting on board, with my little blog, because when I was
14 I made out at a Paul Simon concert and it changed my life for the
better. 

And from Spookiez Spot: 

I think showing appreciation for the blogs that entertain, educate or
amuse me, in the form of page views, is the least I can do. For those
who get paid per page view, that's a few more cents in their coffer.
For those of us who just live and die by our page views/comment counts,
it's a pat on their back.

And while we're helping each other out with page views and doing favors across blogland, I'd also like to know what others are doing in these times of economic uncertainty. Are you car pooling? Going for the cheap red wine instead of a good Meritage blend? Are you breathing into a paper bag each time you pay bills? Inquiring minds - read; ME - would like to know.

BlogHer Contributing Editor, Heather B. would really appreciate extra page views over at No Pasa Nada.