Is it bad how cheap I am?

Did the pendulum swing too far the other way?  I went from being horrifically in debt, to being mostly debt free (with the exception of the house mortgage, and that’ll be done in ~ 10 years) and with a decent savings.  I’m also on a path of decent retirement savings.  When a startling $4K bill comes up (damned those taxes … free healthcare my aunt fanny) I can pay it without missing a beat.  It’s obviously VERY different from where I was.  That being said, have I gone too far?

I’m responsible for managing the household finances.  That lays solely on me.  I need to monitor what comes in and what goes out.  A lot of people take on this task, it’s an important job and one I actually enjoy doing.  However, I’ve come to a point that I feel like I’m becoming a cheapskate.  This past weekend, I spent $50 on tights / stockings.  I haven’t spent that much money on tights or stockings in over a decade.  I like them, they’ll keep me warm, BBE loves the look of them, there’s no draw back … but …

They weren’t on sale.  I frivolously spent $50 on something I should have waited until it went on sale.  I look at the bank statement and that number LEAPS off the page and SMACKS me in the face.  SELFISH, SELFISH, SELFISH.  I’m feeling guilty.  We need to save up for when stuff breaks, when the vehicles need service or repairs, when the boys want to take dance class.  We need to make sure we’re planning for everything.

Where’s the healthy balance?  Between being frivolous and being frugal?  

Those moments in time

Tomorrow (November 22) marks the 50^th anniversary of the assassination of JFK.  I grew up hearing my mother talk about when she heard the news.  She was 16 and how she’ll never forget the moment the world stopped to discover this tragedy.  She also talked about finding out Elvis had died, so I guess the impact of items affect people differently.

This got me thinking, what were the impactful moments of my life?  Where was I, what was I doing?  What is that crystal clear memory of an important event in my life?

1.    The Challenger Explosion.  I was in grade 8 and we were watching the launch live in class.   It was a split class, Mrs. Wynens class, and we were sitting on desks watching the big TV at the front of the class.  The teacher was sitting at her desk watching and there was a low level mumble of kids’ half paying attention and half talking.  Then, the explosion and absolute silence.  30 kids simultaneously looked at the teacher for an explanation that no one could possibly have had.  I remember she was frozen in shock too.

2.    Finding out the verdict in the OJ Simpson trial.  I was driving to work in Oakville.  I was puttering my Hyundai pony along Spears road in Oakville and I heard the “Not Guilty” over and over again.  I was YELLING at the radio.  “NO WAY” …. “OMG are you KIDDING ME?”  Dammit, those gloves FIT!

3.    9/11.  Likely the biggest event of my lifetime.  One that changed the course of history.  It took away our innocence and naiveté that we were safe within our own boarders.  I was working for a computer networking company but from my home office.  I’d just returned from a trade show 3 days prior.  I was walking back and forth between my office and my bedroom (where the tv was).  I liked having the TV on, just for background noise so I didn’t feel so alone.  I typically had a morning show, or Oprah, something light … but the sounds coming from the bedroom were different.  I went into the bedroom and there was this horrible movie on tv, so I changed the channel.  Wait, this stupid action movie is on all the channels, WTF?  Then I heard the announcer’s voice and realized it was the news.  I sat on the edge of the bed to figure out what was going on, and watched the second plane fly into the tower.  My jaw dropped, then they said words I’ve never heard before “We’re under attack”.  I was receiving concerned calls from family to make sure I was home from my last trip, and remembered spending the day tracking down colleagues and customers to make sure everyone I knew was safe.

These are three life changing events that I can close my eyes and go back in time as if they just happened moments ago.  They not only changed the world, each of them changed me.  Taking a little of my innocence, showing me the ugly part of the world, but also teaching me about the fragility of life.  How precious it is and how we must love it, celebrate it and most of all LIVE IT!

*Please note, I struggled with the image for this blog.  I had some pretty gruesome pictures of the twin towers, but opted for the Challenger explosion.  I still am not ready for the 9/11 images and I don't want OJ on my blog.