Comments on: My own personal brand of heroin: the Analogy http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/ online mother Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:38:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: A Woman’s Prerogative (an Evolution of Birthing Attitudes) | Seagull Fountain http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-52570 A Woman’s Prerogative (an Evolution of Birthing Attitudes) | Seagull Fountain Tue, 16 Mar 2010 05:51:09 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-52570 [...] My own personal brand of heroin: the Analogy (The only way I could get my friend Tara to understand why anyone would think it important to learn about natural childbirth (and want to convince others) was to compare it to having a financial budget. Something that she does, very well, and something that I haven’t (so far) been bothered to do. I told my mom it was like caring about where your food comes from (some people do, some people don’t) because she was reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last week). I told my husband that it’s like the difference between hosting and tweaking your own Wordpress blog and being content to use one of Blogger’s default themes with no widgets.) 3-04-2010 [...] [...] My own personal brand of heroin: the Analogy (The only way I could get my friend Tara to understand why anyone would think it important to learn about natural childbirth (and want to convince others) was to compare it to having a financial budget. Something that she does, very well, and something that I haven’t (so far) been bothered to do. I told my mom it was like caring about where your food comes from (some people do, some people don’t) because she was reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle last week). I told my husband that it’s like the difference between hosting and tweaking your own WordPress blog and being content to use one of Blogger’s default themes with no widgets.) 3-04-2010 [...]

]]> By: Adrian http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51961 Adrian Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:32:43 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51961 I don't know if I do the whole "budgeting" thing as far as determining how much money we spend on this or that, but I am a fanatic about saving. I've saved part of every paycheck I've ever gotten, first because my parents forced me to, but later because it helped me sleep at night. The idea that my family might be in trouble and might have to do without things they need, is not something I can handle. It's not as hard as you might think. On my first job, I set aside $25 in bonds from each weekly paycheck. That's not enough that I would miss it, but it adds up fast. In two years, I had $2,000. After I left that job, I left those bonds to sit for 10 years. At the end of that 10 years, I had $7,200 - enough to pay for my son's first year of college. I don’t know if I do the whole “budgeting” thing as far as determining how much money we spend on this or that, but I am a fanatic about saving. I’ve saved part of every paycheck I’ve ever gotten, first because my parents forced me to, but later because it helped me sleep at night. The idea that my family might be in trouble and might have to do without things they need, is not something I can handle.

It’s not as hard as you might think. On my first job, I set aside $25 in bonds from each weekly paycheck. That’s not enough that I would miss it, but it adds up fast. In two years, I had $2,000. After I left that job, I left those bonds to sit for 10 years. At the end of that 10 years, I had $7,200 – enough to pay for my son’s first year of college.

]]> By: Steph http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51898 Steph Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:17:07 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51898 As you know we have been super budget crazed in the past. We even managed to pay off 28,000 in IRS debt over 18 months. And then we kind of relaxed a bit. I still keep and update a weekly budget that rolls into the next week ect ect ect. And I can tell you how 5 dollars I spend today will effect my bottom line in December. So... maybe we are still a little crazed. We got into budgeting to get out of debt (only have the cars left to pay off... woo hoo) and wound up getting so much more. Most of which is peace of mind. That being said. It is a pain to update weekly. As you know we have been super budget crazed in the past. We even managed to pay off 28,000 in IRS debt over 18 months. And then we kind of relaxed a bit. I still keep and update a weekly budget that rolls into the next week ect ect ect. And I can tell you how 5 dollars I spend today will effect my bottom line in December. So… maybe we are still a little crazed. We got into budgeting to get out of debt (only have the cars left to pay off… woo hoo) and wound up getting so much more. Most of which is peace of mind.

That being said. It is a pain to update weekly.

]]> By: Carolina http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51894 Carolina Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:03:41 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51894 There are people who find it fun (ugh), and I'm married to one (think pie charts, spread sheets, financial forecasts, etc.). But I am happy <i>someone</i> likes to do it! There are people who find it fun (ugh), and I’m married to one (think pie charts, spread sheets, financial forecasts, etc.). But I am happy someone likes to do it!

]]> By: Sharla http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51893 Sharla Fri, 05 Mar 2010 18:51:41 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51893 Oh phew, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I try and I try...and I fail then I fail. sigh. Oh phew, I’m glad I’m not the only one. I try and I try…and I fail then I fail. sigh.

]]> By: Jane http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51887 Jane Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:46:31 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51887 Right. :) Right. :)

]]> By: Jane http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51886 Jane Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:27:45 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51886 Maybe, but I think some people (shudder) find it fun, makes them feel more in control, like seeing how much they can save with coupons, enjoy watching the debt shrink, etc. Maybe? (I'll continue my hunt for the perfect metaphor. ;p Like I could stop, anyway.) Maybe, but I think some people (shudder) find it fun, makes them feel more in control, like seeing how much they can save with coupons, enjoy watching the debt shrink, etc. Maybe?

(I’ll continue my hunt for the perfect metaphor. ;p Like I could stop, anyway.)

]]> By: Tara http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51880 Tara Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:30:43 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51880 I think this is the perfect analogy you were searching for. Almost everyone should budget, but not everyone does. And just because you fail to plan, it doesn't make you a bad provider/mother. And we still love each other anyway, right? Perfect. I think this is the perfect analogy you were searching for. Almost everyone should budget, but not everyone does. And just because you fail to plan, it doesn’t make you a bad provider/mother. And we still love each other anyway, right? Perfect.

]]> By: big mamma frog http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51877 big mamma frog Fri, 05 Mar 2010 14:42:20 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51877 But surely most people only have a budget because they HAVE to. I mean, if our family had enough money for everything that we needed/wanted, then I certainly wouldn't be wasting my time and energy on budgeting! If we got it, we spend it. If we haven't then we budget (and still spend it!). But surely most people only have a budget because they HAVE to.

I mean, if our family had enough money for everything that we needed/wanted, then I certainly wouldn’t be wasting my time and energy on budgeting! If we got it, we spend it. If we haven’t then we budget (and still spend it!).

]]> By: Jane http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51835 Jane Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:28:40 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51835 l-o-l. l-o-l.

]]> By: Emily H. http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51834 Emily H. Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:02:53 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51834 Yeah, yeah, we should have a budget too. We tried it once but all it really turned out to be was a way to track what we spent, not manage the spending. I think it is definitely a good idea to spend less than you make (not a common practice) so if budgeting helps you do that, go for it. If you can do that without thinking twice, more power to you! Yeah, yeah, we should have a budget too. We tried it once but all it really turned out to be was a way to track what we spent, not manage the spending. I think it is definitely a good idea to spend less than you make (not a common practice) so if budgeting helps you do that, go for it. If you can do that without thinking twice, more power to you!

]]> By: jennie w. http://www.seagullfountain.com/2010/03/04/my-own-personal-brand-of-heroin-the-analogy/comment-page-1/#comment-51829 jennie w. Thu, 04 Mar 2010 22:59:54 +0000 http://www.seagullfountain.com/?p=4333#comment-51829 I'd rather have a caesarean than stick to a budget. I’d rather have a caesarean than stick to a budget.

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