I used to have the attitude that the economic recession could never effect me. I hear about it on the news – about how people all over the nation are losing jobs and frantically scrounging for money to support their families. But living with retired grandparents who were, as far as I knew, very “well-to-do,” has led me to believe I’m immune to the recession’s effects.

In the past two months or so, that belief has changed. I’ve been wrapped up in my own issues and haven’t noticed what’s been going on around me until recently. One day, I came home from school to my grandma, Marty, holding a bill in her hand and looking worried. I asked her what was wrong and she showed me the bill. According to what it said, I’d run up my cell phone minutes way, way over what was expected. The money I’d spent shocked me.

Marty explained that she and my grandfather needed that money for more important things. They couldn’t just pay the bill right out of their pockets. This surprised me more than the bill itself. When I paused to think about it, I realized there had been fewer trips to the grocery store, more coupons saved, fewer Christmas gifts… And that realization caused me to cry. It left me speechless save for my repeated apologies to my grandparents.

I’m going to pay my exorbitant cell phone bill, of course. The fiasco taught me an important lesson, not just about my own selfishness, but about the state of the country. Everyone has been affected, even the wealthy. People need to be aware at all times of what they’re spending, because it inevitably has an impact on more people than just themselves.