Trying to come up with a topic to write about in this blog every week is not as easy as it might seem. Many times, I agonize even with a week between blogs. Usually though the Sunday paper triggers something but this week no such luck. However, reading this morning’s paper it came to me as I read one of my favorite features “The Motley Fool” which I have a love hate relationship with. Let me explain.
Advice columns drive me nuts because they so often forget how difficult the day-to-day life struggles can be for so many. When they say do this, buy that, avoid the other, it seems as if everyone is on the same page or at the same page of life. So, when I read “living below ones means ” my first thought was easy for you to say. But then upon thinking more deeply I recalled my mantra that if nothing else save at least one hours wage every week. So, there it is! If you do that then you are already living below your means. At the end of the week, the month, the year, you have not spent your entire earnings and have accomplished your goal of not living beyond your means.
Suffice to say mortgages, car loans, and such within your budget do not violate the rule of living within your means. As a super, super senior I personally find that many of my contemporaries refuse to make life changes that can reduce economic stress. They who claim to have taught their children the difference between want and need now seem to have forgotten the rule themselves. Except for the few who are or have always been financially fortunate – life is a bit of a struggle. Change is somewhat scary but the sooner we face it at any stage of life the better.
A new month begins tomorrow and if the financial pundits are right, we are in for serious changes in our economy! Don’t panic – just hope the naysayers are wrong and prepare to make changes if needed. Steaks can be replaced by “tube stakes ” and here in Hawaii “poke” comes fresh or frozen.
JAI BABA
TTFN
JU
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