$9,000 a year…
I got married to my first husband when I was barely 18. Most girls were going to the prom but I knew better–I was having a wedding. At 18 we know all there is to know about the world. By the time I was 22 I was divorced and had a beautiful little boy of 18 months. I was working as a physical therapist at an inner city school for disabled kids. I was making $9,000 per year.
I just sat and cried...
I developed a severe phobia about money. I could not bear to balance my checkbook. Facing the reality of what was in there was more than I could tolerate. Things were bad. I bounced so many checks (I would bounce a check or two, the fees would come in and cause another couple to bounce, those fees would be tacked on…) that I had a monster deficit to deal with. My parents helped and I finally got it paid off but it continued to happen as I avoided the whole money management issue.
I can remember opening my bank statement one night and sitting on the floor and crying. My poor son, who was about four by this time, came and comforted me. I became very depressed.
When my son was six I met my current husband. For the first time in a very long time I felt safe. I had someone stable in my life. He didn’t take over my financial problems but he helped me find courage.
Regrets...
My darling little son is now 30 (I still can’t believe it!) and, unfortunately is repeating many of my bad habits. He is always in financial hot water. I have much regret. But it is what it is. I can only deal with today.
My new relationship with money…
And, today I have become a partner with my money. It doesn’t control me, I am in charge. I love online banking. I check the activity on my accounts every day. This monitoring and watching what we actually spend is the most vital step in getting out of debt and achieving our dreams.
THE ABSOLUTE KEY TO SUCCESS:
It is one thing to analyze and put numbers on a spreadsheet of what I project we’re going to spend (as I’ve described in previous blogs), and quite another to implement it day by day. Without this watching and adjusting as needed we would not succeed. Flexibility is critical.
I am so grateful that I no longer panic when bills come in or statements arrive. We live, we learn, we grow.
NOW HERE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FUNNIES:
An elderly Italian man who lived in the outskirts of Monte Cassino went to the local church for confession.
He said: “Father, during World War II, a beautiful woman knocked on my door and asked me to hide her from the enemy. So I hid her in my attic.”
The priest replied: “That was a wonderful thing you did, my son and you have no need to confess that.”
“It’s worse than that, Father. She started to repay me with sexual favors.”
The priest said: “By doing that, you were both in great danger. However, two people together under those circumstances are greatly tempted to act that way. But if you are truly sorry for your actions, you are forgiven.”
“Thank you Father. That’s a great load off my mind. But I have one more question.”
“And what is that?” said the priest.
“Should I tell her the war is over?”
Your comments are welcome and could win you a nice prize. Drawings are held every Wednesday.
FACE YOUR DREAMS, EMBRACE YOUR LOVES
