We had an interesting discussion today at breakfast. My daughter was talking about one of her friends who was “really rich.” She talked about how her father was a heart surgeon, that they lived in a big house, and how she was always bringing new things to school. These are the types of things that people […]
Mostly, I don’t think much of big spenders, like my mother who used to dress us all fancy when we didn’t want to be. I never wanted to be dressed that way. She was trying to impress my teachers. She’d have been better off to save it or use it on some of the house that was really shabby looking. However if the stuff she brought to school benefited the school, I guess that’s different. (Probably didn’t though.
Funny. My mother, particularly as she got older, got to where she would not spend money on clothes even when she really needed to. I remember she would do things like tape up shoes or wear clothes full of holes when she could have easily replaced her wardrobe. It actually got to the point where people would give her things, thinking she was destitute. Maybe she was a case of taking things too far the other way.
I always encourage my potential Surprise Millionaires to pick a lifestyle that works for them (usually middle-middle class) and stick with it. If you deprive yourself of everything you will only become bitter and that is not the purpose of the wealth building journey!
Funny thing was, I don’t think she was trying to save money or anything. She just didn’t see the need for new clothes when the old ones would do. Maybe there’s a lesson there – spend money on the things that are important to you; not on the things that aren’t.
Wise words! 🙂
Funny – but worth noticing. isn’t it?