Money

[hospitaller]

Wow Ali, i'm so sorry to read about this.

If I may, I would like to tell you a story that may help with your concerns about how to keep your kids from going through this:

When I was a kid, up until maybe age 8 or so, my parents were rich. I had a room full of toys and 'my stuff', then my brother came along, and soon there were 2 rooms full of our toys and kid's stuff.

For reasons out of my control, and of their own doing, by the time I was 14, we were broke.

It was not traumatic because it was a gradual process, and mainly, because my mother always instilled in my brother and I the love for frugality. We learned that money and 'things' are not the end all be all in life. It is nice to have it, but it is nicer to be well and be able to eat.

Long conversations with our gramps and grammas also reiterated the fact that we too often forget in this modern world of ours, that they lived happier lives with a fraction of the stuff and the money we 'need' nowadays.

I could give you another feel good line, but as you'll find out in the months to come, bottom line is, there is only so much money coming in and SO MUCH money going out.

Can't keep the iphones or fancy cell phones? thank god for the land line, cheaper and liberating to forget about the cell phone.

cable? playing with the kids, walking the dogs or simply go on daily dates to your park.

what do you mean no more pizza parties or take out? yup, cooking with your kids will do everyone good. and you'll feel great keeping everyone healthier.

So there, in short Ali, good luck and please, do not hesitate to ask for help or words when you need them.

cheers lass!

[skauwt]

as my wee 91 year old granny would say in this situation "wit ya dinea hauf ya dinea miss" which means more or less you just have to get on with life its only money at the end of the day ,