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Originally Posted by HejiraNYC
Until recently I had a 20-year-old TV, a 13-year-old $17 coffeemaker from WalMart, a 16-year-old microwave oven, a 7-year-old computer, etc. I guess that says a lot about me! For one thing, I am practical to a fault. If something is working, no matter how old, I will keep using it and using it. I am also usually a late adopter of new technology and I will search high and low for a good deal; it is like a game of strategy for me. I will expend a lot of effort to save a few bucks on (designer) clothing and food, but I will not hesitate for a second about spending money on travel, entertainment and health.
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That, is me to a T! As much as I'd like a new flat screen TV, my 56" projection still works, so it seems a waste, to just stop using it. And I'm the same with all my belongings....if it works, keep using it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HejiraNYC
Ultimately money buys me something that money can't buy (??)- peace of mind. I know that if I am ever unemployed (again), I can float for a long, long time (at least a year) before I start worrying about things.
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For me, I grew up upper middle class, until age 9, when my father left us. We went from riches to rags, in one fell swoop. My Mom was a hard worker, but had no education, so she was pretty much relegated to minimum wage jobs. And I was embarrassed by our poverty(this is leading somewhere). I started working at age 13, and have worked ever since. I put myself through college, and started by "sound" business, when I graduated(actually, timing was everything, I really went into it, at the perfect window of opportunity). I worked my ass off, for 10 years, bought the rental properties, then finally, my house. I made my way back, to the lifestyle I had as a child.
Sooo, all that said, I have had rough spells financially, like when my dog had cancer. And the rough spells have retrained me, to be a saver. Cushion, is everything. As long as my rentals are occupied, I too, could float for at least a year. And that cushion does indeed, buy peace of mind.
But like you also, even though I consider myself to be cheap, I dropped 2K today, on a cosmetic procedure.