Aunt Erin is taking over this blog today, and she's tired of your whining.
Just a head's up if you were expecting light hearted frugal fashion pointers.
I drove Claire to school today, for a special choir practice. We drive past the Common Ground Free Store here in Delaware, which is just what the name implies. They provide free goods and food for lower income families here in town. On the days they're open, I swear that line forming outside gets longer every time :(
So, I drove Claire to school driving past the Free Store both times, and came home to check my Facebook.
Thankfully, most of my FB friends are very grateful people. They are right there with being vocal about their blessings. I've gotten rid of folks who did nothing but complain and throw negativity around, especially in their postings on my page. I don't need it! FB should be fun and life is hard enough!!
Unfortunately, every now and then, someone complains about not having enough money for groceries. Or gas. Or things for their kids. Or worrying about paying for Christmas. Job difficulties. Medical expenses.
These are all legitimate complaints. The economy blows and it's not getting any better. The term 'Fiscal Cliff' isn't just the catch phrase of the day. It's a reality if our elected officials can't get their stuff together.
So, what do you do when you encounter tough times? You tighten that belt and deal with it. You give up something in order to have Christmas for your kids. That's what successful people throughout time have done. Someday things will be better, and then YOU can have your Christmas.
I wish I saw more of this.
What I DO see is people on one hand complaining about not having enough money, and then on the other other hand gushing about their Caribbean vacation they're about to take. Or their brand new, expensive car. Their fabulous new cell phone with all the bells and whistles. The 'shop 'til you drop' trip they just took to the outlet stores. The $100 per ticket concert they're going to.
It's not a question of lack of money. It's priorities.
If you have the money to eat out every night, but are nickel and dimeing yourself in other areas, don't say money's tight. Say eating out is your priority. Paying for medical insurance isn't.
If you buy your 1 year old designer sneakers that rival in price an adult's, yet are breaking open the kid's piggy bank to count pennies for diapers............um, yeah. Please don't say I need to explain that one to you.
Those people in line at the Free Store aren't there for the designer purses inside. They are there for the packs of underwear and socks for their kids, or the warm coats and mittens so they won't freeze on the way to school. They aren't in line talking about that trip to Disney they're taking in the spring.
From a personal standpoint, I can speak from experience on the broad spectrum of family finances. I have been wealthy, and I have had very little.
Not all wealthy people take their material blessings for granted, but I know it's very easy to do. You get used to having enough grocery, gas and car insurance money, and having a job that provides medical insurance, so you start to view other things as necessities, like your kids' extracurricular activities, eating out, vacations, presents, and going to the gym. You don't think twice about dropping $100 on a flat iron or a George Foreman Grill. When all your needs and more are being taking care of, it's easy to lose focus and realize how blessed you really are.
When you have almost nothing, you start to develop a keen sense of what's truly important in life. You get creative, or you do without. You realize that a $10 pair of earrings is equal to a trip to the grocery store for milk, bread and toilet paper. $10 can buy medicine for your kiddo, or it can buy lottery tickets. $10 can pay for a surprising amount of toys at Goodwill, for a child who might not otherwise have a Christmas or birthday celebration. $10 can buy lunch for 2 at Mcdonald's.........or it can buy a week's worth of fresh produce (on sale, of course) to supplement an all too often dinner of boxed mac and cheese.
As hard as it is to do without, I'm grateful for the experience. It really opens your eyes and clarifies what you classify as 'wants' and 'needs.' It makes you work harder and be truly grateful when the good stuff comes your way. Having less means you value it more. You may not be able to have an evening for 4 at the neighborhood multiplex, complete with $50 in snacks, but you can enjoy a movie at home with popcorn and ice cream floats...........and you're not fighting the traffic and crowds.
This December, give yourself the gift of viewing your blessings with fresh eyes. You don't need to be standing in line at the Free Store to do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment