Like most working class folks, I didn’t have much when I first set up housekeeping. Still don’t have much, but it’s better since the kids are on their own. (Little leeches, that’s all they are.)
Anyway, I was thinking about some of the material things that made me feel like I’m doing okay financially.
#1 is paying bills on time – no disconnect notices or collection agencies
#2 is having more than one box of tissues in the house – one for the kitchen, one in each bathroom, and one in the bedroom.
#3 is replacing raggedy-ass bath towels
#4 is filling up the gas tank all the time – not just pumping $5 worth
These things still make me feel like I’m doing okay. Immensely satisfying, every time I do them.
What does it for you? New car before the warranty expires? Real vacations? Resort weekends? Imported beer? More than 3 sets of underwear?
My winter home in Aspen, my summer villa in Italy, and my 75 foot yacht in the Meditteranean (Hey i don’t need to spell it right do i?)
Actually, paying bills on time was a big one with me.
But number 1 is definatly not having to figure out how much I can afford to pay towards MOST bills. Like I’ll short the phone company $20 this month and pay the electricity, we’ll see next month!
My day to day living expenses are paid on time and I was afforded the luxury of taking some great vacations last year. Now Im tucking away my money to re buy my house, pay off my lawyer and also pay off a mistake I made. Next year, I’ll travel again wooohooo. Im wealthiest in the way that I have an adorable son and we are both extremely happy and healthy. That beats money any day.
We are, each of us angels with only one wing,and we can only fly by embracing one another
I suppose for me “wealth” translates very closely to “enough”, i.e. enough to make my monthly bills comfortably, enough to keep the roof over my head and food on the table, and enough to share.
It also means enough for occasional treats, like good wine, special food, a pair of really good shoes, and travelling.
You’re right, Pam, it is very relative. I liked a wealthy friend, but she mystified me. She lived in a definitely luxurious setting, her clothes were exquisite, she travelled often and expensively–and she was vehemently opposed to donating to charities or having to pay taxes. She was a good lady, but her approach to wealth bewildered me.
IMO, money is a tool, and it’s used well or poorly. When money starts owning people instead of working for their good, they are no longer wealthy in any meaningful way.
Having enough to pay the bills every month (utilities…car payement…food) with maybe a little left over for savings is good for me. I also have a wealthy friend…she was about on the same level as me financially…she married into money…and for all that she has (which is very very substantial) I see that in reality she is no happier than I am…just proves the point that money ain’t everything…
When I was in college and I needed to mail a letter I would go buy the stamp for that letter. It used to drive me crazy, but I couldn’t see the “investment” in having excess stamps lying around, waiting to be used.
Now, by golly, I want LOTS of stamps lying in my desk drawer for whenever I want them.
What does it for me? (Skipping obvious joke) I would have to say the fact that I paid off the mortgage. My car is a 1993 and is also paid off. So, I only have on-going, monthly expenses. That means I’m fairly low maintenance.
It’s very nice to have the freedom to work low hours and do what I want. I think that’s what REALLY does it for me: Freedom.
Tveblen said it best, “money is a tool”. I don’t need nor do I desire a lot of money. It’s only a tool I use to obtain more freedom. Freedom to visit my family, my friends, and do the things that are really important and satisfying to me.
I have and still do give money to charities. But now, since I do not work full time, I can also give of myself; I donate my time and effort to the causes I believe in. I think that makes me one of the richest, happiest people I know.
Right now I’m a stay at home mom and money is pretty tight. We do okay, even have a bit saved away, but I’ll really feel like we’ve made it when:
We can have both an appetizer and a dessert when we eat out. Man, I’m looking forward to having a creme brulee just for me.
All three of us can get new shoes at the same time.
And here’s the biggy, I’ll really feel like I’ve made it when my net worth is actually higher than my son’s. Sadly (for me) my four year old has tons more money than I do. I’m thinking of asking him to buy his own dang shoes.
I personally like it when I fill out those little surveys where they ask for Gross Household Income, and I’m in the top third. Sometimes, on the cheap ones, I’m the #1 top choice. whoohooo!
Having money left over every month is the best part, IMO. It makes me feel rich to pay all the bills AND have enough left over to buy some luxuries every month.
Being able to pay the bills on time and donate something to my church is a big thing for me after about 15 years of barely scraping by (or sometimes not scraping by). And to be able to buy a book or a CD when I want it – not everything I want, or I’d be broke again :), but from time to time – that just feels like incredible luxury after years when buying things other than essentials was out of the question.
People have mentioned alot of them but I’ll repeat:
Putting money in savings and keeping it there
Stamps! Melin, you’re totally right-it used to be that stamps were money I could only spend on one thing.
Having only 3 debts (down from many! And none of them are credit cards!)
Being able to buy Xmas presents this year for our family without having to kill ourselves or use any credit. It wasn’t big but everyone got something.
Mostly that I have a wonderful loving husband, family that loves us and are wonderful, we’re healthy and have all our faculties about us and we have hopes and dreams for the future that we can see being fulfilled.
Absolutely!!! Sometimes it’s so hard to not be controlled by your money, especially when you don’t have any! I guess that’s the best time to learn how to own it instead of vice-versa. We’ve learned, but it was hard and it can be a continuing battle! We try to give generously to our church and charities. I heard an old axiom: give 10%, save 10%, spend 10%. We’ve got the give and save down, but we’re still working on the spend (believe it or not).
