Finances and not being able to relate

[inneedofhelp]

Since times are hard for everyone, I accept that everyone is having a hardeer time of managing their finances.

However, as a human being with flaws and faults, I admit that I just cannot relate to some friends and their financial issues.

I have a friend who constantly talks about how hard he works now. To me, I have been working harder than him since college, and I would gladly work the amount of hours he does if were earning the amount that he earns.

I admit, that even though he probably has loan debt, I would love to have been able to afford to go to graduate school.

Sometimes I just have to keep my mouth closed when he states how is now a workaholic----I just don't understand sometimes.

I also don't understand when he says things about the economy and having to budget, yet still buys clothes from boutiques, etc., while I am often eating corn dogs and bread for meals.

have any of you experienced this with friends or family members?

[wincrasher]

Often times people feel trapped by their jobs and debts. You feel you have no free time and nothing to show for your hard work - then you feel like you "deserve" that $100 shirt from that trendy shop.

So unless you walk a mile in his shoes, don't think you have it better or worse than him. You may think he has it made, he may think he's a slave.

[inneedofhelp]

Often times people feel trapped by their jobs and debts. You feel you have no free time and nothing to show for your hard work - then you feel like you "deserve" that $100 shirt from that trendy shop.

So unless you walk a mile in his shoes, don't think you have it better or worse than him. You may think he has it made, he may think he's a slave.

I think that I would be happy to be a slave if I were making what he is making and being able to pay down massive amounts of debt at the same time while wearing nice clothes.

[Radiance]

I think that I would be happy to be a slave if I were making what he is making and being able to pay down massive amounts of debt at the same time while wearing nice clothes.

I disagree, to me freedom is much more important than making the money.
I would work harder for some time to pay down debt, but not to buy clothes.

Imagine if you could choose how many hours to work. Let's say you make $20/ hour. Whay would you prefer:
Pay $40 month for cable or leave at 3:00 PM every Friday? I would chose the last one.

Would you pay $80 for a cell phone, or leave at noon on Fridays...?

Would you spend $160 on eating out or work only 4 days a week?
I am very lucky at this time, I've worked 60+ housr a week before, but now I work my 40 hours and it is a low stress job.

[inneedofhelp]

My response was more along the lines in that I work very hard and earn less than my friend, and I think I would happily work longer (I am trying to get a 2nd part-time job now) if it meant being able to earn more money. I am not concerned with nice clothes, but would like the freedom that extra money provides.

[EEinNJ]

I disagree, to me freedom is much more important than making the money.
I would work harder for some time to pay down debt, but not to buy clothes.

Imagine if you could choose how many hours to work. Let's say you make $20/ hour. Whay would you prefer:
Pay $40 month for cable or leave at 3:00 PM every Friday? I would chose the last one.

Would you pay $80 for a cell phone, or leave at noon on Fridays...?

Would you spend $160 on eating out or work only 4 days a week?
I am very lucky at this time, I've worked 60+ housr a week before, but now I work my 40 hours and it is a low stress job.

Amen. It's a lot easier to get more money than time on this Earth.

[disneysteve]

I think I would happily work longer (I am trying to get a 2nd part-time job now) if it meant being able to earn more money.

That's easy to say, but in reality, it often doesn't work that way. At my old job, I worked more hours and earned more money, but that's pretty much why I left the job. I switched to a job where I work fewer hours and earn less money and I'm far, far happier than I was before. There is a whole lot more to life than earning more money.

[snafu]

Those people who are fortunate to have jobs they love don't worry about how hard they work or number of hours. They get satisfaction from doing something they feel is worthwhile and the odd compliment from a supervisor. Those who sadly are 'wage slaves' always complain about how hard they work, how little they are paid and how little their boss appreciates their efforts.

Those who want more money to buy more stuff would likely feel better if they could fill their emotional needs.

[Seeker]

Feelings are personal and elusive... all this topic suggests is that different people have different priorities ; which is the reality of a "item based world." We each live life according to what we think we need, and do not understand when other people (yes, even best friends) have different "needs" or "priorities" than our own.

Doubtful to me if anyone has NOT:

have any of you experienced this with friends or family members?

Essentially, what I'm trying to say is this: We are all unique individuals, and nobody can ever really understand what anyone else thinks or feels. Financial budgets, earnings and expenses... all relate our own personal view of ourselves. And that view of ourselves is not static either.

You think you may be more satisfied with more "freedom" and "money to spend." But "freedom" implies "time" and earning more "money to spend" is in direct contradiction with both "freedom" and "time."

Everyone can grow and change if they desire to do so.... but nobody really knows how they would feel in the future if things were different.... though it's nice to dream too...

[abbeyandriana]

My husband and I are pretty organized with our finances, after each living on our own and being single for years (before we met and got married in our 30s). Right now we manage them through separate Excel spreadsheets combined with online banking/billpay. We dump money into savings, and I manage most of the bills. If (when) I get pregnant and we have a baby, I am nervous I will be too busy/tired and forget to transfer funds or pay bills. We will already be trying to watch money, so I don't want to rack up late fees.