It’s seems all I read about and hear about is how the recession is hurting (and in some cases helping) the way we live our lives and interact (I love this video about how the recession has affected romantic relationships). Today I read a great piece on Slate about how the recession is affecting friendships. (Um, yeah it is. I hardly go out anymore because I need to save my money for my bills, not wine bars. Sigh.)

The article says “because of the downturn, friendships between two people whose Saturday-night spending and overall class status used to calibrate precisely have now turned into trickier relationships between one person who still has money and one person who doesn’t. The sudden uneven footing isn’t easy to negotiate.”

The piece also notes how when one friend is having terrible life-changing financial woes it’s hard for the other friend to share smaller problems (because the problems of the friend with the big financial woes are so much worse). Not only can money differences cause resentment among friends, but the recession can sever “accidental friendships of proximity” (a.k.a. losing your job may cause you lose all your work friends).

Perhaps this would be a good time to round up your friends and do a feel good project that won’t cost you any money like volunteering together for a local charity or signing up for a fundraising event like walking for cancer, AIDS, or hunger.