I was inspired to write a blog again thanks to a former teacher's blog. And this first entry is inspired by them as well.
I am a watcher of money. My money, other people's money. In my job, I hear people go on and on about how they can't afford payments. In my education, I'm learning how to account for others financial activities. In my life, I keep track of my spending using spreadsheets. To a point, I also keep track of my roommates' spending habits since they affect me as well.
I have never been late on a payment for a credit card. I have never been late on paying any bill. I do not ask for money from my family unless it is an absolute emergency. I follow Suze Orman religiously. I have enough in savings where if I had to be unemployed I could manage for a few months (not 8 months like Suze says, but I'm trying). There are very few times that I've had to worry about paying rent, and usually that is only when a big emergency has come up such as my car breaking down. Yet, I worry about money relentlessly.
Growing up, I wouldn't say that I was poor. I would say we struggled. There were times where my mom had to obtain welfare. But, we were never without. We always had food. We always had a roof over our heads. I always had what I needed for school. At first, I was not ashamed to wear clothes from Value Village or Goodwill (this came later on). I learned not to ask for things I didn't need unless it was my birthday or Christmas, in which case, I have to admit, I was spoiled. I was the baby of the family, and seemed to get a good amount of presents on these days. I think my family enjoyed rewarding me with these presents. But I didn't get anything beyond a bag of Skittles or Runts normally as a treat. The one big present I remember getting that wasn't on my birthday or Christmas was when my mom had won big at Bingo, and she treated me to a Super Nintendo (years after it had come out). My dad, no matter what, made it a point that if I needed something, he would fork up the money for it. Members of my family made financial mistakes (bankruptcy), and I observed this years before I probably should have since I was the youngest in a family where the next closest member was 18 years older than me. I understood what these financial mistakes meant by the time I was 10, and I knew I didn't want to make these mistakes. That has probably what has influenced me the most when it comes to money.
For years I refused to take out student loans. I didn't want to graduate school with debt. Unfortunately, I am not in a position any longer where I can afford NOT to take out those loans. I have to tell myself that they are for my future. That is what helps me sleep at night.
I live within my means, and only recently bought my first IPOD with money from my tax return since it was extra money that was not needed to pay bills. When my only roommate with a job recently quit hers due to circumstances beyond her control, I took up the reigns and paid the rent for myself and two others. It meant tightening the belt, but luckily, I had grown up with the belt already tight and knew how to handle it. I track my 401k bi-weekly. I don't want to burden my kids, just in the same way my father does not want to burden me.
So even though I am technically financially sound for a 25 year old who has to work to live, I worry about money all the time. It is the times we live in unfortunately.
