I posted regarding 'finding money' about what I did when I lived in my car..and then this morning I just got back from getting a root canal done, paid totally out of pocket. With no crimp in the food or gas budget....Christmas did not suffer for my dental work. I had money to use as I needed.
Now don't get me wrong the money could be much better used to pay down the car, or some other nice finance option. But the amazing thing is, in just about 10 years, I have gone from living in my car, to living in my own home. And I don't even drive!
Some of the difference is due making more money (though my husband does all of that) but a larger part of the difference is caring more about 'grown up life'. Back then I was single-ish smoked, drank aplenty, and while I had no delusions of living forever, I didn't care one bit if I did or not.
Now I still have no delusions, but I do care, I want to live and live healthy for my kids and husband. I care about not taking to many risks, not ruining my own health, and well even if sleeping in the car isn't so bad, it is no way to raise a kid (or 3.5 of them).
10 years ago, money came in, and money went out...I really don't know how much, so long as I paid the car payment and ate relatively frequently, I didn't save up money. Mostly I made sure there was gas for the car, ciggs to smoke, and caffeine of some form. Any leftover was spent any old way I felt like (mostly on food).
Life then wasn't all bad, I learned a few things, like cold is easier to sleep in than hot... And how to look like you are primping even if you don't wear makeup just so you can wait out the other person to brush teeth in the restroom.
I also broadened my horizons about food during that time, I was never the bird eater, and with no way to cook or store food, I became the 'are you going to finish that?' friend. I discovered I liked food a smidgen spicy, fries even with pepper, pizza with sausage, calamari, stuffed mushrooms, crab legs, most any kind of wine or hard liquor, though still not beer, and I still don't like fried eggs, or really hot foods.
I learned a few things about the kindness of strangers, and not much about mean ones...a rather blessed time I am sure.
In a way I learned a bit about how much simple things are really a luxury, from hot daily showers to closets, to the ability to sleep fully horizontal. While I wouldn't wish that situation on anyone, I do hope to help my children see how blessed they are to have such luxuries... and I hope, that while I go call another dentist for more out of pocket work, I never to lose sight of how amazing the 'cheaper gifts' of life are...that I can go grab multiple blankets to keep warm, or that I can head off to the fridge and drink another glass of milk, or not, it will still be there fresh and ready in an hour or ten.
Big changes, slow ones.
January 2nd, 2008 at 08:30 pm
January 2nd, 2008 at 10:11 pm 1199311878
January 2nd, 2008 at 11:15 pm 1199315758
It also helps to put some perspective, I think, to be grateful for the simple things in life that we can sometimes forget and take for granted....
January 3rd, 2008 at 01:03 am 1199322192
January 3rd, 2008 at 02:57 am 1199329037