- Messages
- 4,562
- Reactions
- 7,876
Proof positive that none of us are absolutely worthless. We can always serve as a bad example.
I cannot claim to be mortgage-free (a couple women saw to that), but I am otherwise debt-free, pay all day-to-day expenses with cash (self-employed craftsmen really like that!). Credit cards (2) are for mail-order, travel and gasoline, paid in full each month. No interest. You are right: It is the best freedom we can realize.
My parents were of "The Greatest Generation", abhorred debt, but engaged it when necessary, and briefly. Our cars were always older than my friends' cars, our furniture likewise. Most kids in school had newer clothes, and even soda pop was a rare treat. (And the snowflakes on the walk to school were bigger then, too!)
Hunting buddy much younger than myself is a recent father, has a nice house he got into easy as a result of some sad inheritance, and enroute to a gunshow with me recently lamented he no longer had the wads of cash (Journeyman Plumber) he formerly had for such things. Talked about turning down his house heat, etc.,etc.,etc.
I asked him about his bills, how he paid them, etc. All that can be is on "auto pay". Wife pays the bills, and any not on auto pay are done "paperless" (just moving crap around on the computer screen). Grocery shopping on plastic. McDonalds on plastic. Starbucks on plastic. The boy has NO IDEA where his money goes.
I recommended he start paying cash for day-to-day. Take everything (save cell phones and such) off auto pay. Write a check for those bills. I assured him he'd not have to consciously change ANY behavior toward economy (turning out lights, furnace, etc.).
It would all come naturally with having SEEN his money leave his pocket/bank account.
