Tis the Season to Spend Money

I know I’ve been slackerish about posting the blog.

The blog is in some need of love. I’ve just been so busy with work.

I have two more half written posts, that with any luck will be posted sometime in the future.

This mornin I was perusing Digg when I came across the article You can learn a lot from a rich girl

In the article it says

My Mother in Law, who is respectably middle class, will die in debt and the worst part is she rarely buys anything for herself. Every Christmas we go over to her house bundled up in sweaters and jackets, swathed in a layer of blankets because she can’t afford to turn the heat up. But everyone will be plowed with the presents that she couldn’t control the impulse to buy.

My point here is not that the heat isn’t turned up (because those of you who have been to my apartment, know that when you open the door to come in, you are indeed cooling down the outside), but that “she couldn’t control the impulse to buy.”.

In the blog, it talks about how some of the College students this person talks to spend $200 on jeans. The author then goes on to say, that even though the wealthy may buy $200 on jeans, they would only spend a days worth of income, rather than the two weeks it takes the college students.

Those of you who know me, know that while I’ve become more generious with my money, I am still pretty tight when it comes to money. I think I have my parents to thank for that, especially my mom. Her example growing up of attempting to stretch her money as far as it could go was a unconsious example of what I want to do. For that I am forever in her debt. She taught me a very good principle.

So lets be straight, Credit/Loans/etc scare the snot out of me. I avoid it at all costs. I just have one credit card and that’s for car rentals. Every paycheck I throw a percentage into my 401k fund. I buy stock, I am looking out for my future. I don’t want to be crushed under fiscal debt. The author then says

Is anything that you own worth living paycheck to paycheck for? Is the extra square footage and the swimming pool and the new car worth it knowing that something as little as a traffic ticket can screw you up for the month? Is a playroom full of toys for the kids necessary when all you’re doing is teaching them that mindless consumer excess is not only normal, but the key to happiness?

You know what makes me happy? Not being a slave to the things I want to buy. But hey, that’s just me. I also plan to retire early and I feel that I’ll be pretty alone in that endeavor unless I can convince a few now to come with me later.

Like the author, I’d like to have some people retiring with me. Driving around in RVs (my secret, or not so secret desire) when they get old. I once heard the wise words “Those are those who understand interest and those who pay it”. For those of you who are part of my Christmas circle. If you don’t have the resources, just give me a big hug, because I’d rather have those who I love not be under the crushing weight of consumer debt than get a little trinket.

Because this Holiday is about the people, not about the trinkets or gifts.