Money and Happiness

The old adage is that money can't buy happiness, but let's face it, it's nice to have. At the library (which will please the author of the next book I'm going to mention) I picked up The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches: A practical (and fun) guide to enjoying life more by spending less by Jeff Yeager. Unlike many self-help books I have read about finances, this guide had a different approach to money. Instead of ways to trim your budget and save, Yeager encourages readers to think before they even begin spending. It was a refreshing concept and one that I needed to hear.

How much money is enough? That is one of the other questions the author poses to the reader. Really what do I want to do with my money. Right now I'm facing the start of college tuition bills in 18 months. My eldest is beginning the college search. The greatest gift my parents have given me (besides life and love) was my education without big loans. I dream of being able to start my children off in life without saddling them with student loans. So for me the question is, how much do I need to be able to send the kids to school, live comfortably, and retire? Do I expect to leave them a fortune when I die? No, not if I've already spent one on their education. To me their education is the most important gift or legacy I could leave them with.

One of the suggestions Yeager wrote about was to institute a mandatory waiting period before making purchases. In this way the consumer can avoid buyer's remorse. I managed to follow this precept before even reading the book. I've wanted to get some new office furniture for our "home office," and my husband and I had seen something we liked at the local furniture store. Thankfully, we didn't place an order that night. After some thought, what I really want to spend my money on is replacing the grungy, old rug that is in the office. I can put up with the current furniture for a little longer. The Cheapskate would be pleased to know that we ascribe to the very fashionable interior decorating style of "early American attic." Unfortunately, not that early, I'm not talking antiques here, I'm talking hand-me-downs. We have taken in a lot of old furniture from our grandparents homes after they passed on, as well as, some things from our parent's home when they upgraded. That's not to say we don't have some of our own things that we've purchased, but we have definitely saved money over the years on our furnishings budget. I'm glad with my decision to skip the furniture and get the flooring. I will continue to think twice before I spend my money.