The 5 Stupidest Habits You Develop Growing Up Poor

[bhikkhu]

29. The worst habit I experienced is getting used to having nothing

a couple of times when I was younger and came into a little money, I was more stressed about it than when I was broke. Being broke was pretty comfortable and normal; you get your paycheck, you know what you can afford and can't afford, and you know how to stretch things out until the next one. Budgeting and restraint are beside the point, you just have get what you can and that's that.

When I had some money in the bank suddenly I had to figure out how to keep it, and constantly argue with myself over things I wanted but might not need, and how "loosening the belt" a bit might lead right back to poverty. Of course I'd lose the battle soon one way or another and be right back to comfortably broke...I do a little better now, but not much. I've got some money now, but wind up spending more than I make pretty easily, and just recently decided to keep a set of account books (as I studied old-style accounting years ago) to keep better track of things. Maybe it can all work out sensibly without all the angst, now that retirement is not too far off the horizon.