For Richer Or For Poorer?

posted 28th October 2009    Written by: Andrea    CATEGORY: All Posts, Andrea, Money, Quarterlife Crisis, Season 1

money on treesYou know the saying, “Money makes the world go round?” Sometimes I wish it wasn’t true.

Lately, I have had this fear that I will be poor for rest of my life. Why does money have to matter so much?

I didn’t exactly come from a rich or a poor family, but as an individual I am seriously terrible with personal finances. I’ve worked since I was 16 years old and have always had my own money, but I just can’t seem to wrap my hands around sustaining a budget. I’m not in serious credit card debt, but I don’t have this huge savings account either.

Having a lot of money sitting around has never been a priority to me.

There have been many friends and family who have attempted to show me how they manage things…. but it never works. I am still living pretty much paycheck to paycheck and I’m 25  years old. It’s sad and upsets me. Just this past week I started my 401K… I’ve been working for 3 years now (so embarrassing!)

It may have something to do with the fact that some of the best jobs in the world pay crap and the worst ones pay tons! All of the things I have done with my career, or want to do, aren’t exactly six-figure salary gigs. Sometimes when I play the “What my Life COULD have been if I…..” game, I think about if I would have taken a different job that paid better, or stayed with my ex boyfriend, who was on the fast track to the top of the corporate ladder, or maybe thought twice about traveling so much.

Money is the cause for so much stress in individual life, its no wonder its the leading cause for divorce among couples and fighting among friends and family.

Why can’t money just grow on trees? Wouldn’t that solve everything?

Everyday I check Twitter and Craigslist and Facebooks for potential jobs in writing, blogging or even internships in social media. (If you know of any send them my way please!) With the holidays coming up and taking my Eastern Europe Adventure I am going to be more broke I have ever been in my entire life.

It’s not a good feeling. Not when I see other people my age buying houses or new cars or starting a family.

I couldn’t do any of those things, even if I wanted to because I’d never be able to afford them.

I’m trying to come to terms with the fact that I may not have grown up “things” to show for myself, but I do have a lot of experiences, adventure and subsequently amazing stories and memories.

Aren’t those worth just as much as say, a house?

Andrea (new) bio.

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Comments (10)

10 Responses to “For Richer Or For Poorer?”

  • Lacey Lybecker Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 11:06 am

    They are worth so much more than a house! Everything happens at the right time for the right reason. If a house is in your future, then you’ll get the best one for you at the time when that time is right. For now, just enjoy the adventurous part of life!

  • Kaela Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 12:38 pm

    Andrea, I go through this every time I get a paycheck and can’t seem to get it to stretch any more than I can get my skinny jeans to stretch over my ass. Ignore all those people who are lucky enough to be buying all those things right now. They are either very lucky or they are living beyond their means, tying themselves to restrictive or impossible budgets because they feel the pressure to have nice things. Either way, you’re just not there yet and that’s okay! It’s also okay to stress about it, just know that thousands of people are in the exact same boat – like me!

  • nicole antoinette Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 12:46 pm

    I’m so going through this right now. I’m like, “Can I afford dinner?” and my friends are all “Wedding!”

  • Molly Hoyne Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 1:06 pm

    Ladies- I’m right there with all of you, as much as I’d like to pretend I’m rolling in the dough… I think if you looked at my 3 year old payless moccasins, you realize I’m a babe on a budget too.. :) But you know what? I made this decision to go out on my own & I accept that money is one of the risks. And I firmly believe it will come!

    I think Kaela is right though- a lot of our jealousy about what others “have” may be misplaced. Living over your means is not cool and seriously doesn’t help anything. So as much as I lust after an iphone, I understand that it won’t really make me happy.

    p.s. I just now discovered this comment box is freakishly small… Time to figure out how to make it bigger!

    p.p.s. I still want to iPhone so if any of you big rollers out there are reading this comment- feel free to donate one to the Stratejoy Cause!

  • Ardith Says:
    October 28th, 2009 at 2:41 pm

    Andrea,

    Oh my goodness. I was just thinking about this same thing at lunch today. Kudos for putting those thoughts into such well-put words!

    You just made my day so much better. I know that doesn’t solve any budget woes, but I thought I’d let you know. (:

  • Sage Says:
    October 29th, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Andrea,

    I bet if you talked to your friends who bought houses or new cars…you would find out that they are jealous of you.

    Traveling is priceless and money is relative. Cut out some unnecessary expenses (NOT travel) and suddenly…YOUR’E RICH!

    I am usually pretty good with budgeting but I have never had to really sit down and make a conscience effort at it. I just buy the things I need and every once in a while the things I want. I never feel deprived and if I just HAVE to have something…I get it. Do I want a brand new BMW…let’s see. I would have to add an extra $300 at least to my monthly income. Well I could do that working every chance I got checking out groceries at Jewel. I wouldn’t be going out on the weekends and I wouldn’t have a lot of time to sit around and watch TV..but I would have an amazing car. For me, that kind of thing isn’t really worth it, but could I do it? Yes. You can always get money but is it worth sacrificing TV time, my afternoon naps, my late nights and alone time to read a book…for me it will never be worth it. I would rather be “poor”. At least I get to sleep in and answer to myself. Both of which are just as priceless to me as traveling!

    That being said… It’s the most natural thing to go through a period of time where you are depressed about money. Even at times when I am sick or am having a fight with someone or any other everyday matter… sometimes I do find myself thinking “wow…I really don’t think I would care so much about this if I were rich.” Even in situations where it really doesn’t make any sense. Like I said… I will have a terrible cold and be laying on the couch, head aching with a stuffy nose and I randomly think that if I had those exact same symptoms but with $100,000 in the bank… I just wouldn’t care.

    Money is a powerful thing but it’s not the only way to be rich in life

  • Lizzie Says:
    October 29th, 2009 at 5:36 am

    Its coming up to pay day and I’ve been thinking exactly this. I get paid and I cant even afford to buy a new pair of jeans. If I spend £10 I’m worrying about it. You just have to think of it as a happy sacrifice. You cant afford the material things but your spending money on the things you love – like travelling. Who wants to buy a house anyway! just another thing to tie you down – I’d much rather be able to pick up and go whenever I want! We might not have alot of money but at least we’re free! :)

  • Molly Hoyne Says:
    October 29th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

    Sage– Yes. Yes. Yes.

    And FYI Ladies- Andrea is traveling in Eastern Europe right now & online, but I’m sure when she gets back- she’ll have lots to say!

  • Andrea Says:
    November 4th, 2009 at 6:46 am

    Well now that I am back from my Eastern Europe Adventure I am even MORE in debt, but lesson learned: Travel is worth every penny!! I’d take adventure over material things ANYDAY! Whose with me?!

  • Amanda Says:
    November 4th, 2009 at 8:36 am

    I am alot like you. I LOVE to travel but all my friends were buying houses and nice cars. I decided to buy a condo, which I love but now I can’t travel and it’s KILLING ME! I would much rather travel then sitting in my condo because I can’t afford to do anything. I don’t know if what I gave up was worth it. Hopefully it will be one day, till then I will just hang the “wish you were here’ postcards that all my friends send on my fridge.

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