money can't make you happy

i'm glad i have people in my life that look out for me. i'm glad that i don't have others in my life that only want to have a "pissing match" about how terrible they have it. they love to post how awful their life is and how many bills they have, how they can't do this and can't do that and pretty much just air their financial business out for everyone to know. when i was growing up that just wasn't something you discussed with everyone. it was private. so why in the world would someone tell random strangers their money issues? to get sympathy? to try to look more adult and important? honestly you're making yourself look desperate, like you're asking for a hand out. we have 2 children and i'm a stay at home mom. i have been for the last 3 years and i or my husband don't have any plans of me going back to work anytime soon. i don't have to. and we're still able to do anything we want whenever we want. it's called being smart about your money. not going out and spending $40 on 10 bottles of ketchup, 9 bottles of ranch and other frivilous crap. or going out and buying a new car every 6 months or a house you know you can't afford or buying anything without thinking of the future. we don't use coupons, never have. we don't buy off brand name, everything is brand name. everything our children has is new. i don't consignment shop and the few hand- me- downs were barely worn by my oldest with most never being worn or tags still hanging. we don't live paycheck to paycheck and there are many bills that have to be paid. it's called knowing how much you make and living that lifestyle, not the lifestyle that is above you.

i consider debt something that you will never get out of, never pay off. bills are an every day part of life. you have power bills, insurance bills, car payments; things you just can't live without. bills are ongoing but they also keep your life going as well. we have bills. if you try to "keep up with the Jones" and you can only live as a Sanford then you are certainly living above your lifestyle. and people wonder why they have so much debt. they will go into so much debt just to have the nicest things because they have to keep up with everyone else. for example, if your car is paid for and you took care of it then why go out and buy a new one when that one is good condition when 1. you can't afford it and 2. just because someone else got something new. if you take care of things they will last you a long time, some things a lifetime. if you're not living in a dump, you keep your house clean, you have a good spouse, blessed with amazing children then what more could you need to make you happy? the ability to brag to someone that you've got more bills or debt than they do? a reason to whine and make people say "aww i'm so sorry" and make them pity you. i don't know about you but i don't like people to pity me or want people to pity me.

i guess i'm just blessed with a HUSBAND that works hard and has a great job that allows me to stay at home with our boys. he tells me often that although i may not work outside the home i do work at home just as hard as he does but differently and considers the money ours. we do not live a lifestyle that we can't keep up with. i just wished some people would stop displaying their finances for people to pity them and try to compete to say they have more problems. well YOU created those problems for yourself, no one else did. i didn't spend your money. i didn't create that debt for you. you did this to yourself. so stop complaining about it.