We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.
This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.
📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!
My ASTRONOMICAL personal debt level - yours?
Frugal_Millionairess
Posts: 54 Forumite
This is about debts that are universal, and not just in U.S. dollars or British Pounds. I wasn't sure if it was okay to post it here. Feel free to move or delete.
I read an interview of a self-described, self-made man. Asked whom he felt he owed for his success, his reply: "I never had ANYTHING handed to me. I don't owe anyone but myself."
My balance sheet is not so clean. Though our house and car are paid, my personal debt load is so high I'm not sure it'll be paid in a lifetime. I had my first inkling of this one night at age five when I vomited my way down the green shag steps of our old farmhouse, looking for the bath. Somewhere in the back of my head it occurred to me to be glad it was Mom, not me, who would clean up that awful, stinking mess. And though I didn't say, "I owe you one" as she washed me up, put on my clean pjs, and tucked me into bed to tackle the stairs, I did owe her for that and a million other small sacrifices she made.
When my dad used money hard won from years of pre-down to late night days building up this redi-mix business to pay for my college and my older brother spent two rare days off to drive me straight through from IL to graduate school in CA - insisting he take the longest night shift - the debt grew.
My grandpa taking my anxious calls about exams, collect of course, and telling me jokes to make me smile, my fantastic husband who fully supported my decision to leave the practice of law, despite halving our income, my in-laws who raised not only the greatest guy I've ever met, but also his kid brothers who've become much loved uncles to my own children, friends, some of whose friendship now dates thirty years - it all adds up.
And what about the patient elementary school teachers, compassionate maternity nurses, and my neighbor Bud, cheerfully jump starting my mini-van one frigid February morning? Or the firefighters who, as I write, stand ready to risk their lives if I'm careless with a candle?
And as a woman, how do I repay suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Susan B. Anthony who faced a lifetime of heckling crowds to fight for my right to own property, vote, have a career, and not be beaten by an angry spouse?
On Friday, we took the neighbor kid with us to McDonalds, then walked across the street to a big, old cemetery. Buried there is a man who died at the age of 102, named Nathanial Ames. Under his name is a plaque: "Served in the Continental Army Under General George Washington".
I wonder if he was there with the other soldiers that bitterly cold Christmas night of 1776 listening to Paine's words read by the General himself, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman..."
And as for him and the other soldiers beyond weary, without tents or proper winter clothing, willing to take a perilous journey not for a pirate's share of gold, but for an ideal - an ideal of freedom and democracy and the thought that maybe all men WERE created equal, well how to you repay THAT?
And if you're British and don't feel any particular indebtedness to George Washington, that's understandable.;)
But I bet if you look up at your own blue sky today, you might just see the faintest outline of a WWII fighter plane and brave RAF pilot who never landed alive to collect his medal and his nation's gratitude. And if you do, you might just want to murmer a quiet, "Thanks. We owe you one."
So you see, my debt load is high, but I'm working to pay it down in bits and pieces. I'm patient with the elderly driver creeping down the street in gratitude to all those who were patient as my own 80 year old grandpa tried so hard to hold on to his independence through his car.
I take a deep breath (sometimes) when I want to shriek at my kids and nod to my now deceased grandmas who raised great human beings under far harsher circumstances.
I try, not always successfully by any means, not to always ask, "What's in it for me?". But rather, "Am I paying my own way, at least a bit today?"
And I go to bed tonight in awe at the generosity of the human spirit.
I read an interview of a self-described, self-made man. Asked whom he felt he owed for his success, his reply: "I never had ANYTHING handed to me. I don't owe anyone but myself."
My balance sheet is not so clean. Though our house and car are paid, my personal debt load is so high I'm not sure it'll be paid in a lifetime. I had my first inkling of this one night at age five when I vomited my way down the green shag steps of our old farmhouse, looking for the bath. Somewhere in the back of my head it occurred to me to be glad it was Mom, not me, who would clean up that awful, stinking mess. And though I didn't say, "I owe you one" as she washed me up, put on my clean pjs, and tucked me into bed to tackle the stairs, I did owe her for that and a million other small sacrifices she made.
When my dad used money hard won from years of pre-down to late night days building up this redi-mix business to pay for my college and my older brother spent two rare days off to drive me straight through from IL to graduate school in CA - insisting he take the longest night shift - the debt grew.
My grandpa taking my anxious calls about exams, collect of course, and telling me jokes to make me smile, my fantastic husband who fully supported my decision to leave the practice of law, despite halving our income, my in-laws who raised not only the greatest guy I've ever met, but also his kid brothers who've become much loved uncles to my own children, friends, some of whose friendship now dates thirty years - it all adds up.
And what about the patient elementary school teachers, compassionate maternity nurses, and my neighbor Bud, cheerfully jump starting my mini-van one frigid February morning? Or the firefighters who, as I write, stand ready to risk their lives if I'm careless with a candle?
And as a woman, how do I repay suffragists like Elizabeth Cady Stanton or Susan B. Anthony who faced a lifetime of heckling crowds to fight for my right to own property, vote, have a career, and not be beaten by an angry spouse?
On Friday, we took the neighbor kid with us to McDonalds, then walked across the street to a big, old cemetery. Buried there is a man who died at the age of 102, named Nathanial Ames. Under his name is a plaque: "Served in the Continental Army Under General George Washington".
I wonder if he was there with the other soldiers that bitterly cold Christmas night of 1776 listening to Paine's words read by the General himself, "These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman..."
And as for him and the other soldiers beyond weary, without tents or proper winter clothing, willing to take a perilous journey not for a pirate's share of gold, but for an ideal - an ideal of freedom and democracy and the thought that maybe all men WERE created equal, well how to you repay THAT?
And if you're British and don't feel any particular indebtedness to George Washington, that's understandable.;)
But I bet if you look up at your own blue sky today, you might just see the faintest outline of a WWII fighter plane and brave RAF pilot who never landed alive to collect his medal and his nation's gratitude. And if you do, you might just want to murmer a quiet, "Thanks. We owe you one."
So you see, my debt load is high, but I'm working to pay it down in bits and pieces. I'm patient with the elderly driver creeping down the street in gratitude to all those who were patient as my own 80 year old grandpa tried so hard to hold on to his independence through his car.
I take a deep breath (sometimes) when I want to shriek at my kids and nod to my now deceased grandmas who raised great human beings under far harsher circumstances.
I try, not always successfully by any means, not to always ask, "What's in it for me?". But rather, "Am I paying my own way, at least a bit today?"
And I go to bed tonight in awe at the generosity of the human spirit.
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Souza;)
0
Comments
-
I know I've asked this before, but SERIOUSLY, lady, what are you selling? Come on . .you can tell us . . . .0
-
Apologies but ...what has this got to do with Savings??
Straight out of the Reader's Digest !:rolleyes:0 -
brewerdave wrote: »Apologies but ...what has this got to do with Savings??
Straight out of the Reader's Digest !:rolleyes:
My thoughts exactly.
Now the Readers Digest is defunct in the USA the authour no longer has an outlet for their ramblings.;)0 -
Yes, a sad situation about that Readers Digest, I think this would have "played big in Peoria" ...and my boss limits my ramblings in class to contract and tort law, my own two kids have limited attention spans to pieces like this unless I interject every thirty seconds something about "And how grateful we should be to "TOYS R US and Dairy Queen Icecream and ....";)
Maybe I need to start writing country western songs as a creative outlet????
"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Souza;)0 -
Frugal, you strike me as being completely barking mad.
No offence :-)0 -
I know I've asked this before, but SERIOUSLY, lady, what are you selling? Come on . .you can tell us . . . .
And Bendix, You really must stop asking this as the reeling process takes time, but you seem a nice guy and I'm going to give you a hint. You may know our government's "Cash For Clunkers" program is underfunded right now and I have in my garage, the Dodge of Your Dreams, which despite not the BEST gas mileage, has the beauty and graceful lines only a car from the early 80's can offer....you might want to start thinking about it....I'm sure it'll be flying out of here soon to SOME lucky buyer....:cool:"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Souza;)0 -
Frugal, you strike me as being completely barking mad.
No offence :-)
None taken. You Brits are doing a wonderful job thickening my skin, which should help reduce future isses with sun exposure:p.
And I COULD have done the "sane" bashing of my government's handing of the economy, my family's own share of dysfunctions, and my neighbor's constantly barking dog....but what value sane??;)"Happiness is a journey, not a destination." Souza;)0 -
'In nature, there are neither rewards nor punishments - there are Consequences.'0
-
Well, now that we've ascertained that frugalmillionairess is a rather cute blonde with long legs and looks great in a bodysuit, I - for one - plan to be much more charming to her in future posts.
(Despite her being completely bonkers, of course).0 -
From the blog:
I wouldn't be able to hear myself think.I have five cassette players playing subconscious tapes with positive messages about happiness, success, creativity and such
Nutty but harmless. Welcome to the forums.0
This discussion has been closed.
Confirm your email address to Create Threads and Reply
Categories
- All Categories
- 351.8K Banking & Borrowing
- 253.4K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
- 454K Spending & Discounts
- 244.8K Work, Benefits & Business
- 600.2K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
- 177.3K Life & Family
- 258.5K Travel & Transport
- 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
- 16.2K Discuss & Feedback
- 37.6K Read-Only Boards