How do you feel wealthy when you're not?

sonastin

Its very easy to be introspective when times are tough. Look up and see the world around you. Remember that no matter how bad it seems, it could be much much worse. And be grateful for the privileges that we have that mean it isn't quite so bad just now. That's how to feel wealthy of spirit when the cash has gone.

There are many folks on this thread with heart-breaking tales. I feel for you all and count my blessings every time I read a post from someone unfortunate enough to be worse off than I am. But we could ALL be in a worse situation than we find ourselves. It helps to remember that each time we face a crisis.

splodger_seedswapper

what a lovely thread - some great posts and shared thoughts on here

i haven't been on mse much - until recently - and it's threads like this that make me realise what i have been missing :T

many people ask at this time of year "what are you doing for xmas?" etc for me the perfect day would be a crisp frosty morning - going out with the dogs - with nothing but the cool fresh air and the chirp of birds in my ears - this year i might treat myself to a full day out - in the woods - no people - no xmas dinners, crackers or decorations - just me and the dogs out for a day in the woods (i bet it pees down now i've said that )
anyway - re the op's question:
for me - i don't have much in the way of money or things so am not wealthy in any way (finacially) - but if i had something that somebody i knew needed more than me - i would give it to them - that makes me feel on top of the world

Popperwell

I think you count your blessings more(I know I do)regarding the people who enriched my life and I have lost and I try to carry on as much as a tribute to them. Materialistic things mean very little to me.

All I ask is for food on the table, a roof over my head and enough to stay warm. I fear that it will be much worse in the New Year for many. Thankfully I am not an envious person nor a person that condemns others, people often make assumptions or are judgemental of some and life is too short for that.

lindseykim13

savingqueen wrote: »

thank you softstuff - I will print this out I think

sq:)

yes me too what a good poster

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi, sorry, havent got time to read it all through properly. But if you are in debt and its going to take time to get out of it (like me) then its going to get you down sometimes. This is allowed!

But I am also guessing that despite being fed up about your financial situation you havent got out the credit card or gone for a dodgy loan somewhere to buy something to make you feel better. This alone is something you should be proud of.

And the best thing about living a very frugal life is that the things I view as luxuries have changed. A bar of chocolate is a treat nowadays.

Good luck with it.

HeadAboveWater

splodger_seedswapper wrote: »

for me the perfect day would be a crisp frosty morning - going out with the dogs - with nothing but the cool fresh air and the chirp of birds in my ears - this year i might treat myself to a full day out - in the woods - no people - no xmas dinners, crackers or decorations - just me and the dogs out for a day in the woods

This sounds like absolute bliss

good_advice

Yesterday I lost my little job - made redundant. Immediately Oh is saying you WILL have to look for another one. It makes me sad.

I think we live on a road of ups and downs. Have learnt to live on little money and keep the heating on for just 3 hours.

Plenty of things to do with out much money like watching the world go by out of the window, house choirs, reading, hobbies.

The difficult bit is making the house bills smaller and feeling glad if you succeed.

Christmas is a worry for many, not me as I sorted that one a few years ago. Was difficult to tell people at the time that we were only buying small gifts and have stuck to it.
Many will have loans out on techno things and cards just because it is expected to be gifts of hundreds...

Well, I am off to put the washing on the line, yep even just a few hours. No tumble dryer here on unless washing pile is realy bad and it has rained for days.

LameWolf

good_advice wrote: »

Yesterday I lost my little job - made redundant. Immediately Oh is saying you WILL have to look for another one. It makes me sad.

I think we live on a road of ups and downs. Have learnt to live on little money and keep the heating on for just 3 hours.

Plenty of things to do with out much money like watching the world go by out of the window, house choirs, reading, hobbies.

The difficult bit is making the house bills smaller and feeling glad if you succeed.

Christmas is a worry for many, not me as I sorted that one a few years ago. Was difficult to tell people at the time that we were only buying small gifts and have stuck to it.
Many will have loans out on techno things and cards just because it is expected to be gifts of hundreds...

Well, I am off to put the washing on the line, yep even just a few hours. No tumble dryer here on unless washing pile is realy bad and it has rained for days.

Sorry to hear about your job - bummer at any time, but in the middle of winter, when you need your heating on even if just for a bit, and Xmas looming.... I do hope you're able to find something else quickly.:o

You know, I think people expect too much in the way of big presents, and lose sight of the meaning of gifts. We stopped doing presents when DH was jobless a few years back, and we never re-started. (We don't have anyone left to buy for now, in any case, only each other).;)

I did, however, receive a wee pressie last year, that meant a great deal to me, even though the present itself was tiny. May I share this?:o

Background - I'm disabled and too sick to work, so we're a host family for a dog-sitting service, Mr LW helps with the dogs, I can do "walkies" with my mobility scooter, and occasional canine company stops me going stark staring mad!:D

One of my regulars was Sidny, a diabetic Miniature Schnauzer; his owners always asked for me because I took a vast amount of trouble to see that he was as well as he could be - I spent hours sitting on the floor with him, persuading him to eat his very bland food, crushing up his biscuits to dip it in to make it palatable, and so forth.

A couple of times I had to keep Sidny longer than was booked - one time the infamous ash cloud meant his owners were stuck abroad, another time Sid's "Dad" had a stroke while on holiday, and ended up in an Italian hospital.

Last year, Sid stayed with me over Xmas, and with him came a little pressie - a box of three tablets of rose-scented soap.

Sid's last stay with me was last June; sadly, he has since passed away; I'm currently using the last of the three bars of soap, and I always think of my little pal Sidny while I have my bath.

My point is that that present meant the world to me; I don't know if Sid's owners will ever get another dog, but if they do, I suspect I'll get to look after it when they go away!:D

good_advice

Thanks Lame wolf, People learn to get along with what they have.
I have just started a shopping list and have so far put one item on it! after looking in the fridge and freezer. No need to stock up as the shops are open every day. It does make me think! when you hear of people with 2/3 freezers full on stored food. WHY?

Loved the story about the dogs you sit for.
We have a dog, it follows me all round the house.

It is the last day for 2nd class post - well that's good as I have not sent any. Last time I took notice it was 50p stamp for small letter and all cards Had to go to the post office to pass the weighing test.

missmoneysave

Thank you for sharing LameWolf that was a lovely story and it brought a tear to my eye. Life really is about the small, meaningful things, something that is so easily forgotten by so many at this time of year.

I feel wealthy everyday. I don't have much money and I don't have shiny things and I can't begin to compete with my friends in terms of financing families, weddings and buying houses but I am rich in other ways.

I am surrounded by wonderful people that respect by lifestyle choices. I love and I am loved in return. All I need is my partner, my dog, some homemade soup in a flask and a frosty morning and I am in heaven. I will remember those trips to the woods, I won't remember what I was wearing or how much i had in the bank. I have had my health and I have permanently lost part of it but I am alive and I enjoy what I have left. Surviving life in general makes me feel wealthy.

You are allowed to get fed up and pee'd off but life is made up of tiny moments of wonderment, don't let your comparison with others make you miss those good moments. They might not manifest in the way you expect them so be vigilant, I never thought a clean floor or a good home cooked meal could bring so much joy to me but it has.

Life is a mixture of all sorts of things, all we can do is our best.