don't get me wrong, i did not grow up a wealthy child. it was very rare that money was given to me by my parents. actually, much of my birthday money (given by relatives and family friends) was often replaced with little I.O.U. notes from my mother. i think i am still waiting... but anyway. and i definitely realized that the term dead-beat daddy applied to my own. but, if there was ever one word in the english language that could cajole my father to shell out a few dollars my way was the word "BUDGET."
my mother lived by a strict budget and i guess she had emphasized her structure of their financial situation (when they were together) so much that my father cringed when he heard this word. again, neither of them had good financial habits at that time, many years later i can now say that my mother learned from her mistakes, and my father, well... that's another story in itself.
so here comes me, 26 years old. a couple thousand (VERY few) in the bank, one credit card (that i was ONLY given b/c i work at the corporate office) but slowly and most certainly SURELY removing myself from the debt (it is mild compared to others my age - but nonetheless it bothers b/c there's nothing substantial to really show for it) that i have created throughout the years. on the opposing side, my little brother has perfect credit, no debt and the credit cards with $0 balance. there's my older sister who had proclaimed bankruptcy at the age of 19 and now at the age of thirty has perfect credit and the assets to prove it. but the question still bothers me. how can one live by a budget but not consume herself with this ideal of how much money she should have. and also, what's the point of having all this money when there is always the fact that you may never have the opportunity to use it should something happen to you tomorrow.

but enough of my continuous banter, i just always wonder what other tips are useful when each and every day it seems that we are in more jeapordy than the last generation. i believe this to be so because we are a sociaty that liveson impulse. then we suffer the repercussions (if we were not born into money or are not a golddigger who allows someone else to pay for our debts) by working endless years for our debt, or not. some people are content with living in debt for their entire lives. i know people that even put their two year old daughter in debt.
to me it's infuriating because we are not working for our commodities (as they did back in the day). we only have jobs because we have bills for unnecessary items that we thought we needed years ago and can't even admit that these items no longer hold value (if we even realize what we spent the money on in the first place).
in my previous relationship i focused so much on helping my ex remove himself from debt, and pay his student loans on time, and build up his credit with a secured, then an actual regular credit card, blah blah blah, that i continued to allow my delinquent credit to remain untouched. the same month that we broke up i took control and paid one debt. i felt so good about it. i m continuing on this pattern, just giving my money away and i still have money in the bank. i can'tbelieve it. so if i could do it, i am positive that others can. it really is liberating.
but we must take caution, paying off debt does not mean we now have a new slate tocreate more debt. read again: PAYING OFF DEBT DOES NOT MEAN WE NOW HAVE A CLEAN SLATE TO CREATE MORE DEBT!!!!!
whew... i feel better now.
anyhow, provided here is a link with helpful personal finance advice: http://www.womenspersonalfinance.net/2006/09/46_things_i_wis.html
enjoy!