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<|2005-05-10| |10:32 a.m.|> <|What Forty Bucks Can Buy You|>
Yesterday I had a very humbling experience: My parents have been here in the area for the past two weeks, visiting the offspring of their own elder offspring, and yesterday, we were able to get together to go wedding dress shopping (with mom) and book shopping (with dad). We all stopped at Subway for lunch and when I went to pay for my sandwich, my father had this look flash across his face-- similar to the look I used to give my 6th graders when they begged for impossibly hard spelling bonus words-- and then he paid the cashier before I could. I said something to the effect of, "Dad, I have enough cash for a sandwich." I did-- I got paid on Friday, and I had at least forty bucks in my wallet for once. He rolled his eyes at me. My dad ROLLED HIS EYES at me. And then said, "You really think you do have the money for this, don't you?" He's right. Technically, collectively Leon and I are trying to climb out of an elephant-shit pile of debt, and so any penny I have, doesn't actually belong to me first at the moment. Or for the next two years or so of moments. My father does not approve of having any fun until all debt is gone. And I mean ALL debt. When I was a kid, we never once went on an actual vacation. I always thought it was because we weren't too well off, but apparently, it was because my folks paid off their 30 year mortgage in 14 years, and have never maid a car payment in their lives (paid with personal checks, full amount...unreal). You might think this was leading up to something bad, but really its not... My father must be completely out of debt with some generous savings, because he and my mother have been tossing cash around like its dirty kleenex. Unreal. I have all new bathroom rugs. A tank full of gas. A newly washed car. And they flew out here and have had a 2005 sports luxury car as a rental. Who are these people, and where are my parents? I don't know anyone called "Pop-pop and Grammy". Good LORD, thank you, thank you, thank you for allowing my brothers to procreate and thereby mellowing my parents to a whole new level. It also seemed to prove a point that I like to try to deny at all costs-- dad might be right-- by being stingy as hell for so many years, he is now able to live his life and spend his money exactly as he pleases.... Whereas, according to many financial analysts, Leon and I are going to be in much debt for many years, especially once we become homeowners. I'm not sure I'm enough of a grown up to be as permanently frugal as my father has been. I'm certain Leon's not. By my calculations, based on our current incomes, debts, ages, and maturity levels, Leon and I probably won't be able to spend money like that until we're approximately 89 years old and 86 years old, respectively. I don't think I'll want a Harley Davidson anymore when I'm 86. Ay, here's the rub: My folks are mellowing as they're becoming less tight-fisted about spending their cash, SO, does this mean that Leon and I, already not so great with "savings" or "Tax Return Budget", or, as Arnold would say, "things of this nature", are doomed to spend our money recklessly on things that we want now, only to wind up old, frugal, and ungenerous? And would growing to be that way necessarily be a bad thing if we have the memories of, say, motorcycling around a lot during our first five years of marriage? How do you choose? This is how I choose: I now still have forty dollars in my wallet. I will choose either Chinese delivery or pizza for lunch today (unexpected days off are the BOMB). Becuase I still have forty dollars in my wallet. Old and poor, here I come. Decisions are the worst, |