Today's Stupid Spenders = Tomorrow's Bag Ladies

I tell myself it's none of my business... but inwardly I'm recoiling from the stupid spending I see around me.

-- A woman who has a take-out lunch every day at work but can't/won't pay her four figure company charge.

-- A woman who has been whining for months about not feeling well and won't go to a doctor because she has no health insurance and can't afford a doctor visit, but keeps buying expensive electronic toys.

-- A woman who was evicted for non-payment of rent, is on food stamps and currently living with a friend because she can't find affordable housing, has four pets she feeds and pampers.

Where are their priorities?   Today's stupid spenders = tomorrow's bag ladies.

I think it's about not loving yourself enough to be an adult about finances.  I wasn't always smart about money until I met a man who taught me right from wrong by his own stupid spending.  He was well educated, earned many times more than I, but was on the verge of bankruptcy because of stupid spending.  And he was looking to me to bail him out.  I bailed all right.  Right out of the relationship.  But his shaky finances taught me a valuable lesson.  Get out of debt and stay there.  That's exactly what I did.  Went on a strict financial diet - ate more hot dog omelets for dinner than I care to remember - and in less than a year was debt free.  And have stayed that way for over 15 years.  Each year I watch my net worth grow.

If you're always paying for the past, you can't build for the future.

I don't know how much is enough and there's no guarantee I won't outlive my money, but tonight I'll sleep trouble free.

Penny Pincher