Just finished our 2012 family budget; I’ve been doing my
budgets for home and work on spreadsheets since the days of VisiCalc. It is getting tighter for us to make ends
meet, but if we can quit adopting sick cats and helping out destitute friends
and relatives, each who say that they “keep track of my finances in my head,” we
should be okay at least for another year.
The taxes and health insurance costs are murderous, but I assume those problems are nationally pervasive. It is
funny that the government programs to help the needy are not available to help the
needy that I know. Quite frankly I am
growing weary of people practicing foolhardy financial hygiene for their entire
lives then loudly adorning themselves in the robes of victimhood when their
world falls apart. Please BUDGET,
people. Quit spending money you don’t
have on things you really do not need.
In my blue, gray, and white-collar lifetime I was amazed to meet so many
people who felt qualified to manage multi-million dollar corporate budgets when
they lived one paycheck away from bankruptcy.
Money in your personal bank account is power and freedom. Debt indentures you to a life of sycophancy
and servitude, which is exactly where the banks and politicians (and
occasionally, your spouse or significant other) want you to be.
As far as our other contingencies, today I exercised the engines
on the portable generator, both snow blowers, and (optimistically) the riding
lawn mower. I have cut down on the
emergency supply of food and household paper products so I can reorganize the basement,
but I expect to be done with that project and fully restocked before the end of the Mayan calendar when the gods shower cataclysmic horror down on our poor
defenseless little noggins.
Have you ever read or heard of a couple of books, "The Millionaire Mind" and "The Millionaire Next Door"? One of his points, based on what sounds like honest research, is that the doctors, lawyers and ceos who look rich, aren't. They spend so much of their income on maintaining the image that they have nothing set aside to build wealth. As slim as your equity may seem, you are probably wealthier than many of those who drive the big cars.
ReplyDeleteHere I am talking dollar wealth, you obviously are richer in the area of values wealth and priority wealth.
Grace and peace.
Happy New Year, Pumice! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteYeah, we all know folks who will bankrupt themselves trying to look rich, or at least as well off as their neighbors and friends. Many do make good livings but choose to live beyond their means.
Heck, I've lived long enough to be broke and sometimes I am silly enough to make the same mistakes more than once. I guess the difference is I always found the source of my problems staring back at me from any mirror and I never felt sorry for myself and I never hang-dogged to others for help.
Anyway, I hope to live long enough to make and learn from many more mistakes.
Best to you!
Zack
You're right about debt. Took me years to figure that out (I'm especially thickheaded).
ReplyDeleteAll great advice Zack.
ReplyDeleteHope all is well back there in your part of the country!