Finch

[NightFury]

@tyme interesting thought.

My spending patterns...well, I'm only able to save if I have something to save for, or to work towards, like a holiday. Otherwise, I like to buy stuff  

[tyme]

Hahaha, yeah, fair enough... @avant-garde 

@Oaktree , I haven't chosen a colour scheme for my house yet so it's just purple... like yours.

[Oaktree]

@tyme 

Purple is a great colour choice 

[ENKELI]

@tyme up until the time I was financially supporting my ex best friend and her 2 kids I was able to save but as she was a person who spent as soon as she got money, I developed bad habits. 

If I have an incentive I can save. At the moment though I don't get enough to save though!

[tyme]

That's so interesting @ENKELI @Oaktree @NightFury @avant-garde ,

For me, my brain always goes to 'save for a rainy day'. At this point, I pay my sister's mortgage, I pay for holidays, I pay for takeaway...

But I think I can only do this because I started off in a good place financially (I mean, from the very beginning). I'm mindful there are many who are not in that position, and probably don't have the money to save anyway.

But it's an interesting thought. Even when I used to play The Sims and games, I was always a saver who saved saved saved and then spent all at once. I wasn't one who earnt and spent immediately.

It's pretty fascinating. 

[ENKELI]

@tyme @Oaktree @MissinTooth @avant-garde

 I grew up poor, my parents were divorced and my dad remained in NSW while mum moved us back to WA where both her and my dads' families are.

We were just above the poverty line a lot of times so saving was not something that was instilled in me. It wasn't until I was working for the big T (Telstra) that I started earning a really good wage and was able to save. I saved about $20 000 spending money for a 3 month trip to the US and Canada and until I left the big T I always had a healthy savings account.

It was only when I began financially supporting ex friend and her kids that I realised I wasn't able to save as much. Even so I managed to save $ 10 000 to tide me over during Covid when I wasn't able to find work. I was by then paying the kids' school fees for a private school (it was a smaller Christian school so the fees weren't outrageous like the big posh schools!) as well as half the utilities, Foxtel and internet. Ex friend paid the full rent. As time went on I was not saving as much and until I moved back home I was living pay check to pay check. The first year I was back home I had saved $6000 which I was pretty proud of but I haven't worked since August last year so saving is just a pipe dream.
Sorry, I just realised I talk a lot. I'll try and keep it shorter and more to the point from now on!

[tyme]

No No no @ENKELI , thank you for sharing . I really appreciated your clarification.

I can see what a big heart you have. I've also paid for a family's children's school fees. I also lent a family $13 000 and never saw any of it again.

Have been through this similar situation, how do you manage?

[Oaktree]

@tyme @ENKELI 

You both have big hearts and want the best for your friends and family. I also grew up poor. My Mum was divorced and on welfare by the time I was 8. I used to get 50 cents pocket money per week and I managed to save up $15. Later when my Mum had a boyfriend I got $5 a week and I saved over $100 but was forced to buy my own dress for my year 10 graduation with it which I didn’t think was fair

[tyme]

So amazing to read about your youth @Oaktree . Thanks for sharing.

When I was a kid, we weren't rich, but we weren't poor. We had JUST enough. We never had anything to waste, but we were never without. My mum was a very talented seamtress and sewed everything including our underwear! She handmade everything. And because these were all handmade, they lasted years and years - which also meant I never got any new clothes because I only got hand-me-downs from my older sister and cousins.

We never got pocket money. It just wasn't a thing. 

I remember wearing cloth nappies as a kid. What strange things we remember!

I'm wrapping up now and going to bed. I'll see you all Sunday evening. I might pop into tomorrow evening too.

[Oaktree]

Goodnight @tyme 

Thanks for hanging out with us tonight.

I do really enjoy your company.

Thank you for all you do.

We all appreciate you