Comments for Life in the Middle Class and Lovin It http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com Just another WordPress.com weblog Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:52:06 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on The Beginnings of my finanical education and the last taboo by briarbrinigh http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/the-beginnings-of-my-finanical-education-and-the-last-taboo/#comment-14 briarbrinigh Mon, 27 Oct 2008 19:52:06 +0000 http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/?p=43#comment-14 Wonder article. It really helped me a lot. This post clears lots of my doubts and concepts. Thanks for sharing the information. Wonder article. It really helped me a lot. This post clears lots of my doubts and concepts. Thanks for sharing the information.

]]> Comment on The Beginnings of my finanical education and the last taboo by kelly5478 http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/2008/10/12/the-beginnings-of-my-finanical-education-and-the-last-taboo/#comment-12 kelly5478 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:53:03 +0000 http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/?p=43#comment-12 I do not think your realize what a great resource you have created. Just like you said my parents never had that conversation with me about money and the importance of saving or a budget. I have read all the articles you have written for Curtis in the Gym Goldmine. They have all been very good and have given me very useful tips. Thanks for all your insight and I look forward to reading your blogs. Kelly I do not think your realize what a great resource you have created. Just like you said my parents never had that conversation with me about money and the importance of saving or a budget. I have read all the articles you have written for Curtis in the Gym Goldmine. They have all been very good and have given me very useful tips. Thanks for all your insight and I look forward to reading your blogs.

Kelly

]]> Comment on How do you rate your knowlege of personal finance? by Jodi http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/how-do-you-rate-your-knowlege-of-personal-finance/#comment-7 Jodi Fri, 10 Oct 2008 05:32:52 +0000 http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/?p=12#comment-7 Chett, I also am very proud of you for many things you have accomplished in your life and for starting this blog. Since I am your mother's sister, I can attest to the fact that money was not discussed by our parents either. They were raising six children on one income and it must have been quite a burden to my father, the sole breadwinner. He had some sales jobs that probably never paid enough for such a large family. Like you, we had our basic needs taken care of but there wasn't much for extras until he became a real estate salesman. I think we were poor back then, but we didn't know it. I think money was not discussed because it was a source of embarassment and strain for my parents for many years and we were raised to believe that discussing money was rude---a taboo subject, like discussing sex. Sorry, that mode of thinking carried over from them to us to you (the money part anyway). When I read your comment about struggling four years ago, it made me stop and think about when you were living near me. Is that when you were struggling? I wish you'd said something. It's hard to admit it and ask for help, isn't it? I could've done so much more to help you and would have if I'd known then. You always seemed so informed and saavy about money and investments. I do hope you go on to reach out and teach young people about finances. I'm 52 and just now realizing how investments, however small, if started in my early 20's or 30's would have grown substantially by now. Two of my children have already learned this through Business and Finance classes at college. I'm so thankful they have had early exposure to this knowledge and I feel certain that they will be much better off than I am. I think you know that I was "let go" from my secretarial job in March. I'm working three part-time jobs while hoping that a good job with benefits is right around the corner for me. I'm in the same boat as so many other people right now who are going through the job loss/job-hunting process. With all of the downsizing, the jobs just aren't out there like they used to be. Added to this stress, is the high cost of gasoline and the high cost of just about everything else. We are all being forced to "rethink" everything concerning how we're spending money and how we can cut back and keep more for ourselves to save for an emergency or, if lucky, to invest in our futures. You know what I'm talking about, right? Think twice before you buy something---is it a "need" or a "want?" I have read many articles on the internet and have subscribed to several newsletters about penny pinching, spending smart, finding bargains, comparison shopping, conserving energy at home (unplug everything when not in use), etc. I have seen Suze Orman several times on Oprah and, my-oh-my, is she good!!! She's upfront and in your face about money. I wish I knew then (younger years) what I'm learning now. I agree with her (Suze) that this financial mess IS temporary---it will get better (maybe not as fast as we'd like), but it will improve. That is the cycle of things. In the meantime, we are all getting our "wake up" calls. We all need to start respecting our money more which will, in turn, attract more money to us. When the financial mess is over, we will have learned money skills that will serve us the rest of our lives. Love, Aunt Jodi Chett, I also am very proud of you for many things you have accomplished in your life and for starting this blog. Since I am your mother’s sister, I can attest to the fact that money was not discussed by our parents either. They were raising six children on one income and it must have been quite a burden to my father, the sole breadwinner. He had some sales jobs that probably never paid enough for such a large family. Like you, we had our basic needs taken care of but there wasn’t much for extras until he became a real estate salesman. I think we were poor back then, but we didn’t know it. I think money was not discussed because it was a source of embarassment and strain for my parents for many years and we were raised to believe that discussing money was rude—a taboo subject, like discussing sex. Sorry, that mode of thinking carried over from them to us to you (the money part anyway).

When I read your comment about struggling four years ago, it made me stop and think about when you were living near me. Is that when you were struggling? I wish you’d said something. It’s hard to admit it and ask for help, isn’t it? I could’ve done so much more to help you and would have if I’d known then. You always seemed so informed and saavy about money and investments.

I do hope you go on to reach out and teach young people about finances. I’m 52 and just now realizing how investments, however small, if started in my early 20’s or 30’s would have grown substantially by now. Two of my children have already learned this through Business and Finance classes at college. I’m so thankful they have had early exposure to this knowledge and I feel certain that they will be much better off than I am.

I think you know that I was “let go” from my secretarial job in March. I’m working three part-time jobs while hoping that a good job with benefits is right around the corner for me. I’m in the same boat as so many other people right now who are going through the job loss/job-hunting process. With all of the downsizing, the jobs just aren’t out there like they used to be. Added to this stress, is the high cost of gasoline and the high cost of just about everything else. We are all being forced to “rethink” everything concerning how we’re spending money and how we can cut back and keep more for ourselves to save for an emergency or, if lucky, to invest in our futures. You know what I’m talking about, right? Think twice before you buy something—is it a “need” or a “want?” I have read many articles on the internet and have subscribed to several newsletters about penny pinching, spending smart, finding bargains, comparison shopping, conserving energy at home (unplug everything when not in use), etc. I have seen Suze Orman several times on Oprah and, my-oh-my, is she good!!! She’s upfront and in your face about money. I wish I knew then (younger years) what I’m learning now. I agree with her (Suze) that this financial mess IS temporary—it will get better (maybe not as fast as we’d like), but it will improve. That is the cycle of things. In the meantime, we are all getting our “wake up” calls. We all need to start respecting our money more which will, in turn, attract more money to us. When the financial mess is over, we will have learned money skills that will serve us the rest of our lives.

Love,
Aunt Jodi

]]> Comment on About Me by middleclassdream http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/about/#comment-6 middleclassdream Wed, 08 Oct 2008 04:44:10 +0000 #comment-6 I appreciate you reading and commenting. This is the start of what I hope is an opportunity to share my experiences with others to help them take more ownership in their lives, both in personal finance and the decisions that affect us every day. Please share with others. Thank you again. I appreciate you reading and commenting. This is the start of what I hope is an opportunity to share my experiences with others to help them take more ownership in their lives, both in personal finance and the decisions that affect us every day. Please share with others. Thank you again.

]]> Comment on About Me by Linnie Collins http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/about/#comment-5 Linnie Collins Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:29:53 +0000 #comment-5 Chett, Thanks for taking the time to put this blog together!! It's very informative and helpful to us out here who are feeling a bit helpless in these times. I read the comment from your mom. Your young years sound very similar to our family of 5 kids growing up!! Mike and I worked hard and gave up much to raise our kids on a less than middle class income. Kudos to your folks. Thanks again. Oh, I was sent your blog info from Jennifer Loutzenhizer (sp?) Chett,
Thanks for taking the time to put this blog together!! It’s very informative and helpful to us out here who are feeling a bit helpless in these times. I read the comment from your mom. Your young years sound very similar to our family of 5 kids growing up!! Mike and I worked hard and gave up much to raise our kids on a less than middle class income. Kudos to your folks. Thanks again. Oh, I was sent your blog info from Jennifer Loutzenhizer (sp?)

]]> Comment on Housing Crisis Orchestrated By Our Government Paid For By Its’ People by healthnutttt http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/2008/10/04/housing-crisis-orchestrated-by-our-government-paid-for-by-its-people/#comment-4 healthnutttt Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:26:40 +0000 http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/?p=28#comment-4 Nice blog man. Nice to see you putting your talent and knowledge to work! Nice blog man. Nice to see you putting your talent and knowledge to work!

]]> Comment on How do you rate your knowlege of personal finance? by Jackie http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/2008/08/07/how-do-you-rate-your-knowlege-of-personal-finance/#comment-3 Jackie Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:32:14 +0000 http://middleclassdream.wordpress.com/?p=12#comment-3 Wow, I am very proud of the person that you have become!! You are right, you did not learn about finances from you parents, there wasn't much extra money left to plan for the future. We were barely making it trying to raise 5 children with our middle class or below income. We tried to instill family values, while trying to pay the bills, provide clothing and most of all wishing that we weren't so tired from overtime hours so that we could enjoy our children more while they were young. I am and always will be your biggest fan :) Keep up the good work while trying to educate us on how to fight the fight against the evil ways of our government. Love, Mom Wow, I am very proud of the person that you have become!! You are right, you did not learn about finances from you parents, there wasn’t much extra money left to plan for the future. We were barely making it trying to raise 5 children with our middle class or below income. We tried to instill family values, while trying to pay the bills, provide clothing and most of all wishing that we weren’t so tired from overtime hours so that we could enjoy our children more while they were young. I am and always will be your biggest fan :) Keep up the good work while trying to educate us on how to fight the fight against the evil ways of our government.

Love,
Mom

]]>