turbodog
Flashaholic
All my life I have had to work, and this has not been a problem. I enjoy a lot of different jobs, and have been happy during this time.
Most of us aspire to climb up the ladder so to speak, myself included. I guess this push is felt more in Americans that other folks, but that observation/guess isn't critical to where I am going with this little diatribe.
Very recently my wife and I made some financial decisions that left us in new territory. Now we've been through tough times and good times, but this latest change is uncharted. We're changing where we are sending money to and when we are sending it, to describe it in its simplest terms.
You see, this financial move will leave us debt free. I mean 100% abo-so-freakin-lut-ely out. Cars, house, credit card, student loan, medical bills, etc. Nothing, not a cent to anyone. And no, we didn't file bankruptcy!
The strangest part is that I am scared of this. I mean really scared. And yes, I realize how completely stupid that sounds.
This will all take effect in about a month. Between now and then I am obsessed with what I am going to do about it, like it's some problem.
I mean, I've always had some debt to pay on, even if it was a small one. Now, it's like "I've gotten here, so what now?".
I'm so weirded out by this, I'm extremely tempted to go buy my dream car, a 64 cobra reproduction.
At least that will put me back to paying for something on a regular basis.
But, it hit me tonight. Am I afraid of success? Have I achieved it (I've certainly worked hard enough) and don't know what to do with it? Will I lose the ability to relate to friends/family after a while?
As of now, only 2 people know about this, except you guys. And we aren't planning on telling anyone. But my fear now is that it will slip out eventually, and we'll be resented.
I know this sounds like bragging. And I apologize if it comes across that way. But I wanted to get some opinions or comments. And if you feel like letting loose, have at it. I'm a grownup.
Now, we will still have to work. We aren't *that* successful with our money. So we will continue to work and invest. And we, being yuppie suburbanites, tend to spend a good bit on creature comforts (food/entertainment/flashlights).
I liken this to being in prison. I've just been paroled and all I can think of it what I can do to get thrown back inside. Anyone here a sociologist? Or maybe it's like achieving your dieting goals, then going out for pizza every night for a month.
Or, is this a well-deserved little spending spree? The type where we'll buy a few toys and then move on. I mean, we invest, we save a little cash also, and we pay our bills. After all, this is the freedom that we *did* plan toward for ~10 years now. We are diversified in our lives. We volunteer a good bit. I work at the church in my spare time, for free. I've managed to scale back my work (I'm self employed) so I am home more (we have a 2 year old).
I have dreamed of this day for _years_, and I would have never thought it would be like this. Sort of anti-climactic.
:shrug:
Most of us aspire to climb up the ladder so to speak, myself included. I guess this push is felt more in Americans that other folks, but that observation/guess isn't critical to where I am going with this little diatribe.
Very recently my wife and I made some financial decisions that left us in new territory. Now we've been through tough times and good times, but this latest change is uncharted. We're changing where we are sending money to and when we are sending it, to describe it in its simplest terms.
You see, this financial move will leave us debt free. I mean 100% abo-so-freakin-lut-ely out. Cars, house, credit card, student loan, medical bills, etc. Nothing, not a cent to anyone. And no, we didn't file bankruptcy!
The strangest part is that I am scared of this. I mean really scared. And yes, I realize how completely stupid that sounds.
This will all take effect in about a month. Between now and then I am obsessed with what I am going to do about it, like it's some problem.
I mean, I've always had some debt to pay on, even if it was a small one. Now, it's like "I've gotten here, so what now?".
I'm so weirded out by this, I'm extremely tempted to go buy my dream car, a 64 cobra reproduction.
At least that will put me back to paying for something on a regular basis.
But, it hit me tonight. Am I afraid of success? Have I achieved it (I've certainly worked hard enough) and don't know what to do with it? Will I lose the ability to relate to friends/family after a while?
As of now, only 2 people know about this, except you guys. And we aren't planning on telling anyone. But my fear now is that it will slip out eventually, and we'll be resented.
I know this sounds like bragging. And I apologize if it comes across that way. But I wanted to get some opinions or comments. And if you feel like letting loose, have at it. I'm a grownup.
Now, we will still have to work. We aren't *that* successful with our money. So we will continue to work and invest. And we, being yuppie suburbanites, tend to spend a good bit on creature comforts (food/entertainment/flashlights).
I liken this to being in prison. I've just been paroled and all I can think of it what I can do to get thrown back inside. Anyone here a sociologist? Or maybe it's like achieving your dieting goals, then going out for pizza every night for a month.
Or, is this a well-deserved little spending spree? The type where we'll buy a few toys and then move on. I mean, we invest, we save a little cash also, and we pay our bills. After all, this is the freedom that we *did* plan toward for ~10 years now. We are diversified in our lives. We volunteer a good bit. I work at the church in my spare time, for free. I've managed to scale back my work (I'm self employed) so I am home more (we have a 2 year old).
I have dreamed of this day for _years_, and I would have never thought it would be like this. Sort of anti-climactic.
:shrug:
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