Posted 07 October 2011 - 10:27 PM
I think the other thing that people forget is that we all aren't created equal. It's easy to say "Why didn't this person just do this, this and THIS?"
It must occur that not everybody is as resourceful as the next guy. I thank my lucky stars everyday, and I often talk about it with my wife. I know so many people who rack up credit card debt for simple life things: Car repairs, home repairs etc. These aren't people who are lazy or living beyond their means, these are everyday people getting their asses kicked just like the rest of us. Life isn't easy.
When I was younger I learned to work on cars because I got tired of being ripped off by mechanics. Because of this I have saved thousands and thousands of dollars over the course of my adult life. Something most people get hammered on. When I hear what people pay for brake jobs, or even a simple spark plug change, I cringe. Same with home stuff, I've saved thousands of dollars over the course of my adult life simply because I've taught myself to do these things. Not that these things require a high degree of skill, but not everybody can do them. I learned out of economic necessity. Would I rather spend 1000 bucks on a car repair or put that in my retirement account? OK, I'll learn to turn a wrench....
There are so many ways to save money in life, especially now with the internet. You can sleuth down all kinds of deals for whatever you want. I needed a new cruise control motor for my car. Unit price? 1600 bucks before labor! I went on car forums and found a guy who totaled the same car and was parting it out. My cost? 125 bucks for his part and put it in myself. The everyday guy would have had to pony up the money, or get a newer car. Does that make the average guy lazy or bad because he had a car repair that exceeded his checking account and was forced to use a credit card? Was he/she irresponsible for not knowing how to do that repair themselves? Hardly.
The same attitude exists towards homeless people, or the poor. "Well all they have to do is this to get on their feet"
Well it may not occur to them to do "this"...ever. They simply don't possess the ability to think in such a way, where we do. Because of this I am thankful, and don't look down on others as incompetent or lazy. Nor would I ever toot my own horn about how smart and hardworking I am and what a big crybaby everybody else is.
Financially I run my house like a business. I am constantly looking for a way to save money, cut costs, and save (assets.) I also realize that I can do this for another 25 years and then suffer an illness, or incur some sort of devastating financial blow that screws me at the finish line. That is often how life works, and that's why I think it's best to remain thankful and humble about any accomplishments in life. You might be surprised how quickly all of it can be taken away from you.
"It was like I was in high school again, but fatter."
