My parents taught me some skills- some great people skills, some getting back on the horse skills, some lessons in laughter and love- but not a whole lot of financial smarts. I can remember waiting until Dad went back to work to bring in our back-to-school clothing haul.
For a while, in college, I figured out how to survive on a Shell gas card. Lots of cereal and junk food bought while getting gas, plus buying gas for a few friends to get a little cash. (This was before Reality Bites, just to be clear.)
Now, trying to figure out how I figure out money- I think the philosophy I picked up was, if it’s reasonable (or on sale), and if I “need” it (whether for mental health, dressing appropriately for work, or because it’s the right developmental stage for the kids to need a shape sorter) then buy it.
Just one little thing missing in that equation- perhaps we should have added the phrase, “if we have the money for it.”
I never wanted us to grow up into people that work for money- we should work for love, for passion, for fulfilling our potential. We shouldn’t have to degrade ourselves or shelve our integrity for a job.
Here’s my problem. I “need” to be with my children. For our mental health, because I think it’s the right thing to do, because it’s my passion and love. Kevin wants to go to school, because that would help him follow his passion too. How does it work? How do we sort through it? If there’s only money for one of those things, how do we choose?
And I need running shoes.
crap.