Re: How do u stop urself from buying everything..
Posted by David'sbride
I've learned all of my money management from my Dad and by being REALLY disciplined.
My mom died when I was young but she didn't work at the time. My Dad worked for the phone company and has a high school diploma. He was able to buy a house in a neighborhood he should have not really been able to afford and send my brother and myself to Catholic school and private college.
How?
1. He grew up with a 'depression era' mentality. He lived without a lot growing up and knew things don't make you happy, people and experiences do.
2. He was a carpenter before I was born... he never had to hire someone to work on the house. Most of the expense in hiring people to work on your house is labor. He did EVERYTHING... even made his own kitchen cabinets from SCRATCH. We always had the most beautifully kept house. He loved working on it and had a nicer house because he did the work.
Yes, I have a masters degree in history and the equivalent of a PhD from Home Depot...LOL.
3. We rarely went out to eat... Friendly's for ice-cream for a good report card. A real restaurant when we graduated. I've eaten lobster for every graduation...lol.
4. Two vacations only from 1979-1992. Both times Ireland to visit and stay with relatives.
5. For 11 months while I was at a private college (1990) about $18,000 a year he was on strike. NO INCOME came in for 11 months. His share of my tuition payment was over $1K and his mortgage was over $1K each month. How he did it I don't know. My tuition was paid. He bartended at the Knights of Columbus and sold Newsday door to door to college kids at Hofstra University. He was 53 at the time. Two of his friends got him the jobs off the books to keep us afloat. My brother and I often joke, 'Dad were you running a brothel or secretly in the mafia or something?' Every dime must have went to the house and my tuition.
I'm a teacher in one of the lowest paying districts in Nassau county but I make more money than my father ever saw and trust me I don't make a lot.
If my Dad could do it we all can do it. You need to set your priorities and keep your 'eyes on the prize' ladies.
It's not what you make, it's what you save and spend.
Whenever you want to blow money on something little thing ask yourself... 'Do I want my (insert big ticket item) sooner or later?
Oh, and invest. It's really not that scarey. Ladies you need more money because chances are you will live longer than your husbands. Your retirement is very important.
I'll try to post some $$$ saving tips when I get a chance. I'm swapmed with work as it is the end of the academic quarter.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm print for my FH to read, it is very inspiring! Any tips you can post would be great!!
