Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Things I've learned about money
 

1.  Spend money on tangible things.  But not on things that just collect dust. 
Wow, that sounds like it could've been written by Suze Orman or something, doesn't it?  But it wasn't.  That was all me, baby.  Part I is derived from the fact that I've spent a lot of money on things that provide brief satisfaction and then are gone.  Like booze¹.  It's easy to spend $50 at the bar and all you're left with the next day is a raging hangover.  Not worth it.  Part II?  Well, I just hate to dust.  'Nuff said.

2.  Take a lesson from your Grandmother.  She survived through the Depression. 
Even if she was merely a twinkle in her father's eye in 1929, Grandma's are pros at living on less and reducing waste.  Two skills that are horribly lacking in our overly materialistic society these days.  I'm not saying that you should eat boiled potatoes every day.  But there are a lot of lessons we can learn about spending more responsibly.  And I'm happy to see that there is a bit of a renaissance on this subject coming about.  Now I don't feel so weird saving beef drippings.  Because the $1.50 I save by making my own gravy could be put towards a more worthwhile purchase.  Not to mention that jarred gravy is kinda gross.

¹I would just like to clarify...  I am not an alchy.  Anymore.

Always expect people to do something stupid... Top 2 Tuesday

Top 2 Things you've learned from your parents

My dad could write a book of proverbs, but here are a couple of my favorite...

1.  Find something you love to do and find a way to make money at it.  Along those same lines, he also preached that success is found by being the best at what you do.  Doesn't matter if you are a doctor, a salesman, or a plumber; loving what you do and striving to be the best are the keys to success.

2.  Marriage is finding someone you like enough and the rest is work.  Growing up, I never took for granted how much effort being married takes.  Matter of fact, my dad had to interject in one of my relationships and tell me, "It shouldn't be this hard already."  And he was absolutely correct.  When I finally met Matt, I was blown away by how easy it was to be with him.  Not to say that it's always been easy, but I know that being with the right person is half the battle.  The rest is up to us.

Oh, and that little tidbit in the title...  That was what he told me when teaching me how to drive.  And it was the best advice I've ever gotten.  Thanks, Dad.