These 3 items often give people an upset stomach when talking about the future and planning.
My parents were budgeters… not bc they enjoyed it, but because they didn’t have the means to be extravagant. I grew up in two parent working household and that was to make ends meet. I was extremely fortunate that my parents valued my future, and it was evidenced in how they spent and saved their money. Home cooked meals were the norm — until I started in activities that kept me at lessons or practice from the time school recessed until the late evening. I never dove into the sacrifices they made nor the financial understanding of what they were doing. I’ve learned a lot from how they spent their money, and it’s something I want to pass on to my kid(s).
When I look around at people and their spending habits, I’m appalled at what they purchase. Eating meals out every night…. buying tons of clothes/makeup/shoes…. these are just some of the things that just seem to be wasteful to me. Do I do it? Yes, but minimally. Do I think about it every time and wonder if it’s worth it? Absolutely. But, it’s never too late to start a plan or get on track to be financially savvy or responsible.
Helpful links to tackle:
- The Money Habit
- Retirement Researcher
- Suze Orman
- Bogle Heads
- Mint
- Personal Capital
- White Coat Investor
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