Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - Something to think about...or rather NOT think about.

iamhappy · 08-19-2009, 02:14 PM

I would like to share the story of a couple of my friends. Ever since I have known them, they have enjoyed a pretty abundant financial life...nothing extragavant, but enough to live without worrying about money and enjoying themselves.

They had newer cars, a nice house, modest but enjoyable vacations every year and so on.

Early last year all because of the news of the money crisis and recession, they decided to start cutting back on extras and saving "just in case". They had no reason to worry at that point, their jobs were secure and they were not overextended. They listened to the advice of the "experts". I remember her saying to me last year "I never had a budget or list when I went to the grocery store, I just bought what I wanted." She started cutting coupons and watching sales.

Well, about 6 months after they started doing this, some people at the husband's job were laid off and the couple now cut back even more and started to really worry. The worry was constant and consuming. I tried my best to explain to them that the more they worried, the more they would have to worry about, but they could not listen at this point, they were terrified.

They lived in this constant state of fear for another 6 months, even taking his paycheck and putting it into savings and just living on hers (telling the universe, that they did not need or have his paycheck) and telling the kids that they could not spend an unneccessary money. No new school clothes or shoes.

She just called today and told me that the husband had indeed been laid off...and that "Their worst fear, what they had been worrying about all along had come true"...these were her exact words to me.

08-19-2009, 02:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
iamhappy Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 66	Something to think about...or rather NOT think about. I would like to share the story of a couple of my friends. Ever since I have known them, they have enjoyed a pretty abundant financial life...nothing extragavant, but enough to live without worrying about money and enjoying themselves. They had newer cars, a nice house, modest but enjoyable vacations every year and so on. Early last year all because of the news of the money crisis and recession, they decided to start cutting back on extras and saving "just in case". They had no reason to worry at that point, their jobs were secure and they were not overextended. They listened to the advice of the "experts". I remember her saying to me last year "I never had a budget or list when I went to the grocery store, I just bought what I wanted." She started cutting coupons and watching sales. Well, about 6 months after they started doing this, some people at the husband's job were laid off and the couple now cut back even more and started to really worry. The worry was constant and consuming. I tried my best to explain to them that the more they worried, the more they would have to worry about, but they could not listen at this point, they were terrified. They lived in this constant state of fear for another 6 months, even taking his paycheck and putting it into savings and just living on hers (telling the universe, that they did not need or have his paycheck) and telling the kids that they could not spend an unneccessary money. No new school clothes or shoes. She just called today and told me that the husband had indeed been laid off...and that "Their worst fear, what they had been worrying about all along had come true"...these were her exact words to me.