Like most of you, I live on a budget by necessity, not because I enjoy the challenge. I'm a single mom and sole support of my kids. Last year I moved cross country and took a significant (as in...20% of my pay) paycut in order to be closer to family and give my boys a good environment for their developmental years.
I'm lucky enough to be able to provide occasional splurges...such as last year's Disney trip. However, those types of things are rare, and I have to really work to make them happen.
We haven't had internet at home for over a year...long story involving an old iMac and a missing password that Mac knows but won't provide me because my machine is "vintage". Yes, I made a choice and when I had some money we went to Disney. A new computer will have to wait.
You all understand that.
Here's the whine:
My sister is also a single mom. She gets some help from her first ex. She let her second ex take most of the goodies from their marriage, so she, too, has been without internet service for a few months.
I went to visit her last weekend and found that she now has the HP system that was in WalMart's Black Friday ad. It seems the family who raised her is coming into some money next month, and they'd purchased an extra computer and gave it to her with the understanding that it is part of what she will be getting from this inheritance. I'm glad for her...but I sure wish that I would have that kind of luck. (The money isn't from a recent death or anything...it's not tragedy money, it's happy money!)
She and her kids also get a free trip to Southern California each summer thanks to one of her SILs. Totally free...they only need money for souvenirs. Again, waa.
I wish I could have been born under whatever lucky star sends these things her way. I'm sitting here today feeling puny...and stupid for feeling that way.
Maybe it's just the season...there's nothing like Christmas to remind you that others have more than you do.
I guess at least this Christmas we could afford to sponsor kids off the Angel Tree at church instead of being the ones sponsored. Anyone else have a bright side I can look on today???
I'm lucky enough to be able to provide occasional splurges...such as last year's Disney trip. However, those types of things are rare, and I have to really work to make them happen.
We haven't had internet at home for over a year...long story involving an old iMac and a missing password that Mac knows but won't provide me because my machine is "vintage". Yes, I made a choice and when I had some money we went to Disney. A new computer will have to wait.
You all understand that.
Here's the whine:
My sister is also a single mom. She gets some help from her first ex. She let her second ex take most of the goodies from their marriage, so she, too, has been without internet service for a few months.
I went to visit her last weekend and found that she now has the HP system that was in WalMart's Black Friday ad. It seems the family who raised her is coming into some money next month, and they'd purchased an extra computer and gave it to her with the understanding that it is part of what she will be getting from this inheritance. I'm glad for her...but I sure wish that I would have that kind of luck. (The money isn't from a recent death or anything...it's not tragedy money, it's happy money!)
She and her kids also get a free trip to Southern California each summer thanks to one of her SILs. Totally free...they only need money for souvenirs. Again, waa.
I wish I could have been born under whatever lucky star sends these things her way. I'm sitting here today feeling puny...and stupid for feeling that way.
Maybe it's just the season...there's nothing like Christmas to remind you that others have more than you do.
I guess at least this Christmas we could afford to sponsor kids off the Angel Tree at church instead of being the ones sponsored. Anyone else have a bright side I can look on today???