This week I celebrated the 12th anniversary of buying my condo. It's been 12 years of very happy cheap and cheerful living. My average monthly expenses are less than I was paying in rent. Looking at current real estate listings comparable units in my complex are listed at double (or more) what I paid. We all know that "askin' ain't gettin'" but I know I made a good investment even if I have no plans to sell and will probably leave my unit feet first. I'm here to stay. Every morning I look around my 485 square feet and smile. I love what I have.
Buying my condo was just one of the five best things I've done for myself. The first was not having children. My life would not have been possible if I'd had kids. Next is quitting smoking 14 years ago. I'm not going to beat myself for having started smoking in my teens, but I will celebrate having quit. Also on the list is being debt free for over 20 years. No loans, no mortgage, no debts. Credit cards paid in full every month. Frugal living works for me. I spend half, save half of my monthly income. Last, but not least, on my list: getting published. It brought me joy, new friends, travel and was the culmination of a long creative journey. As a reward for myself the year my first book was published, I bought a metal sculpture of a moko jumbie (a dancing figure on stilts, a highlight of Caribbean parades), titled "The Celebrator." The sculpture hung in my rental apartment for several years and was the very first thing I moved into my unfurnished condo on closing day 12 years ago.
Celebrate yourself. You've earned it.
Penny Pincher
No comments:
Post a Comment