tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23840632.post115173767860539203..comments2023-10-26T04:23:00.142-04:00Comments on Money and Values: Save for tomorrow or live for today?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23840632.post-1154732364470405472006-08-04T18:59:00.000-04:002006-08-04T18:59:00.000-04:00Why does there have to be a trade off? If you le...Why does there have to be a trade off? If you learn to put aside money, which it sounds like you have, live below your means, then the next step is learning to invest. You can become financially free in a short amount of time- that will enable you to live the life you want- because money now and tomorrow won't be the deciding factor.<BR/>So, what kind of life do you want? Now make it happen! (smile)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23840632.post-1154134896249299992006-07-28T21:01:00.000-04:002006-07-28T21:01:00.000-04:00Penny, This is a huge question I've been grappling...Penny, <BR/><BR/>This is a huge question I've been grappling with as well, and have yet to come to a better conclusion than "well, we'll see what next month brings" or "Ok, at least stick it out until the end of the year and reevaluate then." It's very difficult to contemplate leaving a fulltime position (congratulations on that btw, you are doing MUCH better than most salary-wise, I'm also from the liberal arts field) especially after being financially independent for so long. The hours are exhausting, the work environment is less than ideal, and honestly, I'm not sure I'll be able to parlay the networking I'm doing now into a higher, better job in the industry. Personally, despite my boss's assertion that I'll take away huge benefits when I leave, the best I'm expecting is an *impressive, I hope* 2 lines on my resume. <BR/><BR/>My natural affinity is to say now's the time to do the sowing of oats, to do the good deed and all while the financially cautious part of me says build those buffers first! The struggle feels like it's the Life version of trying to navigate levels of frugality in deferring those more fulfilling moments and jobs for an unknown future time when you're stable enough: you're risking not being able to do it at all because of any number of reasons, like Claire's already described much better than I can. <BR/><BR/>Then again it's rather a mixed bag when you're weighing the one job against the other. <BR/><BR/>I suppose it doesn't do any practical good to wish I were simply talented like Neil Gaiman and call it a day, hm?Revanchehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07293868300535734672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23840632.post-1153327758465018352006-07-19T12:49:00.000-04:002006-07-19T12:49:00.000-04:00Long, but great, and very much appreciated. This ...Long, but great, and very much appreciated. This is exactly why I asked. Thanks. :-)<BR/><BR/>(It would be interesting to see you blog about this... your experiences and advice are too worthwhile to keep just for me!)Britthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02936348981871298702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23840632.post-1153285746404291902006-07-19T01:09:00.000-04:002006-07-19T01:09:00.000-04:00Penny,This a great post, and it reminds me why I l...Penny,<BR/>This a great post, and it reminds me why I like your blog so much. <BR/><BR/>I don't want to sound like your big sister or something, but you did ask if other folks struggle with the same conflict. I'm a few years older than you are (turning 30 in a few months) and still trying to figure out if I struck the right balance in my early 20s. I worked exhausting, low-paying, low-skill jobs right out of college, but I graduated early and wasn't mature enough to get a "real job". I regret those years but think that the real mistake was starting college at age 16. That's what caused me to waste a couple years after college. By age 22 I had realized I wasn't doing myself any good doing what I was doing. So I quit, put all my stuff in my dad's garden shed, and travelled for a year. During that year I also took the GRE and applied to grad school. <BR/><BR/>When the year was up, I went to grad school, where I met my current partner. So in one fell swoop I had a career, a life partner, and soon after a house and a kid. So yes, the freedom is now gone. Of course what I have is better than freedom (or I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing) but I do sometimes miss the feeling that anything is possible.<BR/><BR/>I don't regret making so little money in my early twenties. Compounding, schcompounding. I still started my career early enough (at age 24) to have a good jump on my long term goals. I DO regret not travelling more, not getting the impractical MFA degree, not trying harder to finish a novel, not living abroad for a while, all those things that it is next to impossible to do now.<BR/><BR/>So I would say quit that job while you can. Take the risks now. You're right. If you wait, you may have too many financial responsibilities to change your path, or you may have grown so used to your current finacial security that it will be hard to reduce your income dramatically. I think even more than the financial responsibilities that's what has me trapped--I'm not willing to reduce the amount I'm saving, etc, so I'm not willing to take as many financial risks.<BR/><BR/>So yeah, I have some regrets, but I do think I'm striking a pretty good balance now. As I've mentioned, my spouse and I take turns working full time. Whoever is not working full time works part time and stays home with our son a few days a week. We could probably find a way to survive on only one full time income and have a full-time parent home with our son, but I'm not willing to suspend our retirement savings, not own a car, save nothing for college, grocery shop with a calculator, never go on trips, etc. And if we had only one income we wouldn't be able to afford to send our son to preschool, and I want him to have the socialization school offers. So <A HREF="http://tiredbuthappy.blogspot.com/2006/07/work-schedules-daycare-schedules-who.html" REL="nofollow">our lives are crazy</A> but I think we're making the best choice for the time being.<BR/><BR/>Ay ay ay, look how long this comment is. I'll shut up now.<BR/><BR/>Keep up the thougthful blog posts.Tiredbuthappyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292908687495239545noreply@blogger.com