Getting it right, I hope

I have been learning about finance. My financial education growing up wasn’t much. You work. You get paid. You buy things.

My dad was a retired coal miner. I learned the ‘coal miners mentality’ concerning money. Coal mining is a dangerous job. Especially if you’re working underground. Dad’s unspoken philosophy was ‘if you got it, spend it. You may not live to see tomorrow.’ I understand where he was coming from. That doesn’t work when you get to retirement age and have to live off of social security and black lung.

We didn’t talk about retiring. Not buying stuff on credit. Not buying stuff on installments. There are two things that if you are going to have, most Americans buy on the installment plan: a home and a car.

I’m in the beginning stages of starting a business. I used part of my savings to pay off a high interest credit card. Because of the almighty credit score, I dare not close that card. It’s going to hang out (locked) in a safe place.

I got my business cards. Had a couple t-shirts commissioned. I’m rolling right along.

So hopeful, maybe – I’m getting it right.

With my poem, Waste Not. Want not. I’ve been sharing things I do (on a small scale) to save money in-order to work my way to being debt free. No matter where you are in your financial journey, keep at it. Plug away.

Waste not. Want not: free food?