When I Grow Up

 

 
 

 

 

I Don't Want to be

      Average!

 

I have spent my entire adult life trying to chase the American Dream.   Oh, there were moments of enlightenment (in the early 70's I participated in food coops, natural childbirth and parent run preschool groups.)  There were lots of moments where money was scarce and I was only able to plan to buy the American dream.  But I bought the American Dream, hook line and sinker. So after nearly 45 years of accumulation of debt, junk and shattered dreams, I am embracing a new dream.

LIVING DEBT FREE WITHIN MY MEANS

What's that you say.... Not exactly a novel thought.  You are right!  It has been talked about for a long, long time.  The problem is it hasn't been practiced for an even longer time.  We look back at our Grandparents generation, who lived through the Great Depression and don't understand their frugality.  But they lived the consequences of grand dreams, short-sighted planning or an unstable economy.  They lived with World Wars that changed the landscape of their personal economy and availability of goods and services in a way that today's hoarders have no concept or understanding.  

I bought in to the dream.  I sought to have a better life.... (defined as more stuff, bigger house, fancier car ) than our parents and Grandparents. 

Don't get me wrong....This is not a judgement as I have been in the cashiers line accumulating my stuff with the best of them.  I have bought the best I could manage and hope for the best.  I have a five bedroom house that has been crammed to the rafters with the stuff I couldn't live without.  After a while, the stuff owned me.  I kept accumulating the newest and the best and continued to maintain and store the depreciating or outdated as I was never quite sure when I might need it. 

Here is a perfect illustration. After all how many saddles does one horsewoman need?  I still have my first saddle I ever bought, a show saddle, a kids saddle and and English saddle.  I can only ride in one saddle at a time.  I even have a tack room to house all the tack for my horse.

So again.... How many saddles did I need? 

I discovered a long time ago, the rush from obtaining the new and best item only lasts a brief moment.  The cost, upkeep and time needed to maintain or repair it all lasts much, much longer. So the pursuit of the American Dream then involved buying large and eventually small items on credit.  The weight of carrying the payments around has fueled a false economy based on what you can finance rather than your incoming currency.  In addition, I had no time or energy to enjoy it all.  The job to earn the money to pay off the ever accumulating debt and the energy required to maintain the stuff already possessed was crushing me.

I have observed many who have traded the bills and credit of living in a mortgaged life  in a sticks and bricks house for the best road vehicle and home with wheels  that (all) their money can buy....

Have they traded one master for another? 

I can't answer for them.... I am not sure I can even answer for me.  But I can say that it is not important for  ME to continue down that path.

This is not intended as a judgement of any life style or path that someone might choose.  It is only a reflection of my path and current thinking about my future. 

               So.......

I am at a cross roads.  I am unable and unwilling to maintain it all. 

I am on a path of reducing what I own and what owns me.

I am planning a budget that includes an emergency fund but NO credit or debt.

I am determined to live life rather than juggle it.

I ask .... Why try to fit in when you were born to stand out?